Protect Me - A Steamy Bodyguard Romance (You Can't Resist a Bad Boy Book 5)

by Layla Valentine

  “Yeah,” she nods. “So who do you like more?”

  I sigh.

  “It’s not that simple. It’s not like I met these guys at a speed-dating event.”

  Freddy, the Jack Russell terrier Claire walks, jumps onto the couch between us. He sniffs my wine glass, and I scratch behind his ear.

  “Does Freddy’s owner know you’re not really walking him?”

  Claire’s nose wrinkles.

  “We walked over here, didn’t we? And we’re gonna walk back to his apartment after this. There’s nothing wrong with multitasking.” She grins wickedly. “You know, juggling two balls at once. Or, in your case, I guess I should say two pairs of balls.”

  “Ha-ha,” I dryly say.

  “Hey, if you lose your job, you can come work for me.”

  “Why are you saying that?”

  “Dog walking is big in this town. The average work week here is, like, sixty hours. No one has time to walk their pets twice a day anymore. Plus, the sooner I grow this business, the sooner I can quit the bar.” She makes a face.

  “That’s not what I was talking about. I mean, why do you think I’m going to lose this job?”

  Claire cringes. “Maybe you won’t.”

  I can’t help but sigh.

  “I know what you’re thinking… I had sex with my boss, and now he’s going to get uncomfortable and fire me.”

  “Um, maybe? But, shit, I don’t know, Noelle. Does he know that you also did it with Zach?”

  “Yeah, I told him when he was inside me.”

  “Really?”

  “No!”

  She laughs and takes a drink of wine. “Hey, that’s something I might do. So what’s next? What are you going to do now?”

  “I’m going to write this article,” I say as Freddy curls up in my lap.

  “You know what I’m talking about. The men. Are you going to keep seeing them both?”

  I suck in a long breath.

  “I…don’t think I can. Zach… He was really mad.”

  After Ethan left, I tried working on my email to Zach once more, but in the end just couldn’t send it. Apologizing over the internet felt so final, and I couldn’t stand the thought of that being the last time I ever spoke with Zach. I need to see him again, and not just because of the article.

  I can’t stop thinking about him. My head’s been a mess all day, full of memories of what happened between me and Ethan, but also full of Zach as well. I keep thinking about how Ethan touched me, how he made me wild… But it’s the way Zach made me feel special that I really can’t get off my mind.

  This can’t be the end.

  “I’m going to finish this article,” I slowly say. “But I don’t know if I’m going to even be able to get Zach to talk to me again. He’s really mad.”

  “But you didn’t really get the chance to explain yourself to him. He still doesn’t know that you weren’t trying to trick him, right?”

  “Right.”

  Claire shrugs. “Find him. Tell him.”

  I sigh and run my thumb around the rim of the wine glass. “Billionaires like him are hard to track down.”

  “Dude. You know where he lives.”

  “Stop it. I’m not going to stalk him.”

  “Not what I was saying. Ringing someone’s doorbell isn’t stalking.” She leans forward. “So tell me this: who’s better in bed?”

  Simultaneous memories flash in front of me. Zach’s gentle touch. Ethan’s ravenous need for my body.

  “They’re both amazing,” I admit. “They’re…different.”

  “Mm.” Claire bites her lip. Takes a sip of wine. “Tell me more.”

  “I’m not giving you a play-by-play.”

  “Fine, so just answer another question. Who do you like more?”

  “I already answered that, didn’t I? It doesn’t even matter. Neither one of these men is looking for me to be their girlfriend.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Believe me, I know.”

  My bed, rumpled from mine and Ethan’s wild romp, catches my eye. I wish he was here right now. I wish Zach was here.

  The thought makes me shake my head. What am I thinking? What would that even look like, me with two guys in my apartment at once? Furthermore, two guys that hate each other. What would we do, play some board games before the guys took turns screwing me?

  I must be losing my mind.

  “I’m just going to have to see what happens,” I announce. “I’m going to go to work tomorrow, do my job…”

  “Fuck your boss on his desk?”

