The Protector

by Cristin Harber

  As the movie started, Teddy pulled the covers up over his chest. “Do you think there could’ve been a mix-up at the hospital?”

  She laughed quietly. “What do you mean? When?”

  Teddy turned, and his little face studied her. Whatever he was about to say had required him to wonder and think.

  Uncertainty prickled in her chest. “Teddy?”

  “Maybe Aunt Courtney is my mom.” His sober expression gave way to a small slip of hopefulness. “And someone else is my dad.”

  Jane tried to hide the moment her heart broke into pieces. A golf-ball-sized knot lodged in her throat, and she vividly remembered her own childhood, when she wondered and prayed that her own parents were not her real ones, too. “Oh, baby. Teddy.” Tears spilled from both their eyes as she wrapped him to her arms. “I’m so sorry.”

  He sniffed. “But what if the doctors just gave me to the wrong person? What if it was an accident that they gave me to them?”

  She couldn’t stop her tears and kissed his forehead. The movie came on, and she quietly promised, “I know grownup problems don’t make sense. But, you and me? We’ll keep going. We’ll stick together. We’ll love each other very much.”

  “And Aunt Courtney,” he said.

  “And Aunt Courtney,” she agreed, then let the opening scenes distract him from her silent tears. Jane’s heart aching. Poor Teddy was asking the same question she’d asked herself when she was only a little older than his age: Why couldn’t his parents find it in them to love him?

  CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

  A long, lonely week followed. Jane missed Chance in ways she didn’t expect. She’d become used to the way he brought her coffee every morning, and she missed his good night kisses every night. She missed talking to him too, and couldn’t believe, given modern technology, they couldn’t keep a simple phone call connected.

  The morning sun brightened her apartment. Still, Jane lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. She didn’t want to get up and face another tense day of tiptoeing Teddy around his father’s erratic mood swings. It had been, in a word, exhausting. Not to mention demoralizing, draining, and soul-killing. Still, she’d do it all over again if it protected the kid.

  Taking a deep breath, she got out of bed and slipped into her “uniform” for around the camera crews—a nice, wholesome flowered sundress. As she was braiding her hair behind her back, someone rapped on the door.

  She opened it, thinking it was one of the housekeepers who continually serviced the main house, saying Teddy was already awake and asking for her before breakfast.

  She nearly broke down when she saw Chance there, holding out a cup of coffee. “Oh, my God! You’re home!” She took the coffee, placed it on a nearby table, and jumped into his arms.

  He laughed, kissing her as he walked her inside, closing the door behind him with his foot. “One would get to thinking you missed me.”

  “I did!” She kissed until he laid her gently on her bed.

  “One second.” Chance disappeared and returned with her coffee.

  God, she loved him. “I missed this too.”

  He placed the coffee on her nightstand. “Probably more than me.”

  She grinned, shaking her head. “Did you miss me?”

  “More than you know.” He traced a finger over her lips.

  “What did you do the whole time? Hang out with Gigi?” she asked.

  He shrugged. “Not much. Just a few crying spells early on that I had to talk her through. For the most part, she was fine. How was everything here?”

  She cringed at the thought. “Dax was worse than ever. All I’ve been doing is protecting Teddy from his weird flights of—” She stopped in a cold panic and pushed off the bed. “If you’re back, Gigi’s home. She and Dax are probably fighting.”

  Chance grabbed her wrist. “You can’t jump between them.”

  “I know.” Jane pushed her hair back. “I meant I need to be a buffer between them and Teddy.”

  As she tried to slip away, he grabbed her again. “Jane, that isn’t your job.”

  She pulled her hand free. “Yeah, it is.”

  “Where’s the line?” He stood from the bed. “When it comes to this job, where does your life start and end? They do whatever they want, and you do exactly what they expect you to do.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “Yeah. I take care of their son.”

  His shoulders slumped. “When you put it like that…” He grabbed her coffee. “Let’s go.”

  Jane was right. When they got into the main house, the tension hung thick in the air. Feet were stomping, and doors slammed. Chance took the sound of a glass breaking to head toward the security office in search of a comrade to discuss the situation.

