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“Uh, yeah. But I don’t like how they zonk me out and it’s hard for me to wake up the next morning.” Well, even harder than usual. Because Immy wasn’t great at waking up under any circumstances.

“Anything else help?” he asked.

“What? Like an orgasm?” She slammed her hands over her mouth as soon as she said that. “Ididnotjustsaythat.”

To her shock, Tobias just grinned. “An orgasm can help.”

Immy shook her head and tried to slide off the countertop, but the darn man didn’t move. So, instead, she pulled herself back and attempted to climb off the other side of the island.

Only, before she could climb down, he was there, lifting her onto her feet.

“How did you move that quickly?”

He just shrugged. “Don’t be embarrassed.”

“Think that ship has sailed,” she grumbled. “It was nice meeting you, but if I see you again, please do not be offended if I hide in a bush or pretend I’m invisible. I’d really like that ability right now.”

His face softened with amusement and something else that she couldn’t figure out.

“Immy,” he said gently, reaching out to touch her arm.

“Is everything all right down here?”

She jumped, letting out a small cry as Jenner walked into the kitchen.

Oh. God.

Was she dreaming? She had to be, right? Because this could not be happening in real life.

On one side of her was Tobias. Strong. Big. Quiet. A man who she figured was used to taking control and getting his own way.

Jenner was like that too. He preferred to be in control, but maybe for other reasons. Because of his childhood. And she understood that.

Only she felt the opposite. Immy preferred not to have too much control. To not have to make too many decisions. They overwhelmed her easily and she got stressed. That’s why Jenner was always clear about her job and what tasks he wanted her to perform. It helped her to have clear instructions.

She glanced at Jenner. He was like the sun. Everywhere he went, the world lit up. People took notice. His smile instantly put people at ease. He could make you feel like you were special.

“Immy? What are you doing up? What are you both doing up?” he asked, eyeing Tobias.

Jenner was dressed in a pair of navy and white striped pajama bottoms.

And nothing else.

Lord. Be still her heart.

“I, uh, I couldn’t sleep.” She glanced down at her own pajamas. They were a pale pink with white bunnies on them.

Jeez. Why hadn’t she thought about what she was wearing before now? She didn’t even have a bra on.

She crossed her arms over her chest. It was one thing for Jenner and the others to see her in her pajamas. But she barely knew Tobias.

Well, having your boobs swinging around is probably the least of your worries .

She still couldn’t believe she’d said that an orgasm could help her sleep. What if he’d thought that she had wanted him to give her the orgasm?

God.

Immy didn’t really know how to flirt. She’d had no real experience. The guys had always protected her so heavily that she hadn’t had that normal teenage dating experience. And then after that . . . well . . . there had been Bob. But she’d thought Bob was a friend.

Bob had wanted more and Immy had had no idea.

So, yep, she had no game. No experience. And, apparently, she blurted stuff out without thinking first.

Dumbass.

Jenner frowned and then held open his arms. Without thought, she moved to him, cuddling into his side. Leaning down, he kissed her head.

“That’s no good. Nightmare?”

“Just couldn’t sleep so I was going to bake some cookies. I think I woke up Tobias.”

“Didn’t wake me. I was checking outside.”

“It’s dangerous to walk around at night,” she told him. “What if someone was out there? I don’t think your flashlight will help much.”

“I’m always prepared.” He winked at her.

Wait. Was he flirting?

Oh God. She wished she knew.

“When do you sleep?”

“Don’t need much,” Tobias told her.

“Come on, Immy,” Jenner said. “I’ll get you a pill and you can go back to bed.”

She nodded, chewing on her lip. The last thing she really wanted was to go back to bed. But she also didn’t want to wake up the rest of the household just because she couldn’t sleep.

“She doesn’t like the pills,” Tobias told Jenner. “They make her feel weird.”

Oh. Cupcakes.

Had Tobias really told Jenner that?

Jenner turned her to face him, his hand going to her chin to tilt her head back. “Immy? Is that true?”

“Umm.”

Jenner frowned down at her. “Immy. You never told me that. Why didn’t you say that you didn’t like taking them?”

“I don’t know. I just . . . you guys worry if I don’t sleep.”

