Page 33 of Tempt Me-

I catch sight of an unfamiliar manila envelope on the counter.“What’s this?”

“Oh, my God.”The color drains from Mia’s face.“With all the excitement of what happened at school and then the break-in, I completely forgot!Shit.”She winces, glancing at Bailey.“I was subpoenaed to testify at a retrial for my old boss.”

“I thought he was in jail?”The hair on the back of my neck begins to prickle uncomfortably.

“Apparently, he got off on a technicality, and it took the DA a while to find me since I moved out of state.”

“Mia, do you think he has anything to do with the guy who approached you at the supermarket?Or this?”I gesture to the still-broken glass by the back door.

“I… The supermarket definitely.Threats are something he’d do.A break-in?”She shakes her head.“He’s done nothing like that in my past experience.”

“Detective?”A uniformed officer walks out from the hallway where Mia’s room is.“I found this on the bed in the extra room down here.”He holds up a white paper with typing on it.

The detective accepts the sheet.“‘Mind your own business,’” he reads out loud.

I shoot Mia a knowing look.“Still so convinced?”I ask her.

“Oh, my God.I’m sorry.I mean, I had no idea there even was a retrial until today.I’ll pack.I’ll go.I would never put you or Bailey in any danger.I’m so sorry.”She starts for her room but I stop her, grabbing her arm.

“Whoa.Slow down.You’re not going anywhere.”

Panic rushed through me at her words.She isn’t leaving when she is in trouble.Guarding against it is my specialty, and I’ve already arranged for Bailey to be away from things for a while.School can wait.She is only six, after all.If Mia is going to turn to anyone, it will be me.

“But—”

“Please go help Bailey pack.I’ll fill the detective in on your situation, and you can answer any questions when you’re finished.Okay?”I glance at the other man, not wanting to step on toes.

“Fine.Make it quick,” he says to Mia, his gaze softening when he glances at Bailey.

I begin to explain Mia’s previous employer’s trial, conviction, and subsequent release, and while I am doing so, my parents arrive.It takes a few minutes to calm my mother down and reassure her the break-in is under control and everyone is safe and will remain so.

My dad steps up and ushers Bailey and his wife out of the house.I kiss my daughter good-bye and promise to video chat with her later.Mia and I finish up with the police, and they say they will let me know about anything new they find out.

Finally, the cops are gone, Bailey is safely with my parents, and Mia and I are alone.

I walk up to her and grasp both hands in mine.“Do you really think I’d let you go through this alone?”

“I think you’d put your daughter first, and you should.”

“And I did.She’s safe with my parents.Now I’m going to take care of you.”

She meets my gaze, gratitude and something more shining in the depths of her eyes.“Thank you—”

I pull her close, cutting her off by sealing my lips over hers.I kiss her hard, wanting her to understand that she is a priority, as much as I don’t want to admit that to myself.I don’t want anything to happen to her, and not because being a protector is ingrained in my veins.No, it is because this is Mia, and she’s gotten under my skin.

“What am I going to do?”she asks.

“You mean, what arewegoing to do?”I correct her.“First, I’m going to clean up the mess and board the window.We’ll spend the night here, and first thing tomorrow, we’ll get on the road.”

Her eyes open wide.“Where are we going?”

“The papers say you don’t testify for another week or two.We have time.And I have a cabin upstate.We’re going to get away from everything for a few days while I think and formulate a plan to deal with both my ex-wife and your former employer.”

“Okay.”

“And Mia?”

“Yes?”