  “Stop,” I chastise, although, honestly, that sounds like a great idea.

  Claire wiggles her eyebrows.

  “And I’m going to forget about Zach,” I finish. “He’s never going to agree to a second interview anyway.”

  “Just try,” she insists.

  I frown as I rub Freddy’s head. He’s asleep, snoring softly in my lap.

  “I can’t, Claire. He was really angry. If you’d only seen his face…”

  She shrugs, leaving it at that.

  Hours later, even after she and Freddy have left, I can’t stop thinking about the situation. Part of me thinks I should feel guilty about having sex with both men, but I don’t. The only thing that haunts me is that look on Zach’s face, the anger there… Even though I’d only just met him, I felt like I was hurting someone I’d known for years.

  Chapter 9

  My phone beeps sometime early in the morning. Rolling onto my back, I push my sleep mask off and rub my eyes. The room is gray; it’s barely morning. Who would be texting me so early?

  Tossing off the sheets that still smell like Ethan—the sheets that I shamelessly had pressed against my cheek as I fell asleep—I stumble from bed and pull my cellphone from its charger.

  The text is from a number I don’t recognize.

  Hi, Noelle. This is Zach. I would like to continue our interview, if you are open to it. Come to my office any time today.

  Say what?

  I turn the light on, make absolutely sure I’m awake, and read the message over a couple more times. It’s from Zach Garner, all right. Or it’s someone pretending to be him. But who would play a joke on me? Who would even know to do that?

  My hands trembling, I strip off my pajamas and jump in the shower. Zach wants another interview!

  But what changed? Just yesterday, he looked at me like I was scum, and now he wants to continue our conversation. Is this sudden change about the article or about me?

  Maybe he assumes the article is going to be written no matter what he does, so he might as well put his best face forward and appease me and Ethan. Or maybe it’s not about the article at all… Maybe it’s about me. About us.

  I close my eyes and turn to my side, letting the hot water hit my shoulder. Does Zach want to see me just as much as I want to see him?

  The thought causes more excitement than I want it to. Despite how I made it seem to Claire yesterday, simply getting over Zach isn’t going to be that easy. In a very short amount of time, the man left a permanent mark on me.

  I wash my hair, thinking about those hazel eyes, that dimpled smile, that warm embrace. Pressure builds between my legs, and I can’t stop myself from slipping my hand down there.

  My eyes drift closed, and everything about our night together comes back. The distinct smell of his cologne. The taste of his tongue. The way he growled with pleasure before taking me. I can almost feel his hands on me, claiming me, caring for me.

  My nipples are swollen, sensitive against the harsh spray. I gently play with them, twisting and tugging as my other hand massages the hot spot below my navel.

  I can see Zach now, can feel him… He’s thrusting into me, his warm breath in my ear, his strong hands on my back…

  With a sharp gasp, I explode. Opening my eyes, I lean against the wall and catch my breath. I might have just come, but I still can’t get Zach out of my head.

  It would probably be an understat
ement to say I’m in trouble.

  I finish rinsing off, then call the office, putting the phone on speaker as I get dressed. After leaving the message about the impromptu interview with the front desk, I fix my hair and makeup, wondering the whole while what Ethan is going to think. He wanted me to do this article, but if he knew about my attraction to Zach, would he be jealous?

  Or am I overthinking this whole thing? Like I told Claire, I don’t get the sense either one of these guys is looking for a girlfriend.

  Still, that doesn’t change the fact that I’m a relationship type of girl. I like having boyfriends, love the comfort of knowing someone is there for me. So, despite the unusual situation I’ve found myself in, I’m still wondering what it would be like to regularly see Zach or Ethan.

  Finally ready to go, I snatch my things and head out the door. Parking is tricky, but I eventually manage to snag a spot. My nerves are rattling my whole body as I head into the offices of Zarner Technologies for the second time. Seeing Zach again has me nervous for multiple reasons, and I’m just praying I’ll be able to get through our meeting without stuttering or fainting from anxiety.

