by C. M. Steele
“Not really. I can hear it from here. I have seats over on the lawn.” That’s my girl. I’d rather get to spend time with without all the noise.
I take her hand. “Lead the way.”
Chapter 6
Lindsay
I’m doing my best to breathe. The anxiety I have coursing through my bones has everything to do with how his touch makes me feel alive. As we pass people, I don’t even bother ducking my face away from the men out of habit. We take the seats, but he doesn’t let go of my hand, and I can’t be bothered to pull it back. I shouldn’t be holding hands with a stranger, but something about him makes me feel safe and welcome. The warmth and tenderness in his eyes steal my heart piece by piece. By tomorrow, I’ll be halfway in love with him if he keeps this up. As the crowd sings, we lose the ability to have a meaningful conversation.
He pulls out his phone, then he demands loudly over the music, “Babe, give me your number.” I rattle it off to him while he programs it. A second later, I get a text. I love your smile. So damn kissable.
I send one back. Then why don’t you kiss me?
I’m looking for more than your lips, I want your heart.
Charmer. Yours is pretty sexy, too.
His fingers move rapidly over the device. I wait for my text. I’m a little impatient as he backspaces it. What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not stealing hearts?
Cooking them. I tease.
Damn, harsh. I’m gonna have to be careful around you. His eyes widen, and he twists his perfect lips like he’s thinking of getting up and running away. He doesn’t seem like a man who’s easily intimidated.
Oops, did I scare you off? I ask even though I’m afraid of the answer.
No, I’m ready to cut the fucker out for you. I laugh it off and turn back to the concert. He’s definitely a smooth talker when it comes to the ladies, and sadly it’s working on me, too.
My phone dings again, but it’s not him. It’s from Katherine. Hey girl, where are you? I’m at the car.
I came back to our seats with a friend.
Shit, I must have missed you.
Fuck. Just an FYI your brother’s here.
“Oh shit.” I don’t know what to say about this. We’re just talking even if it’s not all innocent or at least our intentions aren’t. I’m certain it won’t be hard for my brother to see what’s transpiring between us.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
“My brother’s here. I have to go. I’m sorry, but maybe you can call me. I don’t want to tell him about this. At least not yet.”
He presses his lips together, likely tempering his words first. “Damn, I understand. I’ll meet him sooner or later. I’ll go get my sister and see if she’s ready to leave.”
He’s headed toward our seats.
Roman kisses my hand, then says, “Goodnight, babe. Call me when you get home.”
“I will,” I reply, feeling the loss as he walks away. Damn it, my mind is a total mess right now. It’s not that I haven’t tried to date since the attack, but it’s not someone I just meet. They’ve all been classmates. I don’t even know how old he is.
“What the fuck are you doing out here?” he hollers, but over the din of the music and crowd, I can barely hear him. The stone-cold look of rage told me all I needed to know. He was pissed as fuck.
My emotions are high. Before I came here, I was anxious and feeling as if I shouldn’t come. Then I feel the joy of living a little. When I saw Roman, everything changed in me. Now, this ass has set me off. “What the hell is wrong with you? Why can’t I go out?”
“You know damn well it’s not safe,” he argues loudly at first but lowers his voice when there’s a break in the music.
I puff up my chest. He’s been my champion and my hero for so long, and now he’s doing this. “Why? You have a team of people following me. You should make sure I don’t see you talking to them. I’m not going to miss them. I’m always on high alert. I need some freedom. Maybe college is the best thing for me now.”
“Maybe I’ll pull the tuition.”
“Are you fucking serious? You were happy about me going a few weeks ago.” I can’t believe it. I’m doing my best not to cry.
“It’s not safe,” he pleads to soften his tone.
I shake my head and wipe away the one tear that has fallen. “It’s not safe? When will it ever be safe enough for you? When he’s dead?”
“Yes. Damn it, this isn’t the place for this. Let’s go home and talk.” He grabs hold of my arm, but I thrust it away from him. I’m not going to let him boss me around.
