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House Rules(67)



She cupped my face and stared deep into my eyes. “No. I know you’ll never hurt me. Whatever you do, it will always be to protect me.”

I swooped in, taking her lips. So many of the women I’d been with wanted to be with Miller Hawes for the thrill of it or the money, so avoiding any kind of relationship had been the easiest way to deal. Tess made herself hard to resist because she didn’t care about any of that shit. All she wanted was someone to care about her.

And that I could do.

Her lips were swollen and red by the time I pulled back from the kiss.

“Good. Now back to work. I’ll see you when you get done.”

I gave her a quick slap on the ass on her way out, loving the feel of it tensing under my hand.

I got back to work, my conversation with Dad coming back to me, but throughout the rest of the day, Tess was never far from my mind.

With her, I was in deeper than I had ever been before. Something about her was absolutely addicting, and I was prepared to do anything in my power to keep her. Those thoughts normally sent me running the other way. Not with Tess.

I’d carve through fire to get to her. And if that meant causing the people who had hurt in the past some pain, so be it.





CHAPTER 22





Theresa


When Derek disappeared I knew exactly where he was going, so it wasn’t a shock when Miller came in the front door. Once he found out, I knew he would have a hard time resisting teaching Ray a lesson.

I wanted to be pissed at Miller. I really tried. Then I thought about having to deal with Ray for however long it took him to get the hint and it became apparent that letting Miller deal with him was the best decision. I was slowly starting to realize that anything that Miller did for me was because he cared, not because he expected something in return. All he seemed to want was my happiness.

When my shift was over, I dropped my apron and towel in the laundry bin in the locker room and went to Miller’s office to say good-night. I had a ton of homework and he still had a bunch of reports to go through so he planned to go home for the night, but said he’d text me if he changed his mind.

After a very delicious good-night kiss I left the bar, walking straight for my car. About halfway there, I realized that something wasn’t right. By the time I reached the car I wanted to hit something—preferably Ray’s face.

All four tires were flat. He was the only asshole who would sink low enough to vandalize my car.

As much as I didn’t want to bother Miller, I also needed to get home. It was an internal war I waged as I sat slumped against the driver’s door. I couldn’t explain why I was still so stuck on doing everything by myself. It was a habit I’d built up over the years; one I was very reluctant to break. Yet each time Miller did something for me I enjoyed the freedom that came with the fact that I could have done it but I didn’t have to.

Decision made, I walked into Miller’s office. Hearing the click of the door his head lifted. Most people knocked, but I hadn’t in a while. There was nothing Miller did that would surprise me. I flopped down in the chair in front of his desk.

“Thought you were heading home to study? Did you change your mind? Anatomy is much more fun with participation.” His eyes wandered down my body and even through my anger I felt the heat of his gaze.

I groaned at the memory of last time I had a test on anatomy. Miller had insisted on helping me. By the end of the night, I’d had so many orgasms I wasn’t sure I would be able to walk to class the next day. That, and he’d kissed and tasted every external body part on my list. I had to clench my legs together thinking about it.

“I wish it was something that much fun.”

That was what made Miller so special. In that moment when I wanted to break something, he was able to make me forget my anger. His presence was calming, which was something I needed.

“That was fun. So what did you forget?”

“Nothing. Some asshole, and I have a pretty good idea which one, slashed all four of my tires.”

He lowered his hands slowly to the table and each word was measured as he asked, “What did you say?”

“I’m pretty sure Ray slashed my tires.”

“I knew I should have beaten the shit out of him earlier.” His voice snapped out like a whip.

“Doubt it would have helped.”

“It would have. Bastard would be in a hospital bed right now instead of fucking with you.”

Miller grabbed the phone off the desk, his fingers moving a mile a minute. His phone beeped a few times before he stood and moved around the desk, pulling me to my feet. “Charlie’s going to look around, see if we can find him.”

“Would you mind leaving early to take me home? I’ll get a tow truck out here to get it tomorrow.”