“I know.” I shot back. Saying it out loud made it feel real. Like it wasn’t just in my head. “To be fair, I’ve never seen anyone, but I can feel it—feel a presence watching me.” And ithadfelt different from the paparazzi because eventually the paparazzi always showed themselves. This presence was ever-present andnevershowed itself.
Carter dragged both hands down his face in exasperation before admitting quietly, “It might be your security team.”
I could just strangle him for writing me off. “I’m not talking about Vaughn.” I muttered harshly.
“Neither am I.” He quickly fled for the door.
Thatgot my attention. “What do you mean?” I shot up, and he walked faster. “Carter?” My voice went up an octave as I teetered on too-high heels, shoving my body against the door,blocking his exit. “What the hell are you talking about?” I asked breathlessly.
He stalked into the adjacent conference room and cracked open a bottle of water. “I hired a security team for you last fall.” The words tumbled out of his mouth like he knew he was about to be in deep shit—and he’d be right.
My mouth dropped open as he white-knuckled the heavy glass bottle and nervously guzzled, “And you didn’t think to tell me?” I demanded. “I’ve been feeling paranoid and anxious for months—because of you?!” I put my hands on my hips and stared at the ceiling. I’d been losing my marbles over nothing, thinking it had been related to that damn note. “Unbelievable.” I muttered, knowing he couldn’t possibly understand what it was like to be a woman walking through the world, already a little on edge as it was. “I know why Liam assigned me security.” I started slowly, realization dawning on me.
“Yeah, you want to tell me the real reason he did?” Carter asked warily. “That was a bullshit explanation he gave me.”
I tapped my lips, ignoring his question as I continued my line of thinking. “You know, I’m really curious,Kensington.” His name was like a curse word in my mouth. “Why the hell didyouhire security for me?” My heart rate increased as a different kind of sickening feeling settled into my stomach.
“Just being safe.” He quickly took another long swig of water, draining the bottle.
What the actual hell? Liam had been keeping secrets for months, and now Carter? Both of them, making decisions about my life without bothering to consult me first. This was gettingreallyold.
“If you won’t tell me, then you don’t get to keep tabs on me.” Totally reasonable.
“Youwillkeep your security team.” He demanded, and the authority in his tone made my core tighten like a horny fucking traitor.
Moody, broody Carter, was apparently doing it for me. Fan-fucking-tastic timing. “Who the hell do you think you are?” I demanded, feeling myself starting to unravel as he closed the space between us. “Trying to keep tabs on me while simultaneously pushing me away?”
“I’m trying to keep you safe.” He snapped, closing in.
“You have a real funny way of showing it.” I breathed, my eyes going wide as he entered my space with several more long steps. My tongue darted out, wetting my bottom lip, and his eyes were dark and angsty as he tracked the movement.
“It’s not. Up. For discussion.”
I’d never seen this side of him aimed atmebefore.
Something protective and simultaneously predatory, dangerous.
Fuck, it was hot.
He smelled good too, familiar, minty, masculine, alluring.Focus, Sara!“You’re right, it’snotup for discussion because you’ve made it very clear you don’t want to be in my life anymore.” I bit out, already dialing a number on my cell phone. “And it’s well within my rights to fire your little minions.”
His hand hit the wall above my head, and I swallowed hard, tingling as the energy crackled between us like a strike of lightning about to ignite. “Good luck with that, because they’re onmypayroll.”
“If I can’t fire them, I’ll have Gina help me get a restraining order.” I threatened as Theo answered the phone, sounding irritated as usual.
“Why are you calling me, Sara? I know you’re in the building.”
“Hi Theo.” I started sweetly, but Carter yanked the phone out of my hand and hung it up, making me want to scream as he stuffed it in his pocket and pushed off the wall.
“I was attacked.” Carter practically choked out. “Last summer.”
That stopped me in my tracks. “What?” I breathed, looking him over as if his body were currently injured—and it was, fromhis accident. He should be in bed, recovering. Why was he pushing himself so hard, so soon?
He started pacing. Nervously. “Some people my father worked with made some threats.” He turned towards me, almost pleading as he explained, “They’re dangerous and they mean fucking business, Sara.”
“I don’t know what the hell that has to do with me.”
“Everything!” he shouted.
