Chapter Seventeen
Caleb pulled Bella by the hand down the hallway. Well, he was actually dragging her.
“Why do I have to meet all of them at the same time?” she whined.
Caleb paused, sighed, and turned to her. “Baby, these are my partners. What do you think they’re going to do to you?”
“I know you would never let anything happen to me. It’s just…”
“How can you be so shy when you’ve been around crowds of people staring at you in nothing but a short fucking dress?”
She laughed. Every time he thought about the outfits they put her in, he got angry.
“It’s not funny,” he said.
She bit down on her bottom lip and nodded. “I know, Daddy.”
He sighed in exasperation. “Goddammit, woman, you’re killing me here. Let’s go meet my friends and then I’ll take you and show you my office where I’ll bend you over the desk and fuck the shit out of you. How’s that?”
Her body started to hum in arousal as she nodded, practically bouncing in front of him. “That would be wonderful.”
“Good. The sooner we get this done, the sooner I’ll be in you.”
She started dragging him down the hallway. “Come on, Daddy, what are you waiting for?” Bella grinned when she heard him snort.
She paused at a large wooden door and let Caleb open it. Her heart dropped into her stomach as every man in the room turned their way, and the room went silent.
She froze, preventing Caleb from passing her. He lifted her out of the way and grabbed her hand. “Guys, I’d like you to meet Bella.”
He looked down at her, but she couldn’t take her gaze away from the eleven large men in the room.
“I thought you said you had five partners?” she whispered urgently.
He chuckled, which made her want to kick him.
“I do, baby, right now. These other six guys we’re recruiting from police stations, Homeland Security, one’s an FBI agent, and then that dickhead,” Caleb said, making the guys in the room laugh as he pointed at David, “used to be a Highway Patrolman.”
“What happened?” she asked.
“He probably got fired.”
David snorted.
“Really?” She turned to David. “I’m sorry.”
David grinned and shook his head. “I didn’t get fired, honey. That’s what your dickhead daddy likes to tell people. If he gets out of hand, come to me.”
Caleb growled. “You stay the fuck away from her.”
She looked at him in surprise and then clutched his arm with her hands to get his attention, which she did instantly.
“You aren’t really mad, are you? Because that would be silly. You’re the only dad—” She paused and looked around the room. “I mean, man, I’ll ever want or need.”
Caleb smiled and patted her hand. “I know, baby.”
When Bella looked back at the men at the table, most of them sat staring at them like they were aliens.
“Why are they staring like that?” she whispered.
Caleb scowled. “I’ve no idea. What’s up?”
Travis cleared his throat. “It just we’ve ever seen you like … this.”
“Like what?” Caleb barked out.
“Nice,” Travis said simply.
Bella frowned at Travis. “He’s always nice. The only person I’ve seen him be mean to was my mother, and she was horrible to me, and he was protecting me…”
Travis held up his hand to stop her.
“I know, honey. He’s my friend, and I consider him a brother. It’s just that normally, he’s a bit … impatient. You bring out the nice in him.”
She smiled up at Caleb. “Really?”
“Yes, baby. I’m only nice to you.”
“But you could try to be nice to everyone, right?” she asked.
There were several chuckles and grunts of disbelief.
Caleb patted her hand. “I’ll try.”