Page 28 of Danger and Dominance (Black Fox Security Doms #1)

With a groan, David leaned forward to bang his head against the top of his steering wheel. Yeah, okay, he could imagine that. Unfortunately.

“Next week, we’re making crochet cocks.”

“I’m going to pretend you said socks.”

“No, I said?—”

“Anyway,” he interrupted her loudly. “Any activity you want to take part in that is not out in public is fine. If you want to do something like shopping in a store, going to the library, or those craft fairs you like, we’ll need to know ahead of time so we can schedule a guard, which is the same as before. ”

“That’s about the same as what you already told me, isn’t it?” His grandmother sounded amused.

“Close enough, but I wanted you to be aware of the possibility that her ex really is looking for her and that we don’t know where he is or how to track him. And to be extra careful any time the two of you leave the house.”

“That’s fine, dear.” The dismissive way she said it had him a little worried that she wasn’t taking the situation as seriously as he might like, but at least she was forewarned. Cassidy would take it seriously. “I still want her as my companion. I’ll see you for church tomorrow?”

“See you tomorrow morning,” he confirmed before they said their goodbyes and hung up. He didn’t waste any time getting out of the car and heading up to the front door where he knocked before punching in the code on the door to let himself in.

He was greeted on the other side by a scowling Jensen in a fighting stance.

“You couldn’t take two seconds for me to verify it was you?” Jensen complained.

“Sorry. It’s just a quick stop. I need to get home.” David looked as apologetic as he could make himself, considering he didn’t feel apologetic at all.

“It’s David?” Cassidy’s voice preceded her down the staircase.

She peeked around the corner before descending.

The high from the pot brownies had definitely worn off.

He hadn’t realized how much it had changed her demeanor, how much it had relaxed her before he saw the difference between then and now.

That or the news that her ex had gone underground had made her even more tense than before, which was entirely possible.

“Hey. I talked to Kincaid, and I just wanted to swing by and check on things.” He didn’t mention that ‘things’ was really her. Instead, he tore his gaze away from hers, looking around as if taking in the house as a whole.

The urge to reach out and touch her, to pull her into his arms and reassure her that everything was going to be okay, was stronger than he’d anticipated.

If Jensen wasn’t there, he didn’t know if he would be able to resist. Thankfully, the presence of one of his team members helped him stay professional.

“Everything’s fine,” Jensen reassured him, eyeing David somewhat suspiciously. He knew that this wasn’t David’s normal mode of operation. “Situation normal.”

“I’m fine,” Cassidy said, though she was looking at him anxiously. “Unless... am I fired?”

“You are not fired. My grandmother has been updated, and she’s very happy to keep you on…

in fact, she accused me of trying to keep you from her.

” He let his wry amusement show, which made Cassidy smile, and that made his effort worth it.

“We’re going to try to limit how much you go out in public, so we’d prefer online ordering to going to stores…

that kind of thing. But you can still accompany her to her friends’ houses and the center in the retirement community without having to take extra precautions.

There’s no way anyone could follow you there without the residents being completely in their business. ”

Her shoulders dropped as her tension released. Guiltily, David realized that a lot of her anxiety had been over her job. Still, she wasn’t entirely relaxed.

“Does Brenda understand the danger?” Reaching up, she rubbed her forehead. “Maybe I should just stay here. That would be safer, right? I don’t want to put anyone else in danger, especially not your grandmother.”

“Hey.” David moved forward, reaching up to take her hand and pull it down away from her forehead, squeezing her fingers with his.

His voice gentled as he looked down at her, her gaze still not quite meeting his.

“I wouldn’t let you do it if I thought it was unsafe.

Don was a douche, and he was harassing your friends, but he hadn’t escalated beyond that.

There’s no reason to think that he’d harm my grandmother…

if his disappearance even has anything to do with you.

Do you want to live your whole life based on what he might do? ”

“No.” Now, she did meet his gaze. Hers was somber. “But I don’t know that I’d be able to forgive myself if anything happened to Brenda.”

“Trust me, my grandmother would tell you that she’s an adult who can make her own decisions.

It wouldn’t be your fault if Don did something.

It would be Don’s. And even though we’ve taken a lot of measures to get you out of D.C.

and keep you safe, it’s because we’re trying to be proactive rather than waiting ‘til he escalated further and harmed you.” Her fingers gripped his more tightly as he spoke, and he moved in a little closer, his other hand coming up to hold hers between his.

“That doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed to harm you or anyone else. There’s every chance he just decided to move elsewhere. And we will find him, but there’s no reason to think he’s headed here or, even if he somehow magically knew where you were, that he’s reached the point of violence toward anyone.”

Cassidy let out a long breath.

“I know. Logically, I know, but…” Her voice trailed off, her free hand lifting to press against her stomach. “Sometimes, my brain only pushes the nightmare scenarios at me.”

Sliding one hand up her arm, trying not to think too much about how silky soft her skin was, David rubbed up and down to soothe her.

“Let me think about those scenarios. You just concentrate on you. We’ve got you.” His voice had gentled. Softened to something almost intimate. Her gaze was trained on his, her nearness making his entire body tingle as he shifted closer to her again. They were almost touching.

And she wasn’t moving away.

Her chin was up, head tilted back, almost like she was inviting him in for a kiss.

Their faces were mere inches away.

Jensen cleared his throat.

Cassidy jumped as if she’d forgotten he was there.

David had forgotten, for just a moment, but he managed to keep from jumping, though he did take a step back.

Dropping her hand, he took another step, raking his hand through his hair.

He was far too aware of the amused expression on Jensen’s face, the man’s arms crossed over his chest as he raised one eyebrow.

David felt his face flame. Most times, he didn’t mind being a redhead, but sometimes, like now, he wished he didn’t blush so damn easily. He was mostly unflappable, but when something did get to him, everyone knew it.

“Anyway, uh, like I said, I was just dropping by to make sure you are… that everything is okay.” Fuck, he needed to get out of here before he made a bigger fool of himself. “My grandmother is looking forward to seeing you on Monday.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing her, too.” Cassidy had recovered, though her cheeks were pink, too, and she was avoiding his gaze again.

Time to get out of Dodge.

“Great. Jensen, I’ll see you on Monday.”

“Sir, yes sir,” Jensen replied a little too cheerfully, stopping just short of actually saluting.

Fuck.

David was going to be avoiding the team’s group chat today.