Protecting What's Hers (To Love And Defend Book 2)

by Daniella Starre

  “Yes,” she hedged and then sighed. “I had thought he was still back in Toledo. I wanted to get away from him. I thought I could stay for a little while the police tried to build a case against him. But if he threatened my parents, he wants me here. He has to be staying here.”

  “Any chance he knew you from before? From when you lived here?” he asked.

  Mandy shrugged. “I guess it’s possible, but I don’t remember him. His name never rang a bell the first time I heard it.”

  “I’d like to ring his bell,” Clint muttered angrily.

  “Maybe we’ll get lucky and find him. Then you can get your chance.” Mandy grinned. “What do you say? Are you willing to drive me around to scope out the joint?”

  “Of course.”

  She rushed to the door and let Clint leave ahead of her so she could lock up. Quickly, eagerly, she fell into step beside him. The backs of their hands brushed against each other’s, and he held her hand. His fingers naturally interlocked with hers.

  Mandy didn’t pull away, but she was worried. She was afraid that her fear was pushing her to make a connection, that she was using him. She didn’t want to think herself capable of something like that. It was clear to her that he had feelings for her. She hadn’t talked about her childhood in years, but with him, she didn’t mind.

  It was like Brent all over again. She’d fallen for her husband so fast. Was history repeating itself? Was it possible for someone to have two soulmates?

  No. That was ridiculous. Mandy wasn’t interested in anyone right now. She had a stalker, for fuck’s sake! She didn’t have time to figure out her feelings for Clint.

  Because she did have feelings for him.

  It was funny, really, but all things considered, Mandy didn’t feel threatened by that Roxanne werewolf. Shouldn’t talk about an ex make a person jealous? But she wasn’t jealous. Because Clint wasn’t hers. With how protective he was, she should feel confined, trapped. But she didn’t. He was looking out for her because he cared for her parents. Because he cared for her.

  A lot of things could bring people together. Loss. Suffering. Pain. Misery. A terrible shared experience. So many others. They met because of their mutual grief, but maybe they could bring peace to each other’s lives.

  If Jack could only be locked up behind bars.

  To distract herself from thinking about Clint, she glanced around his well-maintained car. It wasn’t overly fancy, and she had a feeling that he took care of his possessions. He was meticulous in everything. That was a bonus.

  “And idea where I should go?” Clint asked as he turned on the car.

  “Not really. Just drive around and keep your eyes peeled.” She gave Clint a description of the creep.

  “If by some miracle we find him, then what?” he asked.

  She grimaced. “I hadn’t thought that far ahead,” she admitted, “but I doubt this will work. It’s more a matter of trying to preoccupy myself. A way to keep busy. To stop thinking.”

  “You could’ve done that at your parents’,” he pointed out. “You could’ve had more brownies.”

  She patted her thighs. “If I stuck around the kitchen, I would’ve eaten way too much.”

  “You look great. If you gained weight, you’d still look great.”

  “And if I wanted to lose weight?” she asked, trying hard to sound like a stickler.

  “You don’t need to, but you’ll still look amazing.”

  “Kiss ass.”

  “If you want me to, I will.”

  “That wasn’t an invitation.”

  “Maybe one day.”

  She swatted his shoulder, and he took a hand off the wheel to grab hers. He squeezed before holding the wheel again.

  “I’m a doer too,” he said after a slight period of silence. “I know exactly what you mean. Being cooped up in that house would’ve driven me nuts after a while.”

  “Cooped up babysitting.” She rolled her eyes and stared out her window. The buildings blurred by, and few people were out on the sidewalks. Jack was nowhere in sight.

  “Bodyguard. I wouldn’t babysit.”

  “Don’t want kids one day?” she asked.

  The question flew out of her mouth before she could think better of it. She and Brent had talked about kids all the time. The timing never seemed right, and then, it had been too late. Maybe the timing was never right to have kids. Maybe you just had to take that plunge. As much as it pained Mandy to realize she’d never have kids with Brent, she also couldn’t imagine the pain she would’ve had to endure if she had to raise that child without his or her father. She gave Claire so much credit for raising her little girls by herself.

  “I do, actually,” Clint said, “if I find the right werewolf. I should’ve said I wouldn’t babysit you. You don’t need a babysitter.”

  “I don’t want to need a bodyguard either,” she said crossly. Anger and frustration warred within her.

  “I’m not your bodyguard,” he said.

  “So, what are you?”

  He glanced over at her. “Whatever you want me to be.”

  8

  Two seconds passed after Clint said he’d be whatever she wanted. He couldn’t read the expression on her face. He didn’t want to give her grief or cause her worry. That was the last thing he wanted. What he wanted most was her. Too bad the timing was so fucking wrong.

  When she finally spoke, he grimaced. “Make a right here.”

  He complied. There was no way they would find Jack out here like this, but he didn’t blame her for wanting to leave the house.

  “You might want to give your parents a heads up as to where you are,” he said.

  “I already texted my mom.”

  “Good. I don’t think you want to get on her bad side.”

  Mandy laughed. “So true. On my twenty-first birthday, I had too much to drink and got sick. Someone ratted me out to my mom. She was pissed and wouldn’t let me leave the house.”