  She wasn’t so lucky. A text message alerted Jane that she and Teddy would have to stay on the property, per Dax’s request. Another day of tiptoeing, but this time, Jane had two adults behaving like children to avoid.

  Jane dressed Teddy in a bathing suit with plans to spend the day swimming. They walked out of his newly styled bedroom, running into Dax.

  He put a hand on her shoulder. “Jane. Good thing you’re here.”

  She was always there. But her annoyance gave way to dread. His tone didn’t bode well. “What’s going on?”

  “Bring Teddy to the living room. We’re having a family meeting.”

  As fast as he appeared, Dax left.

  “What’s a family meeting?” Teddy held up his arms.

  She lifted him to her hip. Her trepidation tripled. They stepped down the massive curved staircase. “It’s when family members sit together and talk.”

  Teddy perked up. “Aunt Courtney’s here?”

  Wishful thinking. Jane wriggled him as a distraction. “Even if she’s not, we can report all the details to her.”

  “Good plan.”

  She forced a lighthearted grin but faltered as she stepped into the living room. Chance and Gigi sat on a couch. His stiff posture made Jane uncomfortable, though he lifted his chin in a quiet hello. Gigi angled her legs toward Chance, half-covering her mouth with her hand as she spoke to him in hushed whispers.

  Dax paced through the center of the large room. A camera crew followed his movements from their position in the corner.

  Jane kept her focus on her only ally in the room, Chance, but he seemed busy ignoring Gigi. Time ticked by. Teddy wriggled in her lap. What were they waiting on? A producer to tell them how to host a family meeting? Maybe Dax’s younger woman would sashay into the house. That would make outstanding reality television.

  Every so often, Chance readjusted his place on the couch, clearly perturbed that Gigi inched closer. Jane studied him and decided that wasn’t the only thing wrong. His hard-set jaw ticked as he tightly folded his arms over his chest. He wasn’t uncomfortable—he was suspicious.

  She bit the inside of her lip and scanned over to Dax. Jane had thought Dax had been throwing eye daggers at Gigi, but no. Clearly, his rage was aimed toward Chance.

  Dax stopped pacing in front of Gigi and Chance. “So glad you brought your bodyguard to our meeting.”

  “Is there a reason you’re looking at me like that?” Chance asked. His rough, cool tone left no question about his distaste for Dax. If this had been high school, Jane would’ve been sure the two men were about to fight. “Whatever your issue is, maybe you should think twice before bringing it into your home.”

  Jane swallowed hard, suddenly seeing how Chance’s opinion of Dax and Gigi might have shifted in light of Dax leaving Gigi for a younger woman.

  Teddy pulled for her attention. “This is a family meeting?”

  Jane stroked his head and tried to change the subject. “We’ll go swimming soon.”

  “Soon,” he agreed.

  Jane noticed one of the cameras focused their way. She ducked Teddy close to her chest, still stroking his hair like her arm was wide enough to block him from view.

  “Good,” one of the producers said.

  Jane didn’t know w
ho he was speaking to or what was good. This was the world’s most uncomfortable and boring family meeting.

  Dax turned and held out his hands as if greeting the room. He glanced at them one by one with a nod as though he were ready to announce a hostile takeover in his corporate headquarters. “Now that we’re all here, I can say what I need to say.”

  Jane situated Teddy on her lap, trying to gauge everyone’s expressions. Dax took a dramatic deep breath. Did he have cancer? Had he sold Thane Insurance? Were they telling Teddy about the impending divorce in such a heartless manner? She had absolutely no clue.

  She hugged Teddy closer. Dax stood in front of Gigi again. She gripped Chance’s thigh. Chance jerked from her touch. “I don’t think I’m needed at your family meeting.”

  Dax smirked. “Gigi and I have made it through one of the toughest tests of our relationship. No thanks to you.”

  Chance froze. His legs were wide apart as though he might tackle Dax. Jane could see him analyzing the situation, and she didn’t have a clue what he’d figured out. She was completely lost.

