Mine to Hold by Shayla Black Page A

wanted nothing more than to get away from him. But she’d be gone soon enough. If he wanted to talk to her, she owed him that.
    Pulling her comb out of the bag, she dragged it through her hair quickly, then stashed it as she followed him out of the room and down the hall. When they arrived at his guest room, she saw a playpen set up in the corner with a colorful blanket and one of Seth’s toys.
    The sight stunned her. “You did this?”
    “I called Deke. He brought it over and set it up since Caleb isn’t using it now. Kimber and Alyssa both sent over some foods their kids like, along with extra diapers. Kata and Tara are promising to go on a shopping spree tomorrow for Seth, so if he needs more clothes or toys, just make a list.”
    “I don’t have any more money with me.”
    Tyler’s jaw tightened. “Would you stop trying to do every goddamn thing on your own? He’s my son, too.”
    She’d offended him, damn it. Del sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. “Sorry. Habit. What did you want to talk to me about?”
    “You’re not going off alone. There’s no way I’m going to let you throw yourself into danger that’s over your head.”
    “But—”
    “No. You’re what, five feet five, maybe? And a hundred twenty pounds, dripping wet? But you’re going to single-handedly fight off a ruthlessly ambitious ADA trying to have you killed and the gangland assassin trained to do it? Are you listening to yourself?”
    “I’m not going to fight them with my bare hands. I’m just going to dig up evidence and write a solid story that will expose Carlson for the creep he is. I need to do it fast. Word on the street is that he’s going to run for district attorney. If he does and wins, it’s not like he’s going to indict himself. We’ve already established that I might be the only person standing in his way. He isn’t going to let this go.”
    Tyler kissed Seth’s head, then held the boy out for her to do the same. Del scooped him up and inhaled his familiar soapy, boyish smell, wondering if this would be the last time she held him. Her heart tripped, stopped—then started breaking at the thought.
    Before she could change her mind, she maneuvered to the far side of the playpen and set Seth inside. Already, he rubbed his eyes. When he saw one of his favorite plush toys, shaped like a tow truck with a smiley face, he grabbed it, tucked it against his body, and closed his eyes with a sigh.
    “We can’t talk in here without keeping him awake,” she whispered.
    With a glance at Seth, Tyler nodded and held out his hand to her. Del glanced at her duffel. She
really
should wear underwear to any conversation she was going to have with Tyler. Then again, if he truly wanted her out of them, she’d already be naked and flat on her back in the middle of his bed. He was that good.
    But now, he was merely speaking to her as a concerned friend, the mother of his son. That look he’d given her earlier . . . well, she’d cut him off. Since then, he’d respected her boundary. Mostly.
    Silently, he led her down the hall, around the corner, and into his bedroom. He shut the door, and she stiffened.
    “If Seth starts crying, I can’t hear him.”
    “Then make this fast and agree that you can’t fight this battle alone. I won’t let you do it, Delaney.”
    “Don’t make this harder than it already is. It’s not like I’m looking forward to leaving Seth, much less with a father he barely knows. But he and I have no future if I don’t go.”
    Tyler advanced on her, growling with anger. “You may well wind up dead if you try to play the hero all by yourself. Like I asked before, what the fuck do you know about taking down a corrupt public official and evading a street killer?”
    Delaney swallowed. God, he was big. She’d forgotten just how tall and solid and male he was. “I’m not going to run into the city with flashing lights and announce my presence with a bullhorn or try to single-handedly round up the bad