Not Negotiable: A Trident Security Series Novella - Book 3.5 by Samantha Cole Read Free Book Online

helping me, I don’t want to be a burden to anyone. My parents have been gone for several years and my only sister lives in Michigan with her own family. I didn’t want any of my friends to feel obligated to help, so I kept it to myself. I’ve gone through this before, so I know what to expect and what to do.”
    “What?” He stared at her in shock. “You’ve had cancer before? When?”
    “Almost seven years ago. I went through radiation that time though. No chemo. I’ve been in remission for six years. A little over two weeks ago, I found a lump under my arm and called my oncologist right away. The biopsy and other tests revealed lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin’s. Stage one. I started chemo last week and this was my second round.”
    His shock turned to anger, but he tried to keep it from showing. There was no way she was going through this alone. Mentally, he formulated a plan and knew it wasn’t one she was going to be happy with, but, fuck that, he wasn’t giving her a choice. Opening his mouth, he quickly closed it again and stared at her. She must have been exhausted because she had fallen asleep within seconds of closing her eyes. Yup. Shelby had a new Dom in her life and if Parker had anything to say about it, it was going to be permanent.

Chapter 5
    Shelby woke to the smell of coffee and was grateful her nausea was at a minimum this morning. Wait a minute…coffee? It was then she remembered Parker. He must have stayed all night, because it was a little after seven in the morning and somehow she’d ended up in her bed. Stretching, she glanced around and confusion struck her. Neatly lined up next to her closet were her two suitcases and several duffel bags…and from their appearance, they were full. What the hell was he up to?
    Well, first she had to take care of her bladder. Climbing out of bed and shuffling to the bathroom, she took care of the necessities of life. Why had he stayed? She hated to admit it, but it was nice knowing he had, even after she’d been rude to him and then fallen asleep less than five minutes after getting comfortable on the couch.
    After flushing, washing her hands and face, she brushed her teeth then headed out to the kitchen. Sitting at her dinette table, Parker’s back was to her and she took a moment to study him. He was typing away on his laptop and talking softly on his cell. From the sound of it, it was construction business related. He must not have heard her get up and was trying to be quiet so as to not to wake her. He was no longer in his leather pants and boots, but instead a pair of sweats, new T-shirt, and sneakers. Either he’d left and come back, or he kept a spare set of clothes in his truck. If she were to guess, it was the latter. A cup of coffee sat next to his laptop. What would it be like to wake up to this domestic scene every morning?
    “Hey, didn’t hear you come in. Are you hungry?”
    She’d been lost in her daydream and hadn’t noticed him hang up his phone. “Um…a little. I’ll just make some toast. That should stay down.”
    He stood and held out the chair next to him. “Sit. I’ll get it. Butter or jelly?”
    Stunned, she watched him take over her kitchen like he’d lived there for years, pulling out her bread and popping two pieces in her toaster. A warm, fuzzy feeling came over her as she took the seat. “Um…a little butter and some honey, please.”
    A smile spread across his face. “Butter and honey it is. Something to drink? I’m not sure if coffee would sit well in your stomach.”
    “Milk, please.”
    After he placed the full glass in front of her and then turned to attend to her toast, she bit her bottom lip. “Is there a reason why my suitcases and duffels are out?”
    “Yup. You’re coming to stay at my place while you go through your treatments.”
    Shelby’s mouth dropped open. He couldn’t be serious. But when he brought her toast over, she could see by his expression he was very serious. “I-I can’t do that. I