  This time, my visit to the shiny building is different from the get-go. The receptionist sends me up right away, directing me to the very top floor. There, I’m escorted to a small waiting room, offered coffee, and told Mr. Garner will be with me shortly.

  After less than two minutes of waiting, a smartly dressed assistant leads me down a hallway and opens a door. This is it. I’m in Zach’s office.

  He stands between me and his desk, hands in his pockets. The door clicks closed behind us. For a long breath, we just look at each other.

  It’s all I need for the emotions to come rushing back. The giddiness. The passion. The pain. The regret. It’s all there.

  “Noelle,” he says softly.

  “Hello to you, too.”

  “Have a seat.”

  He gestures to one of the two gray plush chairs in front of his desk and I self-consciously settle into one, laying my notebook and phone across my lap. Zach’s office is ironically similar to Ethan’s. It’s a corner one, with big windows, a great view, and a flawless, tight design. Other than both being ambitious, smart, and amazing in bed, the taste in a specific kind of working space is another thing they have in common.

  Instead of taking the seat behind his desk, Zach chooses the one right next to me. His knee is only inches away from mine, and the realization makes my temperature climb.

  “Thank you for coming.” He clears his throat, looking slightly uncomfortable, but he doesn’t look away. “I was harsh the other day. As you might have figured out by now, Ethan and I know each other, and we don’t have the best relationship. I overreacted. I apologize.”

  I’m so relieved that I can’t hold back my heavy exhale. So there’s another thing the two men have in common: they have tempers…but also hearts. They can’t stay angry for long.

  And yet, somehow, they appear to still hate each other after all these years.

  “I need to apologize too,” I quickly say. “When I accepted the assignment, I knew nothing about Ethan’s plan. I didn’t even know you two know each other.”

  Zach’s dark blond brows knit together.

  “So he does have a scheme up his sleeve.”

  I open my mouth to answer, but he waves me away.

  “Never mind. Forget about it. Of course Ethan Ford has some malicious plan. That’s typical of him. You shouldn’t be dragged into it.”

  “If I’d known…”

  Zach cuts me off.

  “It’s all right, Noelle. You didn’t know. And I’m sorry.” Unexpectedly, his hand is on mine. I glance down at my leg, where our hands are, excitement spiraling through me.

  “I didn’t think you’d ever want to see me again,” I choke out.

  Zach frowns. “For the first hour after you left, I didn’t want to. But then I started to come to my senses. I realized what a mistake I’d made by pushing such an intelligent, beautiful woman away.”

  My lips twitch. I don’t want to grin like a giddy fool, but I’m not going to be able to stop myself. “I’m glad you texted me.”

  “And I’m glad you came.”

  “About the interview… We don’t have to do it if you don’t want to. I understand if you don’t—”

  “No, we’ll do it.” His gaze darts across my face, and he pulls his hand away. I try not to frown. “What do you want to ask me?”

  “Okay, well, now that we’re getting everything out in the open, I want to make it clear that I want to write an article that you’re comfortable with. We don’t have to make it personal. How about a ‘Zach Garner’s Guide to Success’? Or something like that. That’s not a great title, admittedly. Um, what I’m trying to say is a lot of people really look up to you. Maybe you could give some tips on how to get ahead in the industry.”

  “That sounds like a good idea. I’m willing to do that.” He smiles slyly, and my intuition tells me he’s thinking about something other than the article.

  I push those kinds of thoughts out of my head, though, and get to work grilling Zach. He’s patient, giving me a full, detailed answer to every question. I listen intently, glad the recorder is going so that I don’t have to stop looking at him in order to write things down.

  At this point, recording the interview seems pointless. I swear I’ll remember every single word this man says. He takes me through his years growing up with his two siblings in New Jersey, where he was a latchkey kid to two parents working multiple jobs, to his scholarship to Stanford, to his early years after college, during which he made his first million off a networking app. Never once does he mention Ethan.

