Chapter Eight

Courtney sighed and cuddled up to the best heating blanket she’d ever had. God, she couldn’t remember the last time she felt warm.

She barely held back a scream when the blanket moved and wrapped around her.

“Good morning, Honey. How did you sleep?” Ronin asked.

She peeked up at him. “Why am I stuck tightly against you? Did I do that?”

He chuckled. “You did move over first, but then I took over and pulled you closer. Now, tell me how you slept.”

She thought about it a moment. “Oh, my. I must have slept hard. I’m still tired, but not like I was.”

“That’s good. I’m glad.”

Courtney started to move away from him, but he just tightened his grip.

“You’re fine, Honey. Let’s rest a bit more.”

She thought about a few things before she asked, “Did I sleep so well because I slept with you?”

Ronin hummed without opening his eyes. “I would bet on it.”

“Because you made me safe?”

He kissed the top of her head. “I think it’s a few things. The fact that I make you feel safe is a big one, but you seemed to like the heat from my body and my hands on you.”

She could feel her face get hot and knew she had to be as red as a tomato because of embarrassment. “Um…”

He chuckled. “It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything right now. Let’s deal with the problem we have today, and we can talk more about ourselves later.”

Her heartbeat thumped heavily in her chest. “Is there an us?”

“I would say so. There is a lot to figure out, but we know we are attracted to each other, right?”

Courtney nodded.

“I think we’re going to be okay. We have time. We’re in no hurry,” he said. “Let’s get out of bed and get dressed. We’ll have breakfast and then head to the station,” Ronin said, kissing her head one more time before rolling out of bed.

Her breath caught in her throat when she realized he’d been practically naked, wearing only a pair of shorts. Her eyes rose when she heard him clear his throat. Oh, God. He’d been watching her stare at him.

“Oh, I’m sorry…”

Ronin grinned. “Don’t be sorry, Honey. I like your eyes on me.”

She nodded and watched him walk into the bathroom and close the door. Courtney got out of bed and rushed into the playroom, where all her clothes were.

She pulled out a nice outfit and walked into the bathroom attached to the playroom. She pulled her hair into a rubber band and showered quickly. Within thirty minutes, she was dressed and ready to go.

Someone knocked on the bathroom door.

“It’s me, Larkin.”

Courtney grinned and opened the door. She gasped when she was pulled into a strong hug.

“Daddy said I can go with you all today,” Larkin said.

“Is your daddy coming?”

Larkin nodded. “Yes. He called a few other people to meet us there. How about some breakfast?”

Courtney giggled when Larkin hooked her arm through Courtney’s and dragged her down the hallway and steps.

“What are you doing?” Courtney asked and laughed.

“I’m hungry for pancakes,” Larkin said.

Pancakes? Yum. She couldn’t remember the last time she had them.

She froze for a moment in the doorway to the dining room when she saw Larkin’s daddy at the head of the table and Ronin sitting in the chair on the left side of him. Larkin pulled her over and had her sit in the second chair on the right. Then she dropped into the first one.

Courtney looked across the table at Ronin and smiled when he winked at her.

For the next hour, she and Larkin talked, giggled, and ate an enormous number of pancakes. Courtney guessed if she ate too much, they would have to roll her out of the room.

Darian set his coffee cup down. “Girls, why don’t you get washed up and meet us at the front door?”

“Okay, Daddy,” Larkin said and pulled her out of the chair.

“Pet,” Darian called out. “If you keep yanking her around, you’ll dislocate her shoulder.”

Courtney giggled when Larkin gasped.

“Daddy…”

Darian smiled. “I know. That was mean, wasn’t it?”

Larkin nodded emphatically. “Yes.”

“I’m sorry, but it’s true. I don’t think you realize how strong you are sometimes,” he said.

“I’ll be more careful. I promise,” Larkin said and started to pull her out of the room again, although she was a bit gentler.

Courtney couldn’t help the anxiety from rising as they walked to meet the guys at the front door. Larkin kept squeezing her hand and telling her it would be all right, but she wouldn’t believe it until she had seen her mother and was back at Larkin’s.

A man she hadn’t seen before held the front door open.

“This is Elder, Courtney. He gets to take care of me when Daddy isn’t here.” Larkin hugged the older man and grinned up at him.

“That is true, Miss Larkin,” Elder said.

Courtney was charmed by the way the man blushed, and she could tell he adored her friend.

“Your daddy is already out in the car,” Elder told them.

“Okay. Thank you, Elder. We’ll be back soon.”

Elder tipped his head forward. “I’ll be watching for you, Miss Larkin.”

Larkin grabbed onto her hand, and they walked out of the house and down the front steps to a long car with another man holding the back door open. Larkin released her and hugged this man, too.

“Courtney, this is Hicks. He gets to drive me and my friends places.”

Hicks grinned and patted Larkin’s shoulder. “That’s right, Miss Larkin. We have a lot of fun.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too, young lady,” Hicks said.

Courtney scrambled into the back seat and saw Darian on one side and Ronin on the other. She went to Ronin and sat beside him.

He immediately took her hand and squeezed. “It’s going to be okay, Honey.”

She hadn’t realized how tense she was until then. She nodded, relaxed, and enjoyed the ride.

Courtney could feel her anxiety rise as they pulled up to a large white building. She didn’t have to be told it was the police department because of all the police cars in the lot.

They got out and moved up the few steps to the door. Her hand tightened on Ronin’s as they were met by a man in a suit. He took them to a conference room.

“Go and sit next to Larkin,” Ronin said and released her hand.

“You’ll stay, right?”

He kissed her forehead. “Yes, Honey. I’m not going anywhere.”

Larkin patted the chair next to hers. “Come on, girl. Just relax. My daddy and Ronin will take care of everything.”

Courtney grabbed Larkin’s hand and nodded. She really hoped it was true. She just wished it was over so she could go back to Larkin’s house, where she felt safe.