Page 37 of False Start

Risk itall.

I swallowed down the lump in my throat, pressing a hand over where my heart was racing rapidly in my chest.

Kyle lowered his voice to say one other thing, and then he clapped Marshall on the shoulder and started walking back to me.

This time, all pretense ofjust friendswas gone.

Because Kyle walked right up to me, framed my face in his massive hands, and pressed a long, slow kiss…

To my forehead.

Heat spread like lava over every inch of me the longer he held his lips there, branding me as I closed my eyes and fought against the shiver that chased that heat. I tingled from that point of contact all the way to my toes.

It was more powerful than if he would have shoved his tongue down my throat and hiked my leg up, than if he would have pinned me against the nearest tree and had his way with me.

Because that kiss claimed me. It sent a message to my ex-husband.

But it was also innocent enough not to cause questions for my son.

The fact that Kyle understood how importantthatpart of the equation was made me weak in the knees.

“I’ve got you,” he whispered against my skin when he broke the kiss, and then he pulled me under his arm, smiling at Marshall just as he rejoined us.

Marshall was still pissed — that was easy to see. But something Kyle had said had sobered or scared him enough that he didn’t push any further than he already had.

“I’m picking him up at 6 PM sharp on Sunday,” he said, his gaze hard on mine.

“Wonderful. We’ll see you then,” Kyle interjected, his smile growing as he tucked me more into his side.

Emphasis on thewemade Marshall vibrate with rage, but he smoothed his hands over his scrubs and tugged on the lapel of his white coat like he wasn’t bothered, and then he left.

As soon as his car pulled away, Kyle turned, framing my arms in his hands as his eyes searched me like Marshall might have bruised me when he wasn’t looking.

“You okay?”

I nodded, clearing my throat and stepping away from his grasp. Ineededthat distance. My head was spinning in a way that was dangerous the longer he held onto me.

“I’m good,” I said with more confidence than I felt. “What did you say to him?”

Kyle shrugged. “I just made it clear that I’m not going anywhere, and that if he wants to live, he’ll learn to keep his hands to himself when it comes to you.”

My heart skipped a beat.

God,why did hearing him say that turn my insides to goop?

I hoped I was convincing when I rolled my eyes and smirked up at him, hoped he couldn’t see right through me. “So much for subtlety.”

“Did you hear how many times he asked who I was even after I told him?” Kyle asked, pointing a thumb over his shoulder. “That guy is too stupid for subtle.”

I tried to fight it but couldn’t win against the laugh that broke free from my chest. Kyle smiled in victory when I gave in to it, and then Sebastian was running over to us again.

“Can Kyle come over and play?” he asked me as soon as he was in front of our blanket. “I want to show him Titan!”

I was surprised by how much I wanted to say yes to that request, but I squelched the desire. I obviously needed some space to think clearly again.

Apparently, watching Kyle Robbins serve as a knight in shining armor obliterated all my feminism and turned me to mush.

“Not today, little man. But soon, okay?”