  Then, Gigi dramatically swept off the couch and threw herself into her husband’s arms. Their theatrical embrace lingered. Jane wanted to cover Teddy’s eyes. She waited for them to wrap it up when she realized they were posing for the cameras.

  She turned to Chance. Furrowed lines creased over his forehead. His eyes were tight and narrow.

  Dax and Gigi changed positions and kissed like horny teenagers. Jane cleared her throat and shielded Teddy from the over-the-top PDA, only vaguely aware that the cameras filmed her range of reactions, from disgust to distrust.

  The messy kiss ended then Dax motioned to Teddy. “Come on here, buddy. Get in on this family hug.”

  Dumfounded, Jane blinked and clutched her arms around Teddy like a seatbelt. The little boy didn’t move.

  “Teddy, my love, come here,” Gigi cooed.

  A cold chill ran down Jane’s spine. She hated Dax and Gigi more now than she had hated her own parents.

  “I don’t wanna,” Teddy whispered.

  Dax and Gigi held their arms out and, as if choreographed, surged toward Teddy. They pulled him off Jane’s lap and into a three-way embrace.

  Teddy disappeared between his hugging parents, and Jane searched Chance’s face for answers. He scowled, his expression radiating with contempt, then mouthed what she already knew, “Acting for the cameras.”

  Sickened, she turned toward the camera crew and glared. Everything had been for the television crew; the cheating accusations, the Caribbean vacation, and Dax’s maniacal behavior. Neither even spoke to their son all week! Though that wasn’t terribly out of character. But still, Teddy heard the slamming doors, shouting, and had to live in this virtual minefield of a home? For what? A publicity stunt? A great episode of daytime television?

  The cameras cut, and the Thanes immediately abandoned Teddy with a slap on the back, all but confirming everything she just guessed.

  Teddy, confused and bewildered, looked as though he’d been holding his breath during their family hug. He raced to Jane and took her hand. They had to get out of there.

  She waved to Chance, certain this would be a hell of a topic to scrutinize later when they were off the clock and alone, and hurried the fastest way outside. Playing in the pool might be the only thing that turned this morning around. That, and breakfast.

  She groaned. The day had just barely started. What craziness would come next?

  CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

  Jane splashed her feet in the pool. Teddy splashed on the top step, making waves for his toy boats. The sun reached high overhead. They’d needed the free time to compress after the insanity of the Thane family meeting.

  Teddy raced a speed boat toward her legs and then back to his plastic fleet floating along the top step. “Hey, Janie?”

  She smiled, putting far too much effort into the acknowledgment. Yes, she was overcompensating, but the kid needed an overdose of love. “Yes, honey?”

  “You finished malting.”

  Her eyebrow arched. “What does that mean?”

  “Snakes malt,” he explained then jumped into the water. His little body made a big splash. Then he kicked and paddled to her spot on the ledge. “You stopped malting.”

  “Ah.” She couldn’t help but laugh. “Molting. With an O.” Jane held out her legs then examined her arms. She had already noticed the changes, trying not to obsess over them with topical lotions, aloe vera, and vitamin E oil. But while her flakiness was gone, sections of her skin were still discolored. A dermatologist explained that in some sections, the change in pigmentation or due to scarring would be permanent. “I’ve finished molting.”

  “Do you feel good in your new skin?”

  Man, that was a deep question. Teddy didn’t mean to probe, but she found herself reflecting on his question.

  “It looks nice,” he continued. “Same as your last layer of skin.”

  Out of the mouth of babes. “Yes, baby. I feel good in my skin.” She smiled, somewhat surprised at herself. “I feel comfortable in my skin.” Her smile deepened. Had Chance been the reason she’d been more accepting? Jane rolled her lips together and realized he wasn’t the root cause. It certainly didn’t hurt that the sexiest man on earth couldn’t keep his hands off of her. But, this body of hers had been through a lot. Physically. Mentally. And, here she was, smiling. Happy.

