Chapter 13
Idaho
Iwaited, leaning against the counter with my arms folded over my chest as I watched Jenny show Eva around the apartment.
Thomas trailed after them as though there could be a threat behind every door.
His dedication actually impressed me. It meant that when I let him follow her around during the day, I could trust that he would watch out for her.
That would free me up for my duties here and to my company, and leave me the rest of the time to protect her.
And get to know her.
Sighing, I tried to shove that thought out of my mind.
My interest in her had hit so fast and hard, I wasn't sure what to do with it.
At first, the plan was to fuck her as often and as hard as I could, once I made my way into her bed, but the knowledge of who she was derailed that.
She was innocent. I didn't need her confirmation to know it.
The way she acted around me told me as clearly as she could.
There was no way I could use her for our mutual pleasure and leave her behind--or have her leave me as the case may be.
She wasn't the kind of woman who would go for that type of arrangement, and I didn't have room in my life for an old lady.
"The towels and sheets are in here," Jenny told Eva, opening one of the closets. "Everything is clean and ready for use."
"Thank you very much."
My lips quirked up at her sweet tone. I knew, deep down, that this was the real Eva.
Kind and caring. She'd been forced to grow up too fast because of who her father was.
It made me wonder if she had any friends outside of her siblings.
Anyone she could be herself around. She'd already shown me a new side that seemed to surprise even her, but I enjoyed seeing her riled up.
It made me want to push her further just to see the snap of anger in her gaze.
To see what I could push her to do. I had a feeling my little duchess wouldn't hesitate to hit me if I shoved hard enough.
The idea made me grin. I wanted to get her out of her comfort zone.
Make her lose that professional smile. To muss her up a bit.
That thought made a mental image of her with that freshly fucked look, hair a mess, eyes glazed with passion.
"Shit," I muttered and shifted to ease the sudden ache in my dick.
I wasn't sure how I was going to rein myself in around her, but I had to.
It wouldn't be fair to her for anything to happen between us.
"Well, I'll be downstairs if you need anything," Jenny was telling Eva as they walked back toward the front door. "If you want... We're having sort of a girl's night downstairs later. Around seven. You could come and meet everyone? Jo and Brittney will be there, too."
"I'd love to."
The sparkle in Eva's eyes made my gut wrench.
She was trying to hide how eager she was to meet some friends, but I could read her easily enough.
She was thrilled. This was going to be good for her.
She'd make some friends, get her degree, and hopefully get out of this experience whatever it was she needed before she had to go back home.
Remembering Thomas's words from earlier made my mouth thin out into a grim line.
He'd said she was losing herself. I wasn't sure what her home life was like, but I didn't fucking like hearing that.
Jenny reached forward and pulled Eva into a hug. "Welcome to the family," she chirped.
That had me scowling. "What does-"
"Gotta go," Jenny said, flashing me and Thomas a smile and all but bolting out of the room.
My eyes narrowed on the door that slammed closed behind her.
Eva wasn't part of our family. She was only staying here until I investigated those assholes and decided what to do with her.
This was likely going to end with a call to her father, and him sending more bodyguards, or her going home.
She couldn't stay here long-term; Lock would never go for that.
And I didn't need that kind of temptation around every day for who knew how long.
I was going to help the damsel in distress, then send her on her way. That was it. End of story.
"You can take the larger bedroom," I told her. "I'll take the spare." They both had an en suite bathroom, so I didn’t mind the smaller room. My eyes landed on Thomas. "Why don't we get you on your way." My smile was feral.
"I want to talk about what you have planned first," he said, glaring at me.
"I've got a PI who works for me. I'm going to get him started on everything. Considering Christmas is three days away, we probably won't hear back until after the New Year." I shrugged.
Thomas shot Eva a sideways look, then scrubbed his hand over the back of his neck. "If her father finds out I left her here, he's going to fire me."
"You think you can protect her better?"
"Yeah, I do."
"How, when it's just you? If someone launches an assault, you're going to be overwhelmed and she'll pay the price."
"I think you're paranoid. No one is going to launch an assault," he said with a roll of his eyes.
"You're sure about that?" Doubt flashed over his face. "Honestly, after finding out who she is, I'm not," I told him. "Look. Every man here is retired military."
Eva had been silent this whole time, letting us speak, but now she gave me a curious glance. I could see that she wanted to interrupt, but she'd been instilled with too many manners to ask her questions.
"I was special forces. So were a lot of my brothers.
Those who weren't aren't any less dangerous.
" Thomas was slowly beginning to relax. I understood.
I wouldn't have left Eva in the care of strangers without knowing at least something about them either.
It was why Lock hadn't kicked him off the property last night.
"We're used to dealing with dangerous situations.
" I didn't tell him that this club still dealt with them, even though we were all out of the military.
"It's Eva's decision," Thomas said after a short pause. We both looked her way.
"I want to stay." She gave us a small smile. "As long as you," she said to me, "don't think whatever this threat is will be more than you can handle."
Trying not to take offense at that, I told her, "Don't say that to any of the other guys. It'll piss them off."
Her eyes grew wide and her mouth opened in horror as she realized how that sounded.
"I didn't mean it like that. I'm still just worried about the others living here.
And I don't want to go back to the house and put Jo and Brittney in danger either.
" She looked tired and worried. "I appreciate your offer of help and will happily stay here. " A determined look crossed her face.
"And follow my rules." I smirked at her when irritation settled on her features.
"Yes, and follow your rules," she relented.
"When do you go back to school?"
"On the twenty-sixth. Today is the start of our Christmas break."
"Then I guess we'll see you back here on the twenty-sixth," I told Thomas. "Need me to show you the door?"
"Idaho," Eva snapped. "There's no reason to be rude."
Easy for her to say. She didn't have to watch herself smile at that man with warmth and a connection forged by years of knowing each other. I didn't fucking like it.
"I can find it." He looked over at Eva. "I'll check in with you each day."
"Thank you, Thomas. Could you bring me to my residence to get some of my things later today?"
"I'll do it," I told her. "I have the day off."
"Oh, I don't want to be any trouble."
"Too late, Duchess, but it's fine. I'll take you."
"O-okay." She gave Thomas a weak smile as he left.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I shot Toxic a text to let him know Thomas was leaving and to see if he could have someone make sure he got off the property.
The door shut behind Eva's bodyguard, leaving us alone.
She looked so damn cute, wringing her hands together as she tried to decide what to do with herself.
"I'm going to go take a shower and make my bed," she said, breaking the silence between us.
"I could help you."
The scandalized look on her face made me laugh.
"With the sheets, Duchess. Though if you need someone to scrub your back, I have no problem doing that either.
" It wasn't unusual for me to flirt, but I had to be careful.
The way her cheeks pinkened at my words made me want to grab her and see how much I could make her blush.
"That's okay," she told me, voice prim and proper. "I can handle it on my own, thank you."
I dipped my chin down to my chest as she sailed past me.
She was all grace and pride, and I couldn't help but watch her out of the corner of my eye until the door to the master suite closed.
Sighing, I tilted my head back, staring at the ceiling, and tried not to think about how fucking perfect she was.
I wasn't fool enough to think that the guys weren't making bets now on whether I was going to give in and fuck the gorgeous woman in the room next door.
But now, knowing who she was, Lock was going to kick my ass if he found out I was even thinking about her like that.
There was a speech in my future about what would be expected of me when it came to watching over her.
Not that he usually interfered in anyone's sex life, but when you had a true blood royal in the house, expectations were different.