Page 18 of Innocent Salvation

Her easy acceptance seemed to stun him for a second before he nodded and gave her a tiny almost imperceptible smile. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Will there be anything else?”

“No, not if you’re happy to stay in your current position.”

“I am. I love being with Fleur and there’s no evidence to suggest we’re in danger. However, I’ll be extra careful. But if you’re concerned, I have a friend who owns a security company who might be able to give you some advice on security or perhaps personal protection for you and Fleur.”

It was an off the cuff comment but what better way to get one of the other Shadow members close than to have them here as security. At worst, they could have a look around and see if they could find anything she hadn’t had a chance to.

Sebastian seemed to ponder that for a second before he glanced at his laptop and then answered. “Send me their details and I’ll look into it. I think some extra cover for Fleur is a good idea.”

“I’ll email the details over.”

A noise from the floor below told her that Fleur was now awake, and she was back on the clock. “That’s my cue to go get the teddy bears ready for their picnic. Feel free to join us later if you wish. I’m sure Fleur would be happy to extend you an invite.”

Her lips curved up at the warm look on his face and her heart gave an involuntary jump. She’d need to watch herself with this man or she’d lose sight of the objective and that couldn’t happen. A little angel’s happiness was on the line, and she wouldn’t let her down as all the adults in her own life had done.

Chapter 8

He hadn’t planned to, but Sebastian had decided to take a few days off. The case had been adjourned for a few days until they could determine that the defendant or his cohorts weren’t involved in any way in Margaret’s death. He’d holed up in his office the last two days working on his sister’s family secrets and finding a way to bring down Patrick Dupont that didn’t implicate him in the process. Not that he cared if he went to prison if it meant an end to the man, but he had Fleur to think of.

He was her only family now and he wouldn’t do anything to jeopardise her safety or happiness, and life in the system, while he was in prison, would be hell. He’d worked enough cases to know there were good people out there, but he also saw the worst of people and he wouldn’t risk that she’d be one of the unfortunate ones, or worse, somehow end up with that evil bastard and his mother.

Taking off the glasses he wore when he got tired, he rubbed the bridge of his nose where a headache was beginning to form. The light was starting to dim as the day began to end and he realised he’d once again secluded himself away from the person who needed him most.

Fleur was a bundle of joy and energy and every time he looked at her, he was reminded of his sister and her zest for life. They’d been so different, him staid and controlled, her so free and wild and yet they were close, and he’d loved her and missed the life she brought into his dull existence. Growing up the way they had forced them to be co-conspirators in so many ways, but he’d been the big brother and a proud one too. In the end, though, he hadn’t been able to help her find her way through the pain and depression that had marred her life like a black cloud, only lifting at brief times to let the sun shine through her so bright it was blinding.

Standing, Sebastian stretched his tight muscles, his shirt lifting over his abs just as the door to his study flew open and Fleur rushed inside followed by a harassed looking Snow. He hadn’t seen her much since their exchange the other day and he drank in the sight of her now as she let her eyes wander over him, a blush staining her cheeks pink before she seemed to snap out of it.

“I’m sorry, she took off like a rabbit.”

He smiled and crouched to his niece who threw herself into his arms. Sebastian stood with her in his arms and turned his attention to Fleur. “And what can I do for you, munchkin?”

“I want to watch a movie and eat popcorn and I want you to do it with us.” Her eyes moved to Snow who was watching them with a strange warm look on her face. “Snow said we could build a fort and watch a movie under there on the laptop.”

“Is that so?” His gaze returned to Snow, and he noticed the way the simple blue cotton dress she wore hugged the curves that were usually hidden. She wore hideous black biker boots on her feet and the combination on her seemed to work. She was so far from his type as to be laughable but whenever he was around her all he could think about was how she might taste or feel beneath his hands.

“I told Fleur you were busy, but you know how it is when an idea takes root.”

He did know and at the moment she was the idea he couldn’t shake. “I do and I have the time. But I need food first, I forgot lunch.”

“Yes!” A little hand of triumph shot in the air at his easy capitulation, and he tickled Fleur’s tummy making her giggle.

“I could reheat some of Mrs Lewis’s lasagne for you?”

“Or we could order pizza.” He glanced at Fleur to see the look of approval on her face and knew it was the right call. Bending, he set her down on her feet. “Go sort the fort for us in the den and I’ll order the pizza.”

His niece ran to Snow and slipped her hand into hers, dragging her toward the door. “Come on, he said yes. We need to build it before he changes his mind.”

That comment, said so innocently, hurt more than he thought it would and he vowed to spend more time with his niece and not cancel his plans with her.

Following behind them, he could hear them laughing and talking in the den as he took the menu from the kitchen drawer. He had no idea what Snow liked and went to ask her only to find her on her hands and knees, her sexy ass in the air tempting him in a way he didn’t need but couldn’t seem to walk away from.

“Ms Goubert, what would you like on your pizza?”

A flushed face looked up at him, her hair escaping the braid she wore it in, and she wrestled with the sheet. “Anything, I’m not fussy.”

Sebastian went back to the kitchen to place the order and while there he took a call from the man Snow had suggested he use for his security. He’d checked them out and their credentials were impeccable with no red flags of any kind. “Mr O’Scanlan, thank you for calling me back.”