  Jane wasn’t a fool. Finding comfort in her body wasn’t easy. She’d had recent shaky moments, but more often, she’d had ones of lenity. Almost as though she’d given herself permission to be human. Fragile acceptance. But she had to start somewhere.

  “I don’t feel comfortable in my skin when I get out of the pool.” Teddy held up his pruning fingers. “My fingers are swiggly. Then I dry off, and I feel like I’ve been stretched.”

  Jane tipped her head back and laughed. He pulled himself out of the water, kicking water over her legs until he sat on the ledge, side by side. Dripping, he leaned against her side. They kicked the water together.

  Her stomach rumbled. They couldn’t stay outside forever. “Are you hungry?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Me too. Besides, if we spend any more time in the pool right now, you might really turn into a prune.” She stood and retrieved their towels. He giggled and squirmed as she toweled him off, then he raced toward the deck stairs.

  Jane gathered her bag and followed, knowing they were about to run into trouble the moment Teddy faltered at the top step. She climbed the remaining stairs and saw Gigi was lounging in the sun, engrossed in a magazine.

  She and Teddy could creep down the stairs and enter the house a different way, but then their avoidance would be obvious. Plus, Jane didn’t want to reinforce Teddy’s avoidance of his mother.

  “Go on,” Jane whispered. “It’s okay.”

  The little boy kept his eyes down and ignored the woman lounging on the patio in a tiny red bikini, reading behind massive dark sunglasses. They quietly walked toward the sliding glass door. If Gigi noticed them, she chose to ignore the interruption.

  Jane pulled the door open. It squeaked. She was sure it’d never made a sound before, and she cringed.

  As if on cue, Gigi called, “Jane?”

  Her skin crawled as her name drawled out. Teddy froze like a deer in headlights. Jane twisted, not moving away from the boy or the door. “Yes?”

  Gigi nonchalantly flipped a page and then another as though testing how long they would wait for her to speak. “Lark mentioned that you have a little infatuation over Chance Evans.”

  Irritation prickled under Jane’s skin. She tried to hide it and kissed Teddy on top of his head, ushering him through the open door. “Go to the kitchen, and I’ll meet you in a few.”

  He scurried off, grateful for a reason to leave and certain that meant he’d get to eat whatever he asked for. Jane slid the door shut, took a calming breath, and approached her boss. “Actually.” She cleared her throat. “I wanted to talk to you ab
out him.”

  “I bet,” Gigi cracked, never raising her eye from the magazine. “He’s very attractive. Men with physical traits like his are few and far between.”

  And do much more. “He’s—”

  “Quite the specimen,” Gigi finished for her then folded her magazine into her lap, finally glancing toward Jane. “A man like Chance can’t be caged.”

  Already uncomfortable with Gigi’s description of Chance, Jane faltered, having never thought of relationships like cages before.

  “They’re primal beasts,” Gigi continued. “They have needs and desires that cannot be met under normal circumstances.” She paused pointedly. “Not from ordinary, Plain Jane women.”

  Jane clamped molars together, not willing to jump at the bait.

  “However.” Gigi pulled her sunglasses to the tip of her nose and eyed Jane coldly. “Men like Chance Evans will alleviate their urges with substandard stand-ins until someone more appropriate comes along.” She left off the predictable like me and pushed her sunglasses up again. “I do like spending time with him. He has an ass you just want to bite.”

  Her lips flattened. From territorial to down-right bitchy, a million responses flooded her mind. But that was what Gigi wanted. Jane wouldn’t stoop to her level. Her teeth ground, but she managed, “If that’s all. I’ll go find Teddy.”

  Gigi held up a hand. “Not before I’m sure you understand my point.”

  Her point? She was gorgeous. He was gorgeous. They should have gorgeous people sex. A few weeks ago, Jane might have crumbled under self-doubt. But now she didn’t disguise her revulsion. The only thing she had to be concerned with was keeping her job for Teddy’s sake. She twisted her fingers into the wet towel. “You want to bite someone who works for you?”

  Conceited contempt curled across Gigi’s bright pink smile. “My, my, Jane. You do have a little crush.” She picked up a magazine, snickering. “How very perfect.”