“Alexey, you don’t have to hold my hand,” she said.
“Yes, I do.”
He expected her to argue, but she didn’t pull away, and by some strange miracle, she didn’t even argue with him.In that moment, he wanted to put his fingers against her temples to make sure she was okay.Jane not arguing was a strange concept.
She didn’t argue, and he walked her through the park and kept a close eye on every person there.There were runners, families, mother pushing strollers, even fathers.There were already kids in the park, since it was summer.People were always going to parks and lapping up the sunshine to make them feel better.
Jane sighed.“You know, I have always liked the simple things.A walk in the park.Enjoying the few free things life has to offer, free air, free sunshine.”
He wasn’t about to tell her that this simple walk was not exactly free.The men he paid to keep her safe did not come with just enjoying the morning walk.
“So, do you have any plans for today?”Jane asked.
He looked down at her, and she offered him a smile, to which he was a little taken aback.Over the past few months, he found himself enjoying her company.He genuinely wanted to go home each night to see her.Life was not hard, nor complicated with her.She didn’t ask him a million questions or beg him for girly treats.
In the beginning, he didn’t think he was going to be able to live with a woman.Now, he didn’t want her to leave, and he stopped trying to find ways for her to leave.He knew a lot of men would find her plain and unattractive, but Alexey was fucking drawn to her.
At night, he found himself watching her in her cute pajamas.He brought her clothes home, and she was constantly wearing them.From the cute pajamas to the jeans, to dresses.She wore everything he got, and she didn’t complain once.He loved everything about her.
After the attacks, she stopped complaining and started to look for hobbies.Her cooking and baking were the best so far.The knitting was not going so great.He’d seen her hold the sweater up, and it looked awful.She was not a good knitter, but that didn’t stop her.
“Take you for a walk in the park,” he said.
“That is not going to take a long time,” she said.
He chuckled.“You never know.A park is an exciting place.”
She took a deep breath.“Yeah, I know.Do you see any threats?Anything I must be on guard with?”
“Nothing so far.”
“I already spotted Richard up ahead, and there’s Ben.”
He glanced down at her.“You know the guards’ names?”
“It’s only fair.They are risking their lives to save mine, and in all honesty, it’s not like I’m anyone important.”
“You saved my life.That makes you important,” he said.
“I’ve told you before.There are a lot of people who would have done it.”
Alexey chuckled.“You think you know the world, Jane.You truly don’t.”
She rolled her eyes.“I know there are a lot of bad people in the world.Trust me, I get it.”
He spun her around and pressed her up against the tree.“Does this have anything to do with that foster dad who ended up dead?”he asked.
She smelled so good, like vanilla, and it always made his mouth water.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said.
This made him smirk.“You know when every foster kid responds in exactly the same way about the same situation, it stinks.”
Jane stared at him but didn’t say a word.
“Do you know what is even more telling?”he asked, waiting for a few minutes to pause.“When they dropped the case, all evidence seemed to disappear, and the kids just ended up going their separate ways.”
“I think I’m ready to go back home,” she said.