  “Made you come home from college every weekend?”

  She half-smiled, half-grimaced. “I didn’t go to college.”

  “No?”

  “Nah. I didn’t think it was for me. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. Still don’t. I’m a failure. I don’t see why anyone would be obsessed with me.”

  “I do.”

  He really needed to start thinking before he spoke.

  “You do?” she asked skeptically.

  Clint reached over and patted her knee. “You’re beautiful. You’re kind. You’re caring. You love your parents.”

  “Jack doesn’t know me,” she protested.

  “I’m glad he doesn’t know that you’re an amazing kisser.” He squirmed in his seat, unable to readjust himself.

  Mandy went back to looking out her window.

  “Henry went to college,” Clint said. “He had five degrees. He just would keep going back. He basically made a career out of being a student.”

  “How does that pay?” she asked.

  “Negatively.” Clint laughed. “He didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life either. My parents didn’t go to college. They are hard workers and taught me to work my way up. Starting a business wasn’t easy, but it’s been worth the effort.

  “Sounds like you found your niche.”

  “I did, and you’ll find yours.” This time, when he patted her knee, she rubbed his hand.

  “Yeah, well, considering I haven’t yet…”

  “Don’t lose hope,” he begged. “You have to have hope.”

  “I don’t. Not anymore. I used to have dreams and wishes for the future. Now, I don’t know what I want.”

  “There must be something you like, something you’re good at.”

  “Does pissing off humans work? I’ve worked in so many human-run restaurants, and they’re all the same. It doesn’t matter how hard I worked or that I did the job of two waitresses. It didn’t matter that I was nice and smiled despite the back talk from the other waitresses. And don’t
get me started on the talking behind my back. No human ever tipped me. It was terrible. I get that humans can’t help it. They instinctively want to protect themselves from us. But we aren’t a threat to them! They have no need to subconsciously hate us!”

  “I’m sorry. Why not work for a werewolf?”

  “Not any werewolf-run restaurants in Toledo.”

  “Not one?”

  “Nope.”

  “Have you considered moving back here?” he asked.

  She hesitated and didn’t respond.

  “Won’t leave Toledo, huh? Why not?”

  Too late, he realized a very likely reason why not.

  Mandy’s posture changed. She went rigid, and she crossed her arms, leaning closer to the door and away from him. Her knee shook, and he realized he was still touching her. Reluctantly, he let go.

  “My husband is buried there,” she murmured.

  Clint closed up. Just like that. He hated himself for causing her grief and anguish. He’d known she was hurting, but he hadn’t realized who she’d lost until now. It made no difference that she’d kissed him. And he hadn’t been lying either. She was a hell of a kisser. But if she wanted another kiss, she would have to initiate it. He wasn’t going to give any from now on, not unless he was positive she wanted one.

  Damn it. He’d been so shocked to see her when she pulled up. Happy too. What were the chances that the beautiful woman he’d meet in the most depressing of places in Toledo would see him in Hazel Park? But it had happened, and he was attracted to her. There was no doubt about that. He was so turned on by her that his brain tended to stop working, and his mouth would just run off. It was amazing that she was talking to him at all.

  Except now she wasn’t talking to him. She had twisted around so her back was to him. He hated to see the pain in her slumped shoulders and hunched over back.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I can’t imagine how hard all of this is on you. If you need anything, let me know. I’ll help in any way I can.”

  “Let’s find the bastard. That’s all I want.”

  “We’ll try. I can’t promise we’ll find him, but we’ll try.”

  He hated that he couldn’t promise her safety, that he couldn’t sweep away all of her fears. Most of all, he hated himself for falling for a woman who clearly was unavailable yet. Her heart was closed. That bothered him more than he cared to admit. Already, she meant a great deal to him. He’d never connected to another like this before, not so quickly, not with Roxanne. It felt right even though it was completely wrong for her.

  If Clint could have his way, the creepy stalker would be behind bars. Mandy would move on from her husband. And Mandy would feel the same way for him as he did for her.

  But it wasn’t about him. Not right now. At the moment, it was all about Mandy’s wants, her needs. He would absolutely do whatever she wanted or needed. All she had to do was ask.

  9

  As soon as Mandy mentioned Brent, Clint’s disposition changed. He didn’t reach over to touch her anymore. He didn’t say anything that could be construed as flirting. He was trying to be honorable, but she could see from the corner of her eye the tension in his shoulders, the pursing of his lips.

  It bothered her that she felt badly for telling him. Why shouldn’t he know about her dead husband? Why did she want him to know everything about her? Why did she want to ask him a million questions about himself?

  Most of all, why was she torn between him and Brent?

  As she guided him through the town, still searching for Jack, she did ask him a few questions. They were both Detroit Lions fans. His favorite food was anything Italian. He only listened to classic rock. He lifted weights six days a week. He had three sisters who all teased him mercilessly about anything and everything.

  “All right,” she said after she realized she’d quizzed him for nearly an hour. She loved that he had answered her questions, but it would only be fair for her to do some of the talking. “Do you have any questions for me?”

