Free His to Protect: A Fireside Novel by Stacey Lynn Page A

time she reached for my hand. Her petite fingers curled around mine and she squeezed once before letting go. “Thank you. You’ve been really kind and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to repay you.”
    I licked my lips, dropping my gaze to her plump and perfect ones. I could definitely think of a way she could make it up to me.
    Asshole.
    “Don’t mention it.” I turned around and walked to my office, where I made quick work of shutting down the computer, grabbing her purse, and turning out the lights. When I met her at the back door, uncertainty flickered in her eyes as she glanced away from me. Her cheeks were pinker than they should have been and I had to bite back a groan.
    And I knew in that moment that the trouble of having Trina around just got a hell of a lot worse.
    Because I wasn’t only attracted to this woman, physically…
    I actually liked her. Wanted her.
    She was quite possibly the worst thing I could want right now.
    But I also recognized, as the corners of her lips turned into a soft smile and she looked at me as if I were the only one who could keep her safe, that while she might be wrong…
    She was also right.
    I didn’t want to just keep her safe from her asshole husband.
    I wanted to make sure no one hurt this beautiful and kind woman ever again.

Chapter 7
Trina
    I should have returned home from the Arizona Spa three days ago. If Kevin didn’t know I was gone before, he certainly knew now.
    My stress levels were through the roof, and as each day went by, I found myself looking over my shoulder more often, becoming jumpier at every small sound.
    I searched the Internet repeatedly to see if there was any mention of my name or his. I knew that if he suspected I’d left him, he would have kept it from the media, but the fact that he wasn’t in the media at all made me more nervous than not. It was only a year before the presidential election. Presidential hopefuls were campaigning, traveling the country and attending state fairs all over the Midwest. While candidates didn’t generally come to Kentucky’s state fair, we got a fair share of conservatives trying to push their agendas and slogans and basic political fodder down our throats at this time of year.
    Kevin was usually swamped, attending press conferences and meetings, as well as rallies and dinners.
    That I hadn’t seen him in photos from any of them concerned me.
    It had also been three days since I started working and helping Declan at Fireside Grill. The work was often mind-numbing, but I found my body sore in that good, hardworking kind of way when we left the restaurant after closing up.
    Sometimes I helped him with his computer system, and not only did I figure out his payroll system, I simplified the process and made it more user-friendly. I also spent time getting Declan caught up on all of his filing and accounting for the quarter.
    I planned on tackling his filing system, because trying to slide receipts and invoices into his current system—which lacked any true organization—almost caused more than one migraine.
    Sometimes he called me out of his office and had me work a few tables. Sometimes I helped the bartender on busier nights, even though I could only help with bottles and drawing drafts. Other times, I worked at the hostess station. Emily was still out, spending time with her sister, who had not only delivered three weeks early, but had had a complicated delivery. Emily wanted to spend as much time with her sister and new niece as possible. Declan told her to take her time and be with her family, and that I would help him out in the meantime.
    I didn’t truly believe he needed me at all, but the fact that he was giving me jobs where I could pocket cash was wonderful.
    Surrounded by people who had no idea who I was, what my past was like, or what I was running from, I was beginning to relish living without constantly wondering if every move I made was being judged or criticized.
    But at all times, in the back