Page 22 of Let Me Protect You

I clear my throat. “Sorry, uhh, I wanted to tell you something.”

She quirks an eyebrow. “Yes?”

On a rush of breath, I relay everything Sully told me.

Harmony eyes me like I have three heads and inches toward the bathroom. “Okay.”

“That’s it? You aren’t concerned at all?”

She bites her lower lip and looks down at her hands. “Of course, I’m scared, but I’m trying not to dwell on it.”

“There’s no need to be scared. Aware, yes, but not scared. I’m about to take a step forward but think better of it. “While you’re with me, I’ll protect you.”

She finally looks up at me and moves a shaky hand to her forehead. “But what if something happens to you? You were already hurt once, and you’re still injured.”

I force a cocky smile, if only to ease the tension. “Nothing will happen to me. I’ve protected dozens of people, and never once have they gotten hurt or killed.”

She studies me. “And you? Was this your first injury?”

I hesitate only for a moment. She deserves the truth. “No, it’s not. It’s why I retired.” It took me months to recover from the gunshot wound. It hit me in a bad place, a little too close to my heart.

Harmony nibbles on her bottom lip. “I really don’t want you to get wounded again because of me.” She studies her sock-covered feet. “I’m sorry you got pulled back into this.”

“Don’t be sorry. I’ll protect you. I’ve been trying to clear my mind and make peace with our situation.”

Harmony nods ever so slightly. “Okay. Then I trust you.”

I want to argue with her, but I bite my tongue. How can she trust me when I don’t even trust myself?

***

A few hours later, I’m sitting in my office in the room next to Harmony’s. Inside, my man cave has my desk, chair, and two mounted shelves filled with Legos. Yes, I know I’m not a kid anymore, but I’ve always enjoyed building things. It brings a calm to my otherwise hectic life.

I focus on one of my computer screens. All of the surveillance set up around my house is still running properly. I glance at my second screen, and Serenity’s condo is secure.

Harmony pokes her head in. “Hey—” She stops speaking and inches into my office. “Wow, you picked fantastic spots for the cameras. I can see pretty much her entire property and a little of her neighboring condo.”

I nod. “Luckily, she’s on the end of that row of condos and doesn’t have acres of land, or it would’ve been harder. I also set up a motion detector light by her front door.”

She meets my gaze. “Really?”

“Yes. Like I said, I had extras in my shed.”

“Right, yes, I remember.” She takes a step closer, and a small smile plays on her lips. “And I totally believed you.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Did you come in here for a reason or just to pester me?”

“I have a reason. Harassing you was a bonus. But what I wanted to tell you is I can’t stay cooped up in your house forever.”

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. “It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours, and you know the dangers.”

“I don’t have the luxury of sitting around all day.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “I need to get a job ASAP.”

Our earlier comradery is gone as she glares at me from underneath her long eyelashes.

Bitterness slips into my voice as I say, “You were just on an extremely popular TV show, and you were engaged to a billionaire. Why on earth do you need a job?”

Something flickers across her face. Uncertainty? Fear? She looks away before I can figure it out. “I don’t need to explain myself to you.”