kissing her for the first time as a man, claiming her sweet bee-stung lips.
“Oh,” she gasped.
“I really like the way you blush. Makes me wonder if you turn this same color all over.” He ran his knuckle down her jaw to the front of her neck where the dress scooped right above the swell of her breasts, all prim and proper.
“You make my knees weak. I could see myself losing all sense with you.” Her chest rose and fell in a deep exhale.
“That’s alright, sassy girl. I’ll catch you if you fall. If you get lost, you can bet your sweet ass I’ll find you, or I’ll be there getting lost with you.”
“Hey, are you okay? I saw that drunk ass Langley almost run you over. I already called the sheriff’s office. They asked if there were any injuries. When I said I didn’t think so they told me to tell you to come in and file a report.”
Keys took a deep breath before turning to face whoever was behind him. Repeating the mantra to not kill the messenger cooled his inner serial killer, some. “Thanks for your assist. Did you tell them what you saw?”
The young man nodded; his gaze awestruck.
“Did they take your name and ask you to come in for a statement?” He knew standard protocol. However, this wasn’t a normal situation.
“Um, no, they just said for you to come in.”
He wasn’t sure what the kid saw on his face that had him stepping backward. It took effort, but Keys schooled his features into the one he showed the public. “Thanks, kid. Here.” He fished his wallet out, extracting a card and a fifty-dollar bill.
“Oh, no, I don’t need that.”
Keys heard truth in his tone, making him more firm in his actions. “Listen, I repay those who do me a solid. You did a good deed for us. Now, take the money and run. That card has a number for you to ring if you ever need help.”
He wouldn’t tell him it was monitored by a system that filtered calls, making whoever the caller is, unaware of where the call is being answered and by who. Paranoid has kept him and his brothers safe all these years for a reason. Sure, the Royals had done a damn fine job before he’d joined them. However, he’d made them richer than they’d been and given them a level of cyber security than superseded even that of the government.
Palmer’s hand slipping into his pocket, not the one with his wallet but the other, tempered him. “Sassy girl, I want you to carry Hoss unless he’s too heavy for you. Can you do that?” They didn’t have far to go to reach their destination, but he didn’t want the baby in the carrier if he had to pick them up again.
“Yeah, I can carry him and the stroller.” Her voice shook, pissing him off.
Spinning back around, he lifted her chin so she could see his face when he spoke. “I can and will keep you safe. I asked you before if you trusted me and you said yes. I’m asking you again. Do you trust me?”
She licked her lips, nodding.
“I want the words.”
“Yes, I trust you.”
“Good girl.” He gave her a swift hard kiss, breaking away as a tiny little fist punched him in the jaw. “Is that right, hoss baby? You gonna knock me out if I kiss your mama? Well I hate to break it to you, little buddy, but I plan to do a lot more of that.” He gave the kid a gentle kiss on his forehead. Damn kid tugged at a heartstring he hadn’t known he possessed. He gathered up the groceries that had fallen out of the bags and his people, ‘cause that was exactly what Palmer and Jaxson were, his.
Chapter Six
Palmer wanted to weep at the easy affection Keys gave both her and her son. Watching him talk to Jaxson like he was a person instead of insult him—like the bastard who’d fathered him, made her wish she could go back in time. Of course, she wouldn’t do that because then she wouldn’t have her sweet boy. Life and its curves sucked sometimes.
They made it back to the Bed & Breakfast without further incident. That was until they entered the front door. Karla, the owner was waiting for them. Or rather she seemed to be waiting for Palmer. The nice woman who had bought and renovated the old estate, looked as though she’d been