  But that’s all right, because I’m not thinking about the other man much either. Instead, I’m in awe of Zach, hooked on a true story of hard work, determination, and commitment to a dream. Zach talks about the industry with a passion I don’t quite understand—but that I love seeing him experience.

  After what seems like too soon, but probably isn’t any more than an hour, I’m out of questions… Questions about Zach’s career, that is.

  Stopping the recording app, I put my phone away.

  “Was there anything else you wanted to ask me?” Zach gives me a purposeful look. “Like whether or not I’d like to join you for dinner tonight?”

  My heart swells.

  “Um, that… That does sound nice,” I answer, stumbling over my words like a junior-high kid with her crush.

  “Is that a yes?”

  I can’t talk about us right now. It’s going to distract me from the task at hand.

  “I actually would like to ask you about something personal. Off the record, of course.”

  “Mm-hmm?”

  I try not to wince through the question. “What’s the story of you and Ethan Ford?”

  Zach’s expression remains calm, the anger I half expected not surfacing.

  “I should have known that question was coming.”

  I stay quiet. I might be onto a rare and honest moment here. The truth can be like a wild animal. Make the wrong move when trying to get close to it and it might just spook and run away.

  “We were college buddies,” he explains. “And we had a falling out over a girl.”

  I nod. It’s basically what Ethan told me, but stripped down. What I desperately need to know—and really, at this point, for myself—is whether or not Zach really stole Ethan’s girlfriend.

  “What happened?” I gently ask.

  Zach blows out a hard breath and rubs his palm across his mouth. A mouth I can’t stop looking at.

  “His girlfriend left him and, uh, right after she did, she tried to hook up with me.” He gives me a strained smile, as if to tell me it’s all no big deal. He looks so sad, though.

  “And he blamed you for that?” I slowly ask.

  Zach shrugs. “Yeah. He thought that I tried to steal her from him.”

  “But…” I swallow. “Did you?”


  “No,” he firmly says. “I wouldn’t do that.”

  I nod, more confused than before. Each man told me a different story. The only consistent I see is that A) there was a girl, and that B) she came between the two of them. Other than that, there’s just a lot of finger-pointing.

  “He’s your boss,” Zach goes on. “So I shouldn’t talk ill about him to you. I just… Yeah. I don’t exactly think highly of him.” His jaw twitches. It’s obvious that saying he ‘doesn’t think highly’ of Ethan is an understatement.

  “It’s all right. I asked.”

  My temperature rises, and I hope I’m not noticeably blushing. Zach Garner, this sexy, fun man who likes me, and whom I like as well… What would he think if he knew that just yesterday I had sex with the very man he despises?

  And, what’s more, that I would probably do it again? Will maybe do it again, if given the chance?

  “It’s really good to see you.” Zach’s voice is deep, breathy. It makes my body twitch with instant need.

  He reaches for me, and before I can take another breath I’m in his lap, my legs to one side and my arms around his neck. His nose brushes against mine, and he gives me the most tender, gentle kiss. It’s just what I was missing: that special touch.

  I’m a goner.

  I open my mouth further, letting Zach work his tongue against mine. As his mouth takes mine over, frantic need builds in my veins. Zach’s hands get hungrier, finding their way to my hair.

  With a thick gasp, he breaks the kiss, but only takes his mouth to my ear.

  “Meet me after work,” he whispers, making me shiver with pleasure.

  I lean back to look at him, uncertain. I want to see him later. Isn’t it what I was just fantasizing about earlier?

  But what he told me—this situation with him and Ethan—I can’t leave it alone now. Even if I’m not going to write an article about Zach’s personal life, my interest is beyond piqued at this point. I want to know what happened between the two of them. No—need to know. Even if I don’t explicitly write about it, knowing the story will help me further discern what kind of people they are.

  Not to mention it’s just a darn good mystery, something I can’t resist. Unearthing the truth, getting down to the whos and the whys…it’s the reason I became a journalist in the first place.