Daddy Defender

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It didn’t take long to realize Ashton was watching out for them in his truck.

Warmth bloomed in her chest and tears actually welled in her eyes.

Ashton Fitzgerald may be too shy to ask her out, but he cared enough about her and Chloe to stay out in his vehicle and make sure they were safe.

Summer opened the front door. She’d been an idiot enough tonight. Now was her chance to rectify that.

Her eyes met his as she crossed from the side to around the front of his truck. His didn’t widen, his expression didn’t change. He just watched her as she came around to stand next to the driver’s side door.

They stared at each other through the glass for a moment. There was more than just protectiveness in his eyes. The warmth she’d felt at his concern now grew hotter. A heat pooled inside her.

She opened the door to his truck. “Hi.”

“I just wanted to make sure you and Chloe were safe.”

She nodded. “It means a lot to me that you would do that. But come inside. It’s silly for you to be out here.”

He studied her for a moment and she thought he might refuse. But then he straightened the seat and got out, groaning a little as he did so.

Summer stepped closer. “Are you hurt? Did something happen when you were chasing that guy in the woods and you didn’t tell me?

“No.” Ashton closed the door behind him. “There was an accident while I was...working today.”

She noticed the slight pause but didn’t press it. “What sort of accident?”

They walked back to her house.

“Electrical.”

She opened the door and they went inside. “Great. I’ll bet the last thing you wanted to do was come here and deal with more power-company-related problems.”

“I never mind coming over here to help with anything. Truly.”

Now that she had him back in her house, she wasn’t sure exactly what to do with him. When she gestured toward the couch, he eased himself onto it as if standing was too much of an effort.