Yet standing here on the sidewalk in front of the whole town, Barrett Middleton, the Pack Master himself, had sought her out. And promised his protection.
Haley blinked back the tears burning the back of her eyes and cleared her throat. “Thank you, Mr. Middleton. I appreciate that.”
“I see you two are heading back to Fayetteville.” Barrett turned to Dana. “Dana, do you mind running across the street to Hilda Mae’s bakery? I believe she has a welcome basket for Haley with lots of her homemade cookies.”
“I’ll be happy to.” Dana gave Barrett a besotted smile. “I’ll be right back.”
Barrett folded his arms and looked across the town square as he spoke in a hushed tone. To anyone passing by it would appear they were talking about something as innocent as the weather.
“I have one of my men following you back to Fayetteville. Dana won’t notice. She’s too busy trying to get a glance at me while I’m working out.”
Haley’s face heated.
“My Guardian will be following you to class and back to the dorm to make sure you are safe. If you get another letter, text me and I’ll have him pick it up.”
“I don’t have your number.” Haley dug around in her purse to find her cell phone.
“I already put it in your phone.” Barrett glanced at her and the looked away.
“When?” Haley tried to keep from showing her surprise.
“The other night. When you were in my office.”
She remembered dumping out her purse contents which held the letters. She’d been desperate to the point of tears when she was asking him for help. He must have slipped his number into her phone then.
“Thank you.” It came out as a slip of a whisper as emotion clogged her throat.
“Don’t thank me. It’s what we do. I don’t want you to feel like you’re alone anymore, Haley. Because you’re not. We protect our own.”
Dana stepped out of the bakery, her arms loaded with a large basket filled to the brim with baked pastries and cookies. The basket was so large that Dana had to hold it up to check for traffic before crossing the street.
“Don’t say anything to Dana about this. The less she knows the better. If you have problems or feel unsafe, text me and I’ll have my Guardian come get you. He will only be a few feet away during the day and five minutes away at night.”
“Thank you.” Haley swallowed, as a weight lifted off her shoulders. “You don’t know how much I appreciate this. If there is anything I can ever do to repay you. Let me know.”
“Actually there is. Don’t let Dana know you have my number. And tell her to stay out of the Guardian’s house.” Barrett shot Dana a wave before he walked away.
“I didn’t get to say goodbye.” Dana huffed as she reached Haley.
Haley looked at her friend.
“He is totally hot.” Dana licked her lips a little.
“You don’t find him scary?” Haley looked at Barrett’s large retreating back. Sure the man was built like a model, but there was something so intense that it intimidated her.
“Of course I find him scary. Scary and hot. I wouldn’t mind if he tied me to his bed and spanked me.” Dana purred.
“Tell me how you really feel.” Haley snorted.
Dana looked at Haley and laughed. “I can’t help it. I need some alone time with my honey. My fantasies are all I have.”
Haley opened the door to the backseat of her car and stuck the basket on the seat. “Not anymore. You ordered all that sex stuff from Granny.” She adjusted the seatbelt around the basket.
“Maybe I’ll break it in with a good fantasy starring Barrett.”
“Enough.” Haley stuck her fingers in her ears and hummed, trying to ignore the visual.
Dana straightened and frowned. “What were you two talking about anyway? I don’t think I’ve ever seen Barrett make a point of talking to someone on the sidewalk. He’s rarely comes out of his office.”
Haley pressed her lips into a thin line.
“I know that look. Spill it. What did Barrett say?” Dana crossed her arms.
Haley blew out a breath. She wasn’t going to say anything, she really wasn’t. But she didn’t really have a choice.
“Barrett said for you to stop trying to peep into the Guardian’s gym while he’s working out.”
CHAPTER TWO
For three days Jayden arrived on the campus of University of Arkansas early enough to station a position out of sight yet near enough he could intervene if Haley was in danger.
For three days he followed her as she went from her dorm to her classes.
For three days Jayden had observed her manner and demeanor as she so desperately attempted to blend in to the crowd and not draw attention to herself.
And for three days nothing happened.