Do Rely on Your Protector (Jewel Family Romance Book 4) Read online

  “I’m okay,” she muttered.

  Seth reached down and lifted her up. He looked her over and softly trailed his hands over her arms. “You’re okay? Nothing broken?”

  She gazed up at him. “Nothing broken.” She circled her arms around his neck and clung to him. “Thank you for coming for me. Thank you so much.”

  “I’m doing fine,” Caleb grumbled. “Don’t worry about me. Just fine.”

  Seth chuckled as sirens split through the night air. He kept Breeze close, wishing his brother wasn’t here so he could kiss her. Yet, as always, he was grateful for Caleb. They made a great team. If only his brother could give him advice on how to keep this beautiful woman in his arms. Seth didn’t have the excuse now that Flint could be coming after her. The only excuse was that he didn’t want to let her go. Ever. Would she let her pride go? Was there another way to break through to her?

  Chapter Twelve

  Breeze couldn’t stop shaking with the fear of what might’ve been, even after another hour in the police station. Seth stayed right by her side, but Ridge had also given her that tight hug that she’d been wanting. They’d found Flint, beat up but still breathing on the side of the road. The other guy who jumped was still at large, but they’d been able to track down the truck and arrest the two men still in it.

  When Seth, Caleb, Ridge, and Breeze were finally released, it was almost three a.m. and the police chief wasn’t taking any chances. He drove them straight to the Plaza Motel and checked them in himself. She noticed Seth handing over a credit card but was too tired to protest. The hotel was nothing fancy, but it was clean. They had two rooms. Ridge went into the room for he and Breeze, and Caleb hurried into the room for he and Seth saying, “Dibs on the shower.”

  Breeze stopped outside her door, and Seth moved next to her, looking down at her tenderly. “You doing okay?”

  “Thanks to you,” she said breathlessly. She knew she was in no frame of mind to make any decisions, but right now she didn’t care why Seth had come for her. She didn’t care that Caleb thought her trailer home was trash and destroyed it. She wanted to forget that she and her brother owed Seth twenty grand and ignore the fact that she didn’t fit in with his impressive family. If Seth asked her to stay by his side right now, she had no clue how or why she’d say no. She’d say yes and kiss the rest of the night away.

  He cupped her cheek with his palm and tremors of pleasure and anticipation raced through her. “You’re probably tired,” he murmured, his gaze trailing down to her lips before returning to meet her eyes.

  “Not too tired,” she said stubbornly.

  He chuckled softly and leaned down closer to her. He didn’t smell like his usual tempting cologne, but more like the outdoors, probably from all their crazy adventures of the day. He still smelled good to her, and she prayed she didn’t still smell like bacon from the restaurant.

  “What are you not too tired for?” he asked.

  “To give you a proper thank you.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. Despite everything that had happened and the uncertainty surrounding their relationship, she felt light and happy in his arms.

  His voice came out deep and husky, “Well I’m definitely not too tired to receive a proper thank you.”

  She raised up and he bent down. Their lips met and all doubts and worries fled. Seth’s lips caressed hers with a tender pressure that made her feel loved and desired. He backed her up against the wall and his strong body pressing against hers was perfect: warmth, safety, and excitement all intermingled in the kiss.

  A door clicked open. “Are you okay … Whoa, sorry.” Ridge had pulled open their hotel room door. He laughed uncomfortably and backed away.

  Seth smiled gently down at Breeze. “I’d better let you rest.”

  She didn’t want rest, she wanted him, but she wimped out and simply nodded.

  He nodded and released her. “Thank you for my thank you,” he said.

  Breeze found herself smiling, thinking of that kiss. “Thank you for … well just thank you.”

  He chuckled. She wondered how he could be so nonchalant while she was so stirred up inside. She tried the door, but it was locked. Rapping softly with her knuckles, she stared at the handsome man next to her. Seth Jewel was standing right there, and she wanted to kiss him again and then beg him to never let her go. Yet how would that work? He had an actual job for Ridge, not for her. She wasn’t really cut out to be a motocross groupie, but she didn’t want to leave him, not now, not ever.

