Billionaire Protector - Alexa Hart Page 0,46

the worst possibility of all.

The Hardicks were famous. They had their own paparazzi following. Paparazzi meant pictures. Pictures meant publicity. Publicity meant that even a hillbilly asshole moron could find me, were I to accidentally make it into one of those pictures.

And as much as I wanted to believe that Tim was a moron, he was actually much smarter than Randall. He wouldn’t just stumble upon a picture of me. He’d home in on it like a jet missal.

Then he would home in on Murphy and me.

And possibly the Hardicks, just to get to me.

They lived deep in the Colorado woods, but they weren’t unreachable. For Christ’s sake, they owned a ranch that catered to visitors. In their own way, they welcomed the public.

Tim could just show up, rent a cabin, and take us all out one by one. I wouldn’t put it past him to even harm the horses.

He’s ruthless.

Sweet Payden, happy-go-lucky Jessie... Literally every person here was in danger if I became associated with the Hardicks.

I looked at Penn, still fast asleep. I couldn’t imagine there ever being a more perfect man in my life. He was gorgeous and smart and funny and just so incredibly good.

I didn’t want to leave him ever.

But I’d never actually deserved to find him in the first place, had I? Penn had found me and mistaken me for something I wasn’t.

He’d mistaken me for something I never could be.

I rolled away from him until Murphy was the only thing I could see. I hadn’t deserved such a perfect little boy either, but here he was. He was mine – my responsibility and my heart all rolled into one tiny, chubby little body.

It hit me then that they would judge Murphy as well. My perfect boy would somehow become tainted in their eyes once the Hardicks knew what a piece of shit I was.

I would never allow that to happen.

Murphy was pure. Innocent. Murphy was going to have a good life – I would make damn sure that happened.

“We shouldn’t be here, buddy,” I whispered to him in a barely audible voice. “We gotta get going.”

I looked back over my shoulder at Penn – handsome as hell and so peaceful. This time I didn’t even bother whispering. I simply mouthed the words, “I’m sorry.”

9

Penn

I hadn’t slept so soundly in years. Partially, it had been exhaustion. Anne and I had quite the enjoyable workout session in my bed. But more so, it was just Anne – period.

She was amazing.

I’d given her a t-shirt and shorts to sleep in when we were finally ready for sleep. The shorts had slid straight down her legs even after the drawstring was as tight as it could go.

She’d laughed it off, telling me that my t-shirt nightgown would be more than enough fabric for her to sleep in. When she insisted on returning to the guest room to sleep with Murphy, I insisted on accompanying her.

I hadn’t actually known how that would go, but she’d agreed instantly. Something about being close to Anne and keeping her safe made me feel... complete.

She snuggled into me, Murphy snuggled into her, and I had my first ever flash of what having a family – my own family – might be like.

Awesome.

The only thing sweeter than going to sleep with Anne and Murphy was knowing that I would wake up to the same adorable picture.

I turned toward her, ready to kiss the living hell out of her face – but she was gone. So was Murphy.

They’re probably downstairs eating breakfast. I bet Betsy is going overboard with the pancake animals for Murphy.

It was just now 7:30 a.m. That had to be it. Murphy had woken, and Anne wanted to let me sleep, so they went off exploring. Whichever family member nabbed them first had almost certainly directed them to the breakfast dining room.

I jumped out of bed, convincing myself no panic was necessary. Anne had been different – good different – after we made love. She’d let me in.

In multiple ways.

I had a feeling that things were going to be different for us from here on out. I bounced down the main staircase, happier than I’d been... maybe ever.

We’d just had to burn through that first layer of ice. And there’d definitely been enough heat last night to do that.

I felt the ridiculous urge to skip but I buried it. Strolling into the bright, giant room that Betsy always served us breakfast in, I immediately realized that Anne and Murphy were not