Securing His Family (Power Security #3)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

W hat am I doing?

The question tumbled around Reed Bolton’s mind as he pulled up to Café Tabby, the place owned by his boss’s new wife. He still had trouble believing that his hard-nosed boss was a married man. Reed had been convinced that Steve Power was going to be a bachelor for the rest of his life. How wrong he’d been. Nevertheless, he was happy for Steve, as the guy looked happier and more relaxed than he had in years.

There was something to be said about the single life. He could come home when he wanted. Eat what he wanted, not that he ate badly, just some nights he had cereal when it had been a particularly long day. Or if he’d returned from a harrowing mission they’d done, either for the Australian Federal Police, or one of the joint ones they did with Alliez Security in LA. If he wanted the company of a woman, he’d go out and get it. Everything was easy and not complicated at all. Which was why he didn’t understand why he was doing what he was doing.

Why was he thinking about a woman who barely said anything to him when he was all but four feet away from her?

Lauren Wishart had a vulnerability about her that called to him in a way no other woman ever had. Had done so ever since he caught her reading messages on her phone that both angered and scared her. That day at the café’s opening, a protective need had arisen in him to slay whatever, or whoever, was causing her pain. A need he still didn’t understand, but knew he couldn’t ignore.

What he needed to do was reverse out of the parking spot, grab some takeout and head back home for the afternoon. He’d watch a show where he didn’t have to think. Or he’d work on his garden. His former Army buddies would laugh their asses off if they saw him tinkering around the yard. His co-workers, well they wouldn’t blink an eye, understanding why he found solace doing something uncomplicated. Working with plants helped ease the stress from some of the jobs they went on.

Or maybe he’d give Ben a call and see if he wanted to go grab a beer, that is, if his fiancée Fern would let him out of the house. She’d become more possessive since Ben had put a ring on it.

Yet, Reed didn’t do any of those things. Instead, he switched off the car, got out and headed into the café. It was close to two in the afternoon so it would be closing soon, like it did most days. Saturdays were no different. Tabitha liked to make sure that her employees had plenty of free time.

He strode up to the counter and smiled at Tabby’s assistant. “Hey Lauren, busy day?”

“Oh hi, Reed, yeah it has been.” Lauren looked everywhere but at him when she spoke. “What can I get you?”

Reed sighed.

Why did he think today would be any different?

She was still skittish around him, as if she expected him to hurt her. Or demand her to explain everything that was going on in her life to him. He may want to know what had caused her fear that day, but he wasn’t going to force her to tell him. He just hoped that one day soon she would.

“Are you scared of me?” he asked.

Her blue eyes widened. “What? Why would you ask that?”

Thankfully the café was empty, so he could have this conversation with her without being interrupted by a customer wanting to order something. “Because every time I come here you never look me in the eye and you act as if you’d rather I wasn’t here.”

“I’m not scared of you.” This time she met his gaze and her chin lifted as if saying try me.

Oh, I will. Challenge accepted .

“I beg to differ,” he said quietly as he made his way closer to the counter. “I think there’s something going on with you and you don’t want anyone to know about it. I think it goes back to those messages you got on your phone the day of the opening.”

Her gaze slid away and she fiddled with the band of her apron, before she rolled her shoulders and looked at him again. “It’s nothing I can’t handle. Now is there something you want or are you just here to annoy me?”

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. He liked seeing this hint of sass from her, but he wasn’t going to give her the out she wanted him to take. “I’m sure you can handle it. I’m just saying that you don’t have to handle it on your own. You’ve got me and the others to help you.”

“Others?”

At least she hadn’t completely shut down the conversation between them. “Yeah, me, Andy, Wilt, Damon, Steve, and Chris. You need help, you can call any one of us and we’d be there in a flash.” Although he’d do everything possible to make sure it was him she called first. If she did call one of the other guys, he would arrive with them. No way was he going to let one of his teammates handle whatever she needed on their own.

“I don’t think so. And I’m not sure why you would say that. You don’t even know me.”

Reed shrugged. “You work for Tabitha. Tabitha is Steve’s and anyone who is close to her is part of our family.”

“Now you’re tripping,” Lauren said, shaking her head. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. I don’t need you to go all macho on me. I’ve taken care of myself and my daughter for a long time. I can handle things on my own.”

Reed needed to tread carefully with her. He didn’t want to scare her away and have her not call him should she really need to. “I’m sure you can. I’m just saying you have options now if things get a little hard. That you’re not alone.”

The chime of a phone alert sounded, and Reed noted the way Lauren’s fingers tightened into a fist, before she made herself relax, even as her eyes darted away from his again.