  She frowned and then jumped when the door popped open quickly. Obviously, Ridge had been waiting for her.

  “Goodnight,” she murmured to Seth as she slipped in.

  “Night.”

  Breeze walked past her gawping brother and laid down on the far bed. It felt like heaven to stretch out. No. Being in Seth’s arms had been heaven.

  “So … you and Seth Jewel?” She could hear the teasing in her brother’s voice, but luckily he didn’t expect her to respond as he rushed on, “He told me he’s going to take me on his crew so I can pay the money back that way and have my dream job. He says he’s got some fabulous mechanics who will teach me and help me get the certifications I need.”

  Breeze smiled at his excitement, feeling too tired to even move. “That’s great, Ridge.”

  “Are you going to come with us?”

  Her smile fled. “He didn’t really ask me to.”

  “If he asks?”

  She bit at her lip. “I want to, but I’d need a job. I can’t just follow him around the country like a groupie.”

  “You’re so weird. Any other girl would.”

  “Goodnight, Ridge.”

  He grumbled something but then simply crawled into his covers and shut off the lamp. The room plunged into darkness. Maybe Breeze was weird, but she wasn’t simply going to follow Seth around like some star struck teenager. She had to have some purpose, a job, the sense of being needed and accomplished. She rolled over and bunched the pillow under her head. She was too tired to reason it out right now and besides, Seth hadn’t asked her to be his groupie anyway.

  A buzzing and ringing in her pocket pulled Breeze from a zombie-like sleep. Head pounding, she rolled over and numbly fished her phone out of her pocket. She’d fallen asleep fully clothed. Sunlight was streaming through the closed curtains, and Ridge was snoring in the other bed.

  “Hello?” she managed through her scratchy throat.

  “Breeze!” Mar’s happy voice came through the line. “Are you okay? Seth told me everything this morning.”

  Seth. Breeze sat up in bed and leaned back against the pillows and headboard. “I’m okay, thanks to Seth and Caleb.”

  Ridge grumbled something and rolled over, pulling the extra pillow over his head. Breeze ignored him.

  “Aw, that’s so sweet. Did I wake you?”

  “It was a long night.”

  “I’m sorry, sweetie. Hey, I just had some ideas this morning. Seth said your house is gone, and your brother is going to be traveling with him as one of his mechanics.”

  Breeze glanced over at Ridge and got a lump in her throat. She’d miss him, but she was thrilled he was drug and alcohol free and able to pursue his dreams. If only Seth had a spot for her, but she wouldn’t beg him to take her. Because, despite all her promises that she’d throw herself at him, she still had enough pride to wait until he asked. Dang, she was stupid and prideful. Why not be a groupie and just follow him until he noticed her?

  “Yeah,” was all she managed.

  “I know you still have a job, but I’ve been scheming. I’m wanting to train another assistant so I can have more free time to travel with Luke. It comes with an apartment and a pretty fabulous boss.”

  “Are you …” Breeze could hardly believe this. Mar would want her … as her assistant? “Me? Your assistant?”

  “Yes, please,” Mar chirped. “You’d be fabulous, perfect really. I’d love spending more time with you and you’d be the answer to prayers.”

>   “Oh, my. I don’t know what to say.”

  “No stress. You don’t have to have an answer this minute. Think about it. If the answer’s yes, Seth will bring you to the airport and I’ll get you a flight. Hugs!”

  She hung up.

  Breeze sat there, cradling the phone. Mar’s assistant? Was that taking a handout? It didn’t feel like that. It felt like Mar needed her. She’d love to be around and learn from her idol, and maybe she could still see Seth. The only thing better than being around Mar was finding some way to stay with Seth.

  Seth watched Breeze carefully as they ate breakfast at a small café in town. She was quiet, subdued. Had Mar called her? What was she thinking about the offer? He and Mar had gone the rounds this morning when he’d called his sister-in-law to ask for advice on how to get Breeze to somehow stay with him. Mar had been adamant that Breeze should come work for her so Breeze could retain her pride and find success that wasn’t based on him creating a job.

