“I’m sure I won’t, but why don’t you go ahead and rip off the Band-Aid? The suspense is grating on my nerves.”
She nods. “You’re right, let’s just get it over with.”
Holy shit. This must be huge. With my hands secured in my pockets, I meet her eyes.
You’re fine, Theo. Whatever she says, you will be fine. There are other girls out there. So what? You fucked up. Lesson learned.
Fuck, that’s not helping.
“He’s a veteran. I found him last week, hypothermic, in a ditch. I think he’s homeless. And I’m helping him get back on his feet.”
I choke. Literally, choke. Homeless? Has she lost her fucking mind? “Ans! Are you crazy?”
I am seething. Did she seriously bring a homeless guy in here to play house? “You could have been killed!”
She’s shaking her head in disagreement, but it doesn’t deter my yelling. “Or robbed. Or worse than that, raped!” I start to pace. It’s hard to focus on anything when my head gets jumbled up like this. Holy shit! A homeless guy!
Warm hands wrap around my waist. “I’m okay, Teddy.” Her voice is barely a whisper.
She’s trying to calm the raging inferno inside my head. It’s not working. I try to get free of her embrace but she holds tight.
“Don’t do this,” she demands, her voice firm. “I am an adult. I’m fine.”
Fine! She could have been lying in a pool of her own blood for an entire month. No one would have known she was harboring a stranger! “This is the stupidest thing I think you have ever done!” I yell.
Snatching free of her grip, I barrel past her, set on finding this asshole who would take advantage of my incredibly dumbass girl. Body tense, I search through the living room, throwing blankets and magazines as I go just to be an asshole.
“Where is he?” I shout, slinging one of the gloves I left on the table the last time I was here. It misses the TV by inches. “Tell me where he is, Ans!”
I’m unhinged, stomping through the hall like a beast when she steps in front me, a barrier between me and the guest bath.
“What are you doing?” I sneer as I stalk toward her. Her bottom lip starts to quiver. I’m scaring her. Good. She should be scared. I’m barely containing my fury right now. She lunges for the bathroom door when she sees my eyes track to the light coming from underneath.
“Is he in there?” I rush her, attempting to get my hand on the handle first. Before either of us can lay claim, the door wrenches open.
Steam billows out through the entryway as a dark-haired man, clad only in a white towel, crowds the opening. “Everything okay, Commander?”
Commander? What the fuck kind of kinky games are they playing? My jaw starts to tick. I need to text Thad and warn him that I’m about to go to jail and lose my position in the MLB.
“Commander?” I scoff, glaring at this new man in Anniston’s life.
The “vet” returns my glare and steps out of the bathroom with a fierceness in his eyes. With powerful strides, he reaches me in seconds, but before he can lay a hand on me, Anniston wedges her body between us.
“I’m fine, Cade. This is Theo,” she explains with a hand on his chest. “He’s just a little surprised is all. He wouldn’t hurt me.” She looks back to me. “Would you, Theo?”
Fuck yeah, I would. I feel like whooping her ass just for being a dumbass. But survival sets in as I meet the giant’s eyes. His chest is heavily marred by scars as he takes slow and steady breaths, his hands balled at his sides, prepared for a fight. This man has seen battle. I don’t doubt this man has killed.
Knowing when to retreat, I raise my hands in surrender. “Never,” I answer her question with confidence. “I would never hurt you.”
She smiles and turns back to the beast. “See? I’m okay.” She gives his chest a little shove. “Why don’t you go get dressed and we’ll all sit down for dinner.”
He doesn’t move or acknowledge her request. His eyes are locked on my face, threatening. I lift my eyebrow as if to suggest he is a pussy for taking orders from Ans, and he takes a menacing step toward me.
Anniston gives him another shove. “Go get dressed, Cade. I’ve got it.”
He tears his eyes away from me and gives Anniston a once-over. Verifying she is uninjured? She caresses his face and gives him “my smile.” My fucking smile! He nods in silent agreement and retreats to the guest room.
“I am going to beat your ass,” I tell her as soon as the door closes.
