Read Under His Protection for Free Online Page B

glasses. He was checking
everything, constantly on the lookout for her safety and she liked
that. It gave her a perverse little sexual thrill.
    This man was her protector. He would give
his life in order to save hers without a second thought. He would
just do it and damn the consequences.
    It was a most sobering realization.
    “Anything planned today?” he suddenly
asked.
    She glanced at him but he stared straight
ahead. So she did too. “Not really.”
    Mason said nothing, as usual.
    “I want to go to the coffee shop just up the
road. They serve homemade pastries that are to die for.”
    He gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.
    “If you’re lucky, I might buy you one.” She
didn’t get to observe Mason eating too often but she’d like to see
a sticky pastry covered in powdered sugar pass his lips just once.
She bet he’d like it too.
    “Thanks. I already ate.”
    Of course, he had.
    “Trust me, these can’t be missed. They’re so good.” She wasn’t going to let him leave that little
coffee shop without at least having a taste.
    Mason didn’t argue. He just kept pace with
her as they approached Whitney Harbor. Her family’s property sat on
the most western edge of the small town, and it was an easy walk
into the quaint downtown district, a half mile at most. She liked
being so close to the cute shops and tiny restaurants, yet she also
felt isolated enough since her neighbors were so spread out.
    She plain loved it here. If she had her way,
she’d never leave. No one expected anything from her on Whitney
Island. Heck, they barely paid her any attention.
    It was perfect.
    “Do they know who you are?” His question
came out of nowhere and she wondered yet again if he could read her
mind.
    “Who, the locals? I guess so, but they don’t
really care. They never acknowledge me outside of a friendly
hello.”
    He nodded, looked pleased with her answer.
“I’ll wait for you outside the coffee shop.”
    Blake halted in her tracks while he kept
walking until he realized she wasn’t beside him. Stopping, he
turned and faced her, a frown marring his sensual mouth. “What’s
wrong?”
    “Why won’t you come inside with me?”
    “I’ll stand out here. You don’t want to be
seen with me.”
    She rested her hands on her hips. “Why would
you say that?”
    He shrugged and even with his eyes covered
by the damn sunglasses, she could tell he was uncomfortable. What
exactly was he getting at?
    “You wouldn’t want anyone to get the wrong
idea,” Mason finally said.
    “The wrong idea?” she asked shrilly. God,
she sounded like a nag.
    “Don’t give out any information that can put
you or your family in danger. Don’t tell anyone I’m Secret Service.
Besides, if we’re seen together, people are going to think
we’re...”
    “Together,” she finished for him, her entire
body suddenly growing warm. That wouldn’t be a bad thing, at least
in her book.
    “And we’re not.” His voice was firm in that
macho, don’t-argue-with-me way he had.
    Icy coldness wiped the warmth away, just
like that. “So you won’t come in with me.”
    “I’ll stand outside,” he said again.
    “Fine. You probably shouldn’t even walk next
to me, then.” She picked up her stride, her legs taking her farther
and farther away from Mason with her every step. Yet again, she
felt the telltale prick of tears at the corner of her eyes and she
murmured a curse in frustration.
    Stupid, stubborn man. Goading her like he
did, like he was so damn good at.
    Blake practically ran to the row of shops
that loomed ahead of her, sprinting up the short steps to the
coffee shop. She threw open the door with a loud bang, the bells
attached to the top of the door jangled like Santa Claus announcing
his arrival. Everyone within the cafe stopped to stare.
    Swallowing hard, she offered a little wave.
Not quite the way she wanted to announce her return to town.
    Able to walk right up to the counter since
there was no line, Blake quickly placed