  He’d rather have Breeze right with him, but she’d been vehement enough about her pride in that park last night. He could see the wisdom behind her working for his sister-in-law. With Mar she could find success and confidence, and he’d have an excuse to easily see her when he had breaks. They could develop a relationship and hopefully someday she’d fall for him like he had for her. He just didn’t like being separated from her, for any length of time, and he wasn’t creating a job. He really did need someone different and more effective than his regular manager doing his social media and his scheduling.

  Ridge and Caleb talked and laughed throughout the meal. They rehashed everything from yesterday, and Caleb taught Ridge a crash course in lacrosse, using silverware and sugar packets to lay out the players and goals. Ridge and Breeze both expressed excitement to go to a game.

  As the meal finished, Caleb stood and stretched. “Are we all headed to the airport then? I’m flying back to Vermont to check on Rachel and then I’ll make Dad lend me a jet to go back to Colorado. If Eve and Paisley are still around it won’t take much persuading.”

  Seth smiled. Eve lived in Golden about twenty miles west of Denver where Caleb’s condo was. Their dad would do anything for Eve and Paisley. He’d probably tell Caleb to catch a commercial flight, but not if Eve and Paisley needed a flight home.

  “What about you all?” Caleb asked.

  Ridge looked to Seth. “My next event is in Massachusetts,” Seth said, “so we’ll come with you to Vermont to check in on Rachel then meet up with my crew.” Seth didn’t really have a home base, besides his half a million-dollar motorhome and all the trucks, cargo trailers, and travel trailers for his guys that traveled with him.

  They all swung to look at Breeze. Seth wished he dared ask her to come with him, but he was pretty certain she wasn’t ready for that. Despite their kiss last night at the hotel, he couldn’t forget how vehement she’d been about her pride at the park a couple of hours before that.

  She cleared her throat and tilted her chin. “I’m flying to San Francisco. Mar offered me a job.” She smiled broadly as she said it and relief and jealousy filled him. She was taking the job with Mar. He was thrilled that she’d be with Mar and Cosette, but still wished she was going to stay with him.

  Ridge’s eyebrows went up. “That’s great, sis.”

  “Thanks.” She didn’t seem to have any clue that Seth had fought with Mar about how Breeze should work for him. He wasn’t about to tell her and get another lecture about her pride.

  They loaded up in the four-door truck Caleb had procured for them yesterday and, after dropping off the dirt bikes, drove to the airport, securing flights as they went. As bad luck would have it, Breeze’s flight departed in less than three hours and it was a two-hour drive from Preston to the Salt Lake airport. The conversation in the cab was relaxed but as they approached the airport to drop off Breeze, it seemed like everyone sensed Seth’s frustration at having to let her go.

  The rest of them would return the truck before catching a shuttle back for their flight that didn’t leave for two more hours. Seth wasn’t ready to leave her.

  He jumped out of the door at the airport curb and Breeze slid to the edge of the seat. He grasped her waist, and set her on the concrete. She looked up at him, so beautiful with those big brown eyes and her flowing blonde hair.

  “I’d better go,” she murmured.

  He nodded. Bending swiftly, he pressed a firm kiss to her lips and then stepped back to let her go. “I’ll come see you soon,” he promised.

  “Okay.” She lifted a hand and called. “Bye, Caleb. Love you, Ridge.”

  “Bye,” Caleb echoed.

  “Love you,” Ridge said, a trace of embarrassment in his voice.

  “Bye. Thanks again, for everything.” She smiled sweetly at Seth and hurried into the airport.

  Seth didn’t like watching her go. All she had on her was her phone, her purse, and probably no money. What if she got hungry, or if the flight Mar had booked her left her, or if she simply needed him?

  He climbed back into the rear of the truck, refusing to look at his brother.

  “Well that sucked,” Caleb said.

  Seth nodded his agreement. Leaving Breeze more than sucked. When would he see her again?

  Chapter Thirteen

  The past few weeks had flown by, and Breeze’s only disappointment was Seth had only sent her a few texts. It was nice to hear from him, but she wanted more. If only she could rewind to that night in the park in Preston and forget her pride and beg him to take her and Ridge. She smiled to herself. No. Everything was probably as it should be, even though she missed him and thought of him often.

