Page 29 of Blake

She looked up and tilted her head. “Getting changed to go see my parents,” she answered as if he was being ridiculous.

“You don’t seriously dress up to see your parents, do you?”

Pax smirked. “You most certainly do.” She indicated her skinny jeans, ballet flats, and green peasant top which he thought looked fucking fantastic on her. “My mother would skin me alive if I turned up like this.”

He couldn’t imagine having to dress up to see his family. They had seen him hungover, sick, drunk, and lounging in his pants on the couch. He had never felt judgement from them. They were his family and they loved him regardless of what he wore. For Pax though, he would do what it took to make her feel comfortable. He grabbed his case. “I guess I better change too then.”

“Oh no, you don’t have to. I’m the only one that will be found wanting. My mother will eat you with a spoon—literally—if you let her,” she said without humour.

Blake continued to pull his case towards him. “Regardless, if you’re changing so am I. Strength in numbers, right?” he said with a wink.

Pax smiled and cupped his face with her soft hands, a strange look passing over her face. “Thank you,” she said simply and with that disappeared into the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later she emerged while he was texting Reid to say they would be down soon. He looked up and saw she had done a bang up job of hiding most of the bruising on her face. He could still make out some near her cheek but all in all, it was a good job. Not that anything, even black eyes, could take away from her beauty. The look she had gone for was pure Pax—elegant, sexy, sleek, and sophisticated. It suited her. She was stunning, but he still preferred her in jeans or a simple summer skirt and vest top. Not that he got or deserved any say on how she dressed. She was her own person and he had no intention of telling her how to be her awesome self.

This though, this was armour and he was going to find out what she needed it for if it killed him.

“You changed,” she said as she picked up her bag from the bed.

“Yeah, it’s no big deal,” he said indicating the navy suit and white shirt sans tie he wore.

“It is,” she said with a wrinkle of her nose. “I feel like I need to pee on you to stop my mother from flirting with you.”

“Yeah, not really my kink.” He laughed as he put his hand to her back and ushered her to the door.

“No, me neither.”

She had relaxed a little, but he couldn’t help feeling the nerves that were emanating from her as they rode the lift to the ground floor. They stepped off and walked through the foyer towards the bar where he could see Reid, Waggs, and Decker standing at the bar with women admiring them like they were pastries in a bakery.

Blake stopped short when Pax froze in front him, almost making him walk into her. She was staring towards the front door, her eyes wide. He followed her line of sight and saw two men with heavy builds in black suits. Typical bodyguard attire—he would know, he’d worn it for long enough as a PPO. Both men were more than likely armed, one bald, the other had long hair pulled into a low ponytail.

“Who are those men?” He already had an idea but wanted Pax to confirm it.

“My father’s personal protection, Eddie and Pete.” She sighed. “They’re okay. I just wasn’t expecting them so soon.”

“How did they know you were here?” He didn’t like that they were being ambushed.

Pax turned to him and shrugged. “We didn’t exactly hide the fact, and like I said, my dad knows everything.”

The two men waited a respectful distance away not attempting to approach her.

“Let’s have a quick word with the guys then we can leave but we take a cab. I’m not being dictated to by them.”

Pax nodded her agreement as he took her hand and they walked towards the bar area.

Waggs saw them and quickly shooed the clearly irritated young women who were hanging on their every word away. One had the audacity to glare openly at Pax. He felt her prickle beside him.

Instead of cutting the girl to ribbons with her tongue, Pax smiled sweetly at her.

The young woman confused by Pax’s smile huffed and stormed off as Decker chuckled. “You probably just cost her three weeks in therapy.”

Pax shrugged her shoulders and smiled, although it didn’t reach her eyes. Blake quietly and swiftly brought the guys up to speed.

“Keep in touch and if we haven’t checked in by eighteen hundred hours, call Jack, and let him know we’re not back.”

He didn’t believe that would happen. Pax’s father wasn’t stupid and even if he was, Blake had a little plan up his sleeve to keep them safe in the short term. Pax had been unsure but eventually agreed. It was smart even if she didn’t like the idea.

With his hand in hers he kissed their joined hands and grinned. “Let’s go meet the parents.”