“No. I’m not leaving.”
“I’m not going to tell you again. If you don’t come with…don’t come home.”
“Maybe I won’t. Then you can be happy. I’ll stay with Katherine until you return to the brother I used to like. Let’s go, Katherine.” I take our chairs, slinging them over my shoulder.
“Wait, Lindsay. I didn’t mean that.”
“Then you shouldn’t have said it. Stop worrying about me. I’ll be out of your hair very soon.” I had a large inheritance from my parents’ death. I never touched it because I’ve been too scared to live. Not anymore. “Call off your hounds as well. I don’t want to see them again.”
“You’re a dick,” Katherine mutters as we walk away. I do all I can to keep it together.
As soon as we’re in the car, she says, “You know he didn’t mean it. He’s crazy, overbearing, but he’s scared.”
“I know, but I’ve realized I have to do something with myself. Even if it’s just a short vacation alone.”
“Alone? That’s not smart no matter who you are,” she warns me.
“True. Can you take a couple of days off and we fly to somewhere, anywhere?”
“Sure thing.”
“Good. Now, can I crash at your place tonight.”
“Girl, of course, you can. Anytime, always. Now tell me about the cute guy you were talking to. If you think I didn’t notice, you’re sorely mistaken.”
I go over our whole debacle and then the promise to call. “Damn, he was hot. I wonder if he’s legit serious.”
“I don’t know. But there’s only one way to find out…in time.” We get back to her apartment after stopping at a taco place.
“Here are some blankets,” she offers, tossing them onto the sofa. She has a small one-bedroom apartment. She’s got her own money. Not like mine, her parents are still alive, but they pay half of her bills. She goes to school at the local community college and loves it.
“I’m exhausted.” She yawns and mutters a goodnight.
“Goodnight.” I whip my bra through my sleeve, then climb under the covers. Once I’m snuggled in, I send a text to Roman, just to let him know I’m home. He’s probably still at the park with his sister and having a good time without me. A tinge of jealousy hits me, but I shove it aside. I just met the guy after all. Made it in one piece.
Great, babe. Call you in the morning. Damn, he sounds distracted and dismissive.
Chapter 7
Roman
I didn’t want to walk away, but the confrontation between Brent and I would have revealed my true identity to her, sending her running for the hills. As deceitful as it may be, I need a day or two before I let it all out. In that time, I’ll do my best to keep our touches to a minimum. Even as I think it, I don’t believe it. If Lindsay gave me a way in, I would take it.
“Come on, we’re leaving,” I tell her. The concert isn’t over for another hour, but I’ve had enough.
“Why? Things didn’t work out between you two? I’m sorry about that.”
“No, she and I will talk tonight. She has her own reasons for leaving. I just have a lot to do before I leave tomorrow.”
We’re on our way to the SUV when Brent calls me. “What’s going on?” It’s too soon for him to leave Lindsay.
“I just had a fight with my sister. Shit. She’s pissed about the security. I fucked up and said some shit I shouldn�
�t have. Fuck, now she hates me.”
“I doubt she hates you,” I mutter as I start my engine. She can’t hate her brother, but I’m working my way there, I think to myself.
“Where is she?” I ask.
He doesn’t hesitate to respond. “She stormed away with Katherine. They’re going to stay at her apartment.” The guilt and remorse are heavy in his voice. If it was any other woman, I would feel sorry, but this is my woman he upset. I want to gut check his ass for making her cry.
“I’ll send someone to watch her. Give me the address.” He tells me, and then I say, “Go home and get some rest. I’ll take care of it.” As soon as I hang up, I send my guy to follow her to her friends place with the address he provided.
“Can’t get away from work?” Casey asks.
“Nope, I stepped right into tonight. Then again, I got weaseled into working from dad.”