  “Where’s the nearest gas station? The Marathon or Gas and Go Express?”

  “Marathon.”

  He drove there without needing directions. Once he filled up, he climbed back into the car. Before he started the engine, she cleared her throat. She appreciated that he hadn’t asked, but she was willing to tell him.

  “Jack Roberson and I went out on a blind date two years ago,” she said. “He tricked me into another one yesterday. Man, does it feel like it was a lifetime ago. My point in bringing this up is that… I wanted a friend. That’s all. I wasn’t ready to start dating. Not yet.”

  Clint reached over and held out his hand. She grabbed it.

  “Friends are important,” he said.

  She nodded as tears filled her eyes. His were so full of warmth and understanding that those tears began to fall. His lips were perfect, and she couldn’t help remembering their kiss. Before she knew what was happening, Mandy was pulling him close and kissing him again.

  After a long moment, she pulled away. “Maybe I want something more,” she murmured. It hurt her to feel happy with him. “Maybe yet is almost here. I don’t know. Maybe.”

  10

  Maybe. He’d take it. He would take it and run away with it. He was so fucking turned on right now.

  “We should keep driving. Just a little while longer. Unless you want to head back?” she asked.

  “We can drive some more. I wouldn’t have gotten gas yet if I thought we weren’t going to use it right away.”

  Another half hour passed with no sign of Jack, and Mandy directed him to return to her parents’ house. Her mom texted her. They were done at the police station finally, but they were going to grab some pizzas for them and wouldn’t be back for another half hour or so.

  Clint walked her to the front door. “I’m gonna shower,” he said, jerking his thumb toward his place.

  She wrinkled her nose, the cutest little thing. “If my parents find out you left me alone…”

  “You aren’t a vulnerable, weak woman. You’re a strong, capable werewolf. But if you want me around, I’ll stick around. I just smell.”

  “You don’t smell,” she said, blushing slightly, embarrassed. “If you really want, take a shower here.”

  “If you don’t think your parents will mind,” he said. He wasn’t too worried about her parents. His only concern was her.

  “Trust me. They’ll be more pissed that you left me alone than if you use some of their soap and shampoo.” She smiled softly. He loved her smile.

  He grinned and winked. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you want me around and are using your parents as an excuse.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Keep telling yourself that.” She rolled her eyes playfully.

  Clint winked again, hardly suppressing a laugh. “I’m innocent. I swear.”

  She snorted. “Not likely.”

  Mandy led him to the shower and got him a fresh washcloth and towel. The hot spray burned Clint. He knew he should turn the temperature down, that what he really needed was a cold one, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t stop thinking about Mandy and her kisses. About Mandy and her perfect lips. About Mandy and that ass he couldn’t get out of his head when she’d walked out of the bathroom. About Mandy and her deserving so much more than the hand she’d been dealt.

  Speaking of hand, his hand had found his cock, and he began to stroke it. She was a beautiful, strong, capable werewolf. Who would fit in my arms perfectly.

  He groaned, stroking harder, faster. Fuck did he want to make love to her.

  Mandy deserved so much more than to be the victim. She was powerful. So powerful all right. Strong enough to make him willing to beat off in her parents’ shower.

  Even that realization didn’t get him to stop. He was getting there, so close… All he wanted was her, but he feared she wasn’t ready yet. If not, this was the only release he’d have.

  Mandy…

  11

  Mandy knocked on the bathroom door. Since the w
ater was still running, she burst it open and marched inside. “Clint? Can you hear me?”

  Rustling sounded. “Yeah. What do you need?”

  She frowned. Why did he sound so breathless?

  “You okay?” she asked cautiously.

  “Yeah.” His voice cracked, and he cleared his throat. “Is something wrong? Did something happened?”

  “He was here.”

  “He was? Despite the security cameras? Hold on.”

  Mandy turned her back to give him privacy. He shut off the water, and she listened to him fumble with a towel.

  “You decent?” she asked.

  “Yes.”

  She turned around. He was. Decent. Very decent. Water dripped down his pecs to his washboard abs. The towel was draped on his hips so low that she didn’t know how it was staying up.

  She averted her gaze to his face, and hoped that her cheeks weren’t red because she could not be more embarrassed right now.

  “Start at the beginning,” he demanded.

  “I went to my room. I can’t even remember why now, but my underwear drawer was open.”

  “Did he take a pair as a trophy?” Clint demanded angrily.

  “He took every pair,” she said.

  “That fucker. Sneaking into your hour to do something like that? He’s a sick pup.”

  “You got that right.” She rubbed her arms, suddenly cold.

  Clint held open his arms. The sight of his wet chest, his abs, that smile… He was a sight for sore eyes. Despite her better judgment, she sank into his embrace.

  “Are you okay?” he murmured, rubbing her back.

  “I am.”

  “You sure? You’re trembling.”

  She was trembling but not because of Jack. Because of Clint. Because of standing so close to him. Because of his warm chest pressed against her. The length of his body against hers. She was a woman, and she had needs, but this went beyond just wanting to be physically close with just anyone. She wanted Clint. She needed him. This close proximity was what causing her to shiver.