Sweet Seduction Shield(33)

The blond suddenly spat his coffee back into his mug, making Daisy giggle and me realise just what I'd said. The blush deepened. Not missed by Pierce.

"Well, now," he drawled. "Just what did I do to upset you you, Tiger?"

"You know what," I shot back, offering Daisy a wink, trying to make the whole conversation nothing but adults mucking about and being silly. My ruse worked. She tittered and returned her attention to her drawings, taking a bite from a piece of toast off to the side.

I could get used to all these people helping to tend to my daughter's needs. Or start to feel inadequate that they were beating me to it.

"So," the blond said into the ensuing silence. "Marie, my name is Adam Savill. I work at ASI and will be guarding Daisy today."

My cup of coffee met the table's surface with a thud.

"Why does Daisy need guarding?"

"Because," Pierce said, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest, "we're going to be grabbing some clothes and necessities from your flat."

"Is that wise?" I asked, thinking returning there was a unnecessary risk right now. "We can make do with what we've got, or purchase more."

"No need," Pierce argued, a sense of finality in his tone. "We'll be in and out before you know it. Besides, this may be the only opportunity you'll get to check on things at home for quite some time."

"What does that mean?" I demanded.

"Exactly what it sounds like. You'll both be on lock-down here for the foreseeable future."

I frowned into my coffee. Just how long did it take to locate one measly criminal?

"You've got no leads on McLaren's man?" I asked.

"Nothing workable," Pierce admitted. "So, grab a bite to eat and we'll make a trip to Grey Lynn. Ben will be shadowing us, Abi will stay here with Adam to keep Daisy happy. We'll be back by lunchtime."

It seemed so easy, but at the same time, it still sounded so unnecessary to me. Just what was Pierce playing at?

"I'm not really hungry," I admitted, rather than voice my fears out loud.

"You need to eat," Pierce declared. "In two short days you've lost weight."

My eyebrows lifted at that little observation. How the hell did he notice that?

"I've watched you, Marie. You've hardly eaten a thing since you've been here. Unless you count tequila slammers."

I glared at him for a moment, then huffed an incredulous breath of air out.

"Of course the transcripts you've received from your peeping tom security system here must have helped to determine that," I retorted archly.

Adam snorted into his coffee and received glares from both Pierce and myself.

"I'll, ah, go touch base with Ben, then," Adam suggested.

"Can I come?" Daisy asked. "Ben said he had more paint for me to use."

"Of course, Squirt," Adam replied with a big smile. "I reckon he's probably got even more rooms for you to decorate if we ask him nicely."

"You think?" she asked excitedly, as she followed the black clad guy from the room.

Silence followed their departure. I couldn't look at Pierce, so just stared at my cooling cup of coffee.

Finally he broke the tension first.

"I wasn't lying when I said you need to eat. You have to look after yourself too, you know, Marie. I watch you chase after Daisy and make sure she's happy and all right, but you neglect yourself in the process."

"That's what parents do," I said softly. He nodded slowly in agreement. "Got any kids, Pierce?"

"Ah, no."

"Married?" Where were these questions coming from?

His deep, intense brown eyes met mine over the rim of his coffee cup.

"No," he said resolutely, as though marrying was the last thing he'd ever want to do.

OK.

"So, just yourself to look after, then," I surmised. "Oh, and all those members of the public that need protection the likes a police detective can provide."

"What's your point, Marie?"

"We all have something we're prepared to sacrifice ourselves for. I would do anything to make sure Daisy is happy, safe and well. You'd do anything to make sure the public is happy, safe and well. I guess we both have our priorities right."

"Why do I feel like I'm being judged for the job I am committed to do?" he asked quietly.

I met his eyes and held his fierce gaze with one of my own.

"I'm not judging you," I argued softly. "I'm merely pointing out I understand your priorities, and letting you know mine."

"Ah," he said. "And you believe keeping your secret is a priority."

"And you don't," I pointed out.

Silence.

He didn't look away, but something shifted in his gaze. I'm not sure if it was comprehension, or understanding as such. I'm not sure if he suddenly realised why I couldn't ever let him know what I had done. But I think he saw me differently in that moment. Realised I wasn't a pushover. Acknowledged that I had a spine.