“It’s no good if they make you feel funny,” Jenner told her. “We’ll find something else to help you when you can’t sleep.”

“I sleep pretty good most of the time. I’m just . . . worried about Maeve.”

Jenner nodded knowingly. “I get it. We all are. I don’t like trusting her protection to someone else. I wish she was here.”

“Gray Hawkins isn’t someone you mess with,” Tobias commented. “Your friend is in good hands.”

“Right. Thanks.” Jenner gave him a curious look. “And thanks for sitting up with Immy.” He turned back to her. “Next time, come get me, baby.”

“But you need your sleep too.”

“You’re more important.”

That really wasn’t true, but she appreciated the sentiment. He ushered her up the stairs and she turned to give Tobias a smile. Until she realized that she was pretending not to know him.

That was going to be tough.

He wasn’t the sort of man you could easily ignore.

Jenner tucked Immy back into bed.

“What can I do to help you sleep? Chamomile tea? A heating pad? A head rub?”

For some reason, she started blushing.

“What? What is it?”

“Nothing,” she muttered. “I don’t know what will help me sleep. I feel wide awake.”

There was something she wasn’t telling him and he didn’t like it.

“Did Tobias scare you? Did he say something?”

Her eyes widened. “Like what? I mean, no, of course not. He was really . . . nice.”

Nice? That wasn’t a word that he would use to describe the big guy downstairs.

He worked for Alejandro, so he was likely involved in criminal activities.

Jenner wasn’t sure if he wanted to know the details of his background, or if he’d ever been in jail.

He’d fielded plenty of complaints from the neighbors about all the guards Alejandro had sent.

Thankfully, all of them but Tobias and Saint had left.

They were taking turns patrolling. So far the stalker hadn’t been back.

And he didn’t expect that they would be. Not with Maeve gone. However, Alejandro was erring on the side of caution. And Jenner couldn’t really protest that.

Whatever kept his family safest was what he was going to choose. So he sent bribes to the neighbors and he’d agreed that Tobias and Saint could stay on.

For the moment.

But if he got any hint that they were doing something that they shouldn’t be . . . or if they were intimidating or scaring Immy . . . then they were out and he’d have to hire more security himself.

“Nice?” he asked.

“Uh, yeah.” She yawned and blinked slowly. He kneeled next to the bed and ran his fingers through her hair the way he knew she liked. “He is a bit weird, though.”

“Weird, how?”

That was it. He needed to go.

Why? Because he’s weird? Or because you didn’t like the way that he looked at Immy? Or how close she was standing next to him?

Immy could date.

Jenner didn’t have to like it, though.

Fuck. His feelings when it came to Immy were so fucked up that even he didn’t know how to describe them. Or what to do with them. He adored her. Loved her.

She was so pure and sweet and innocent.

That had to be protected at all costs. He had to protect Immy from everyone and everything.

Including himself.

“He doesn’t eat cookies.”

“What?” he asked.

Her eyes were now shut and she was hugging her toy owl close. “He’s weird ‘cause he doesn’t eat cookies. Who doesn’t eat cookies? It’s unnatural.”

Immy would think that since she thought that cookies should be their own food group.

“Everyone eats cookies. I’ll find what he likes.”

“You don’t need to make him cookies,” he told her.

“Course I do. Everyone should have someone make them cookies. Or cake. Or brownies. Or something.”

That was how Immy showed she cared about people. By baking for them. By buying them thoughtful presents for Christmas and birthdays. The amount of time she put into each gift was crazy.

She did it in other ways too. Like cleaning their cars or putting away their laundry when they were too busy to do it.

She did far too much for them all.

“You’re the best of all of us, Immy,” he whispered to her, gentling his touch as she slipped into sleep. “And I don’t deserve you. None of us do.”

But especially not him.

Jenner wasn’t sure how long he kneeled there and watched her sleep. He was worried about Maeve. They all were. So he should have realized it would affect Immy too. She couldn’t go long without sleep, though, or she’d get ill

So he was going to have to watch her for signs of too much stress or worry.

And he needed to research some new ways to help her get to sleep. Because obviously those sleeping pills had to go.

And it galled him that he hadn’t known that until some virtual stranger told him. Why had Immy even told Tobias that?

He didn’t really like it.

At all.