The entire way, I had my headset on so that I could handle the calls and drive. My men trailed after and found them easily. I hate that she’s staying in an unsecured building. Hopefully, they can make-up tomorrow. My knuckles whiten as I think about her sadness. I’m almost at my house when my phone rings, and it’s Brent again. “What’s up?” I answer.
“I’m worried about her. She won’t answer the phone,” he whines.
“My men say that they just walked into her friend’s apartment building,” I inform him.
“She wants me to pull you guys off,” he admits. From the tone of his voice, I know he’s considering it.
“Not happening.”
“You’ll still get your money. It’s just I want her to talk to me again.”
“Brent, I’m sure she will. And it’s not about the money. She’s in real danger and fuck if I’m going to risk her safety because she said not to watch her.”
My personal phone dings with a text. At the next light, I check it out. Fuck, it’s my woman. Made it in one piece. I’m fucking grateful as hell for that, but I can’t talk at the moment.
Great, babe. Call you in the morning. I want to ask her what happened, but I want our conversation to last.
I reassure Brent some more as my sister passes out. “I’m out of town the next couple of days. When I get back, I’ll personally take on her surveillance.”
“Thanks.”
I carry her into the house and lay her in the guest bedroom. Then I go back to my office to check out the cameras that were set up for the event. I enter the software for facial recognition and sit back and wait for the results. I’m nearly falling asleep when my computer starts beeping loudly. There’s a fucking match. I pull up the frame and fucking hell he was there. Brent was right to be fucking worried that he’d show. It’s a crowded place where he could claim he didn’t know she was around. She didn’t even live in that township.
Shit. I grab my phone and call my guy on duty. “Hey, how’s it going?”
Kane answers, “So far so good. There was a car that drove by multiple times, but when I ran the tags, they belong to a Betsy Meara.”
“Okay. I want to do a crosscheck on Meara’s relations. He was at the park. I have him on the surveillance.”
“Damn, I didn’t see him.” I can hear the regret and let down. The place is a walking nightmare. We had no idea she knew about the guards, or they would have come in closer during the event and maybe spotted his ass before he got even twenty feet away.
“That’s because he hid well. From the video he didn’t get within fifteen feet of her, except when I sent you off to watch the friend. The bastard passed behind me.”
“That means he saw you two together.”
“Yes. Fucking hell. I didn’t think of that. I need to make some calls.”
“Okay.”
I call Tiko, my head of engineering and computer maintenance, but he doesn’t answer. A few seconds later though he calls me back. “What’s up, Roman?”
“I need you to do me a huge solid.”
“You want me to go to New York for you?”
“How did you know?” I ask.
“We all know about your fascination with the subject.” He laughs because he’s not fucking blind to what’s been happening since I took his assignment.
“I need better protection on her. Closer protection. He was at the park.”
“Fuck. So, you’re going to glue yourself to her?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. When does the flight leave?”
“At ten, O’Hare. It’s listed as me but can be changed. I’ll make it right now.”
“I’m glad I packed in advance.” He chuckles. “Have fun and be careful. This fuck sounds dangerous.”
“Will do. And thanks again.” He’s a lifesaver. I can’t imagine leaving her now.
“No problem, boss man.” I spent the next twenty minutes dealing with the flight change and sending an email to my client and Tiko to get it organized with the last-minute changes.
Chapter 8
Lindsay
He’s chasing me, and I run. I feel like I can’t get any distance. Will he be forever after me? Tears are streaming down my face, blurring my vision. I turn back and, like the movies, hit a large body. The hands tighten around my biceps, and I start to panic a scream tries to come out, but nothing does. I dare to look up at my captor, and my fear is gone. It’s Roman. “Don’t worry, baby girl. I’ve got you. I’m not going to let him hurt you.” His mouth comes down on mine, and I melt to him. He whisks me away, and we fall onto a soft bed. His body grinds into me, making me feel horny and safe. I’m crying out his name as my orgasm shoots through me.
