Page 48 of Keeping Guard

“Get out of my way.”

“No. You need to leave Peyton and her father alone right now.” He didn’t want to cause a scene, but if he had to physically carry the man away, he wouldn’t hesitate.

“What’s going on here?”

Noah glanced back at Peyton’s father. “Your daughter doesn’t want this man near her, so I’m making sure he stays away from her.”

“Gerald, this man threatened me. You need to call the police if he doesn’t leave,” Dalton said.

Her father stepped around him. “You’re the man from the waterfall.”

“Yes, sir. Noah Alba.” He held out his hand, not expecting her father to take it, but he did.

“I’m Gerald Sutton. Explain what’s going on.”

“What’s going on is this man—”

“I’m asking him,” Sutton said, shooting a glare at Dalton.

“As Peyton told you, she doesn’t want to marry him, but he’s harassing her, so she asked me to be her bodyguard for a few days.”Her person.

“That’s a lie,” Dalton said.

“So you didn’t break down her bathroom door when she locked herself in because she was afraid of you? You didn’t threaten to force her to marry you? You didn’t grab her so hard that you left a bruise on her arm?”

“This is ridiculous. Don’t listen to this man, Gerald.”

Noah opened his phone and brought up one of the photos he’d taken of her arm. He handed Sutton his phone. “I tried to get her to call the police, but all she wants is to be left alone.”

Sutton lifted his gaze from the phone and stared hard at Dalton. “You did this to my daughter?”

“I would never hurt her. I love her. He probably put that bruise on her.”

“Dad, everything Noah said is true.” Peyton pushed her way past him, coming to a stop in front of Dalton.

Noah was hard pressed not to scoop her up and carry her away from the bastard. He managed to resist, but as soon as he could get her out of this damn place, he’d take her to Jack’s and turn her over to the puppies. Then she’d smile again.

“How dare you blame Noah for something you did.” She poked Dalton in the chest. “For the last time, I am not going to marry you.”

Sutton put his arm around his daughter and pulled her back. “You’re fired, Dalton. Effective immediately.”

Noah decided he might like her father after all.

“You can’t be serious,” Dalton said. “This is all just a misunderstanding.”

“I couldn’t be more serious. And putting a bruise on my daughter’s arm is not a misunderstanding. Collect your personal effects and then leave the building. Now.” He lifted a chin at Noah. “Go with him and make sure he doesn’t take anything that doesn’t belong to him.”

“Yes, sir.” And he’d do it with pleasure.

“You’re going to regret this, Gerald.”

“I have regrets, but this isn’t one of them.” He put his hand on Peyton’s back and ushered her into his office, closing the door behind them.

Dalton glared at him. “This is your fault.”

“Whatever.” The man would blame everyone but himself for what just happened, and Noah had no inclination to set him straight. “You heard the man. He wants you gone. You have ten minutes to walk out the door before I physically carry you out.”

“You’re going to be sorry you messed with me.”