Rescuing Emily (Delta Force Heroes Book 2) by Susan Stoker

his lips across her cheek and then put his mouth next to her ear.
    “Don’t fuck with me, babe. I can see you’re pissed by those pretty eyes of yours. Don’t even think about doing something stupid. Annie’s looking real cute in her jumper this morning. You wouldn’t want anything to happen to her, would you? I bet there’s a foster daddy who’d take a shine to her…if you know what I mean.”
    Emily had stood stock still in his embrace and shuddered. She might’ve tried to convince herself that maybe the man wasn’t going to go through with his threats, but with those words, she knew she’d been wrong. She felt something shrivel up inside her, knowing Fletch and that monster were friends. That after the present he’d bought Annie, and how nice he’d been to her, and how outraged he’d been on her behalf after hearing how the little girl had been treated by others, Fletch would still knowingly put Annie’s life in danger, and wouldn’t care if she was taken away from her mother to live with strangers.
    Emily sighed and sagged on the little stool she was sitting on as she stocked the shelf with bottles upon bottles of perfumed shower gel. She was heartsick. She’d misread a man…again. It had been bad enough with Annie’s father, but with Fletch, it somehow hurt ten times more. He’d been so nice and open with her daughter. Even after their first meeting, she’d gotten good vibes from him, going so far as to think he might be interested in her, but obviously her “bad man” meter was broken.
    “Hey, Em.”
    Emily was startled so badly she would’ve slipped off the stool if it wasn’t for the hand on her arm, catching her. She looked up into the eyes of the man she’d been lambasting herself over for the last twenty minutes. Quickly standing up, Emily took a step back and away from Fletch.
    “Hey. What’re you doing here?” Her words came out harsher than she’d intended.
    “I had a chat with one of my friends this morning and wanted to come and talk to you about something. You have a minute?”
    Not able to help the hope that soared through her, Emily nodded quickly. Maybe he was coming to tell her that he’d talked to the asshole and he’d had second thoughts about her paying off his debt. “Yeah, you want to go out back?”
    “That’d be great, thanks.”
    Emily led the way through the store and passed by Jimmy’s office on the way out the back door, telling him she was taking a ten-minute break.
    Fletch held the door for her as they headed outside. The day was already warm, not surprising for Texas. Emily waved at two of her co-workers taking a smoke break and led Fletch over to one of the picnic tables under some trees. Management had set them up so the employees had a comfortable place out of the sun to eat lunch or take breaks.
    They sat on opposite sides of the table and Emily waited for Fletch to tell her why he was there.
    “So, as I said, I was talking to my friend, and I wanted to let you know that you need to be careful.”
    Emily’s brows came down in confusion. “What do you mean?”
    “My job isn’t the safest, and sometimes there are others that get…irritated with me. I’d hate for something to happen to you or Annie.”
    Emily could feel her heartbeat pick up and the adrenaline course through her system. Was he going to tell her that she didn’t have to worry about the other man anymore? That he’d make sure no one took Annie from her? “Annie and I aren’t safe?”
    “Look…” Fletch ran his hand through his hair, clearly agitated. “I’m not saying this right, but the bottom line is that if my fuck-ups leak into my personal life, I don’t want you and Annie to get stuck in the crosshairs of that.”
    “Maybe we should just go then,” Emily said, wondering if she’d be able to get out of the bind she’d found herself in so easily.
    “No. You aren’t going anywhere, that’s not what I meant. Stay. I like having you guys around.”
    “If you’re