Page 14 of Let Me Protect You

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but she can’t talk to anyone right now,” I say, cutting her off.

Harmony bristles but pastes a smile to her face. “Don’t mind Mr. Growly. Yes, I am.”

Is that really her nickname for me?

The fan’s lips turn upward, and she squeals. Like an earsplitting squeal, as if Harmony is a real celebrity. “I knew it was you! I was rooting for you from the beginning.”

From somewhere nearby, a girl says, “Victor is so dreamy. I so would’ve married him.”

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. So much for her “disguise.”

“Don’t start,” a woman I assume is her mother says. “He’s too old for you.”

I agree with her but keep it to myself.

“Thank you. I don’t mean to be rude, but we have to get going or else my niece will fall asleep in the car, and that will ruin her sleep tonight,” Harmony says with a smile I’ve never seen before. It’s almost like it’s the one she uses for the Everlasting Love camera.

Most of the women nod. Some are about to reach out and touch Harmony, but I glare at them, and they wander off. Fuck. That was too close. The moment we exit the building and head for my car, two fans come up to us and instantly start talking to Harmony. Both of them appear to be middle-aged. A smile stretches across their faces when Harmony agrees to take a picture with them.

I’ll have to have a talk with Harmony. No more fan pictures.

Harmony forces another smile in return, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. If I could live the rest of my life without seeing that fakeness again, I’d be happy. Or maybe you can be the reason she smiles for real again. Shit. These types of thoughts are getting real old, really fast.

She tucks one of her stray hairs behind her ears—a nervous habit she must have kept while gone—and listens intently to the women. Serenity shifts from one foot to the other and nods toward my car. I shake my head. She’ll have to wait. I can’t have everyone separate in case of an emergency.

“Do you have a reason you turned Victor down? Is he meaner than he appears?” one of the fans asks.

I don’t realize I’m leaning closer to hear Harmony’s answer until Serenity glares at me. I straighten but don’t back up. We don’t know who is behind the attack … It could be a woman dressing up as a fan for all we know.

“Who cares if he’s mean if he’s a billionaire?” the other woman says in response.

I roll my eyes and adjust so I can take in all the people entering and exiting the building or more accurately, assess any threats. A balding, middle-aged man in oil-stained overalls brushes past me, and I choke. He smells like days-old chicken noodle soup. I glance at Harmony again, praying she’s almost done.

“I explained everything when they questioned me. My answer won’t change because it was the truth.” Harmony shakes both of their hands and says, “It was a pleasure to meet you, but I have to get going before it gets too late.” She says goodbye to them, but the women are immediately on their phones, typing away. They are leading whoever the mastermind is right to her if—who am I kidding?—when they post to their social media.

How will I protect her when everyone recognizes her?

Chapter 8

Harmony

Afull moon hangs in the night sky, casting a soft glow over Serenity’s front yard and our surrounding area. A blanket of snow covers everything. She and I amble out of the SUV, and I glance over at her condo. Her front porch light flickers. I’m finally home. If only mom were still here … Then it would be complete. And I wouldn’t have to worry about Serenity being so lonely when I head back to the city.

I hope that my life won’t be how it was earlier when we stopped in Connecticut—that people will forget about me as time goes on. But I’ll never get over the fact that random people want to take pictures with me.

Fat snowflakes fall around us, coating my hair and seeping into my scalp. Shivering, I wrap my arms around my torso, but it does nothing against the icy air.

“That was a fast trip,” Serenity says, pulling me from my thoughts. She’s balancing Summer on one hip and rubbing her eyes with the other. A strand of her curly red hair falls into her face, and she blows at it.

I force a laugh, wincing as the sound comes out too high-pitched. “That’s because you slept through the last half.”

She shoots me a sheepish smile, hopefully too tired to pick up on my mood. “Sorry. When Summer fell asleep, I couldn’t resist.” Adjusting her daughter, she finishes, “Let’s go. I think we’re all ready for bed.”

The flattened snow crunches beneath our feet, and the wetness seeps in through my thin sneakers. I wiggle my toes, and they instantly feel like they’ll freeze off.

As we’re about to reach the front door, Elias places a hand on my arm, and I pause. My skin warms beneath his touch. He pulls back and says, “Sorry, I want to give you my number, so you can call me when you’re ready.”

Great. The last thing I need right now is the temptation of having his number.