“I’d probably start crying if you did.”
He smiled slightly. “You wouldn’t. But it doesn’t matter, because I don’t raise my voice to women. So, what did he want?”
“Um ...” I crossed my arms over my chest, and I looked at the envelope he’d left. “He brought some pictures I’d left at the apartment. Some of my mom’s old stuff. I was glad he brought them back, because they’re important to me.”
“And that was it?”
I wanted to keep it from him so this conversation would end, but he said he was an honest guy, and if he would always be honest with me, then I would always be honest with him. “He apologized for everything—not that I needed to hear it.”
“And what else?” His tone hardened like he knew exactly what else.
“Said he made a mistake.”
His stare was stone cold.
“That’s when you came in. So he didn’t say anything else.”
“I didn’t feel bad before, but I sure as fuck don’t feel bad now. A fucking peasant coming to a queen like he deserves a moment of her time.” He shook his head. “Better not show his fucking face around here again.”
“Are—are you jealous?”
He laughed, but it was packed with sarcasm. “Sweetheart, I don’t get jealous. But I’m protective, and if some asshole who broke your heart thinks he can kick up some dust, he’s fucking mistaken. I was there to pick up the pieces that he broke—so he can fuck right off.”
“How did you even know he was here?” Had he just happened to stop by at the right time?
He didn’t say anything for a while, like he wanted to hold on to his words a little longer before he set them free. “Because my men told me he was here.”
“Your men ...?” It took me a second to understand the implications of his words. “You’re—you’re watching me.”
“I’m not watching you,” he said. “I’m protecting you.”
“From?”
“Just because this relationship has barely begun doesn’t mean it’s not obvious to anyone watching me that you mean something to me. I don’t take risks, so yes, I’ve put some of my guys on your surveillance.”
“And you didn’t think you should tell me this?”
“You were already freaked out enough,” he said. “And to be clear, they don’t report your movements to me. I don’t know where you go or how you spend your days. They keep you safe—that’s all.”
“Is there someone to keep me safe from?”
“No. Not that I know of. But as I said before, I don’t take risks.”
I felt violated, and I didn’t know why. “I feel like this is something you should have told me.”
“If that asshole hadn’t swung by, you never would have known.”
“And that makes it okay?”
“Sweetheart.” He didn’t say it affectionately like he normally did, but sternly. “Did you see how quickly I got here? He was here for, what? Three minutes? And my men would have been here instantly if it was necessary. You’re afraid to pursue this with me because of the risks, but I’ve proven to you I don’t take risks. I protect you—always.”
“I still feel like I had the right to know.”
“All right, that was an error on my part. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” He dropped his arms to his sides. “Can we move on now?”
My heart was pounding so hard in my chest that I wasn’t sure if we could just move on. “I—I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” he challenged.