I wake up to the smell of fresh coffee. Moaning softly, I take the cup from Katherine’s hand. Sleep didn’t come easy for me last night, but when I did, my dreams were vivid and passionate. My hearts jumping in my chest just remembering the way Roman’s hands ran all over me. I sit up with my eyes half open and take a sip. Another moan escapes my lips, then I hear a low rumbling growl. I pop my eyes open to see Roman sitting on the edge of the chair about three feet from the sofa.
“Oh my God. What are you doing here?” I’m happy, confused, but I came off angry.
“I can leave if you want,” he says.
“No, no. I mean it’s just. How did you know…” I drop off. Why is he at Katherine’s place? Do they know each other? Fuck, for the first time in my life I am jealous of my best friend.
“Where she lived? I called two hours ago, and your friend answered your phone.”
“Oh, goodness. What time is it?” I ask, looking for my phone to see the time. Roman grabs it off the table and hands it to me.
He chuckles nervously. “It’s only nine, but I had to see you. And to apologize for last night. I wanted to talk to you, but I had to make arrangements for today.”
“Your trip?” I’m going to miss him.
He reaches over and takes my hand in his and twists his lips up, smiling at me. “I had one of my employees go for me.”
“Really?” I’m jumping up and down internally, trying to not throw myself in his arms.
“Really. I wanted to spend more time with you.” His phone picked the perfect time to ring. “Excuse me I need to take this.”
“Yes, good. No troubles? Okay. Let me know if you have any problems at the hotel. I’ll deal with it if necessary. I booked it under the company name, so you shouldn’t have any problems.”
He came back over. “Sorry I wanted to make sure he wasn’t given any trouble about the switch. You know that they are extremely annoying with all their extra safety measures.”
“That’s so nice of him to take the trip for you.”
“Yes, it is, babe. So what do you want to do today?”
I had no clue what I wanted to do except spend the day with him. A look at him, running my eyes all over him from his lips down to his cock that I could have sworn I felt digging into me as I slept. I suppose telling him I want to travel would be dumb since he canceled his trip for me. Besides, all I want to do is relive that dream and wonder if
the passion in real life can hold a candle.
“Don’t do that unless you’re ready to go back to my place.”
“Do what?”
“Stare at me like you wonder how good it would feel if I kissed you and touched you everywhere.” I blush because that’s all I can think about.
“What if I said I’d like that?” I can’t believe how forward I am. Damn, I’m switching gears and moving living life into overdrive. I move closer to him, biting my lip, wondering what he’s going to say. He tugs me until my body is flush with his.
“I’d say let’s go.” Holy heck, I’m going to do the dirty with my fine ass man. I see Katherine out of the corner of my eye. I totally forgot about her being able to hear us.
“Hey, wait I can’t just bail on Katherine,” I exclaim, hoping that Katherine will be fine with me ditching her without me having to ask her to stay behind.
“Girl, please. Get out of here and live a little. Have fun with the sexy guy. Besides, I got a text from someone. I’ve got a possible date tonight.”
“Ooh goodie. Damn it, I still have to go home and change.”
“No, you don’t. Remember we went shopping yesterday. You can shower and get ready here. You can deal with your dickhead brother later.”
“What’s going on with your brother?” Roman asks.
“We got into a huge argument last night. I don’t want to talk about it. I know he’s just worried about me. I won’t go into details, but a few years back, I was attacked by a crazy stalker. I was saved, but I was stabbed and beaten as I fought to get away. Now my brother worries every day. The bastard’s in jail, but I know he’ll get out one day.” A fierce expression crosses his face as if he, himself, is ready to strangle the bastard. “Enough of this. I won’t be upset, knowing that I have you to protect me. Now, let me get in the shower before it gets any later.
Chapter 9
Roman
“Are you planning to tell her the truth or am I?” Katherine stalks up to me, pointing her finger in my chest.
“What the hell do you mean?” I ask, acting offended. Fuck, I knew my cover was blown a few minutes ago when she couldn’t take her eyes off me with a glare aimed at me.