  She loved her job, her apartment, her new clothes, her interactions with Mar when she wasn’t in Colorado, and Cosette, when she flew in for a few days each time Isaac was gone. The women made her feel like she was their new best friend, even though it was obvious they’d been destined from heaven to be best friends.

  Late summer in San Francisco was chilly but Mar had outfitted her accordingly and she loved exploring the intriguing city and nearby Muir Woods. She hated the garbage, urine, and feces she often encountered in the city, but there were so many interesting and fun things to do that she could overlook the unpleasantries.

  Ridge called her often and seemed the happiest he’s ever been in his short life.

  One Wednesday evening, as she left work and walked to her nearby apartment, her phone rang. Ridge. She smiled as she said, “Hello, little bro.”

  “Hello, big sis. How are you?”

  “Fabulous. It’s above seventy today and sunny. I’m going to walk down to the beach, as soon as I change out of my fancy clothes from work.” Mar had insisted on outfitting her, claiming it was a signing bonus. Though Breeze still hated handouts, she’d literally had nothing but the clothes on her back, so she couldn’t very well refuse.

  “Sounds nice.”

  “Where are you?”

  “We’re driving across the country. I think we’re in Nebraska. We had to bring all the equipment and bikes to Southern Cal for a race next weekend. There are a few on the west coast now so hopefully I’ll be able to see you.”

  “I’d love that.”

  “Seth flew ahead of us. Have you seen him?”

  Breeze swallowed and looked around the quiet streets by her apartment. “No. Should I?”

  “Maybe,” Ridge said vaguely. In all their conversations, she and her brother hadn’t really discussed her undying obsession with his boss since that night in the Preston motel. An obsession Seth obviously didn’t return. He hadn’t asked her to be his groupie. He hadn’t called her or come for her. Granted it’d only been three weeks, but she still missed him.

  “Hey, I wanted to talk to you about something.”

  “Go for it.” She walked slowly in her heels — she hadn’t mastered the things yet — as she clutched the phone.

  “Seth and I have worked out a schedule for me to pay back that twenty grand. With as well as he’s paying me, minus
my living expenses, it’ll be done in a few months. I don’t want you worrying about it ever again.”

  “Ridge,” she protested. “I’m making good money now too. I want to help you.”

  “It’s my debt, my mistake,” he insisted. “Thankfully, Rachel seems to be doing great and Flint’s in prison, so it’s hopefully all good with the Jewels. I just …” His voice got gruff. “I don’t want you to you worry about that money again or feel like you owe Seth anything. Got it?”

  She nodded to herself, forgetting that Ridge couldn’t see her.. Her voice felt thick. After a moment of realization, she said, “Got it. I’m proud of you, Ridge.”

  “Thanks. I’m proud of me too.” He chuckled softly. “And I’m always proud of you. Thanks for raising me, sis, for teaching me how to work hard and have pride in what I’m doing and myself.” His voice lowered. “Thanks for teaching me how to pray.”

  “Of course.” Her lessons had actually sunk in? Many times, he’d acted sullen and annoyed when she prayed with him or shared a scripture about Jesus. Her heart was so full of happiness right now. “I love you.”

  “Love you too. Gotta go.”.

  Breeze slipped her phone into her purse and climbed the stairs to her apartment. There was so much joy knowing that Ridge had found the right spot for himself and was doing well physically and spiritually. There was also a hole in her heart as she missed her only family member. She supposed her parents were out there somewhere. It would’ve been comical to see her dad show up for one of his sporadic visits and see the trailer as nothing but a burned-out shell. She didn’t really care about either of them or think of them as real family. At least she had Ridge.

  Reaching the third level, she walked slowly along the outdoor balcony. As she approached her door, her steps slowed. A tall, well-built man leaned casually against her door frame. He was dressed in a logoed t-shirt from some sports company and jeans that really complemented his long legs. When he saw her, his handsome face split into a grin and his blue eyes lit up.