Who was contacting her that caused her this much distress? He fought the urge to round the counter and pull her into his arms, tell her that everything was going to be okay. He may feel the need to protect her, but he had to win her trust. Show her that he wasn’t spouting empty words and that he meant them. So, he kept his feet firmly planted on his side of the counter. “I’ll have a vanilla milkshake and a chocolate cupcake if you still have any.”

The visible relief on her face that he hadn’t pushed her did nothing to alleviate his concerns, but he would bide his time. He had no plans on leaving her alone. He’d stay until it was time to close and he’d walk her to her car, ensure that she got there safely. It wasn’t as if he had anything special to do for the rest of the afternoon. Lauren had gotten herself a bodyguard, whether she liked it or not.

A customer came in, so Reed made his way to a table with a reserved sign on it, which gave him a good visual of the front door as well as the kitchen area. The table was always available for anyone from Power Security. After what happened at Tabby’s previous location and how she’d been hurt there, when she’d opened this new café, Steve had ensured that this particular table would always be available for his staff. If he ever came in, which was often because he wanted to be near his wife, he always sat there.

Reed caught Lauren’s eyes and they narrowed when she saw where he had positioned himself. If the other customer wasn’t still standing at the counter, Reed was sure she would be telling him that he didn’t have to stay and that she was fine.

Tough.

She would have to settle on giving him the stink eye instead.

The moment the customer left with their purchases, Lauren strode over to Reed, his order in her hands. “I know what you’re doing and it’s not necessary.”

Called it.

He didn’t say the words out loud, but he couldn’t help grinning. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m just enjoying Tabby’s wonderful baking and your excellent milkshake making skills.”

“Ugh, you’re impossible.” She stormed off and headed to the kitchen. The sound of plates being loaded into the dishwasher none too gently, reached him.

Reed wasn’t worried that Lauren would break any, she respected Tabitha too much to do that to her, but if it helped with getting rid of some of her annoyance at him, well then that was okay too. Not that it would make any difference. His ass was planted in the chair until it was closing time.

He took his time eating the cupcake, which was delicious as always. It was just as well the team met up regularly in the mornings to do PT, a hangover from their time in the Army. Not to mention it also kept them in shape for the missions they went on. If they didn’t keep up with regular exercise, there was every chance that all of them would’ve piled on weight with all the bakery goodness they had all sampled since Tabitha had come into Steve’s life.

He'd just finished his shake when the door to the café opened. Immediately the hair on the back of Reed’s neck stood up. The guy was well dressed. His neatly pressed black button-down shirt was tucked into a pair of black trousers. They weren’t name brands, but they were well looked after. Reed’s instincts were screaming loudly, and he didn’t trust that this person was there for a coffee or cake.

Lauren came out from the back carrying a tray of clean cups. One look at the new customer and her hands wobbled. It looked like the tray was about to fall to the floor. Reed moved knowing he was too far away to catch them but needing to try. Lauren managed to steady them and get them onto the counter before disaster struck.

Her face paled. “Patrick.” The name a strangled whisper.

Reed had no idea who this person was, but the fact he was causing Lauren distress had him continuing to stride toward the counter, arriving at the same time as this Patrick person.

“Hello Lauren. Long time no see.”

“Not long enough,” Lauren snapped back and Reed was pleased to see some color had returned to her face along with her sass. None of that meant he was going to walk back to his table. No, he was staying right where he was.

Patrick laughed. “Now is that anyway to treat me after everything we share together?”

“We share nothing, Patrick.” Her hands landed on her hips and she glared at him. “Now I suggest you leave.”

“That’s a lie and you know it.” The guy leaned on the counter and Lauren reared back. “You won’t answer my texts so you left me no option but to track you down.”

Reed went on high alert. He didn’t like where the conversation was heading. There was a sinister edge to Patrick’s tone, and he wasn’t going stand around and let the guy get any closer to her. He rounded the counter and placed his arm around Lauren’s shoulders. She tensed, and he willed her to relax so that what he was about to do was convincing. Somehow she got his silent message because a little bit of the tension inside of her dissipated and she leaned into him.

“Babe? What’s going on?” he questioned, his voice soft as if this was the way he always spoke to her.

Patrick’s gaze narrowed in on Reed’s hold, and Reed clocked the way his left hand clenched the fabric of his trousers for a moment before relaxing. “Who the fuck is this and why does he have his hands all over you?” he spat, the venom in his voice clear.

“Who are you?” Reed countered, not planning on giving anything away until he knew who this asshole was.

“Patrick Stringer, but why do you care?”

The guy’s belligerence was grating on Reed’s every nerve and his need to protect Lauren was going into overdrive. “I think you should leave.” Reed kept his voice low and calm, as if they were sharing a casual conversation, but he was ready to spring into action should he need to.

“I don’t care what you think or say. I’m not leaving. Not until I see Charlee.”

Lauren stiffened beneath his hold and the pieces clicked into place.

Patrick was Charlee’s father.