Page 28 of Let Me Protect You

I jump away from the sink and turn to face him. My cheeks burn, and I pray my face isn’t too flushed. “Yes, you can use it if that’s why you’re rushing me.”

He leans against the wall and crosses his arms over his wide chest. “No, you’ve just been scrubbing your hands for like two minutes.”

“It’s a lot being back here. Nothing has changed.” I take in the break room again. The fan above us still clacks as it rotates. A single picnic table rests in the middle of the room, plenty big enough for the few employees here. Cabinets line the opposite wall of the lockers. I’m sure paper plates and plastic utensils still wait inside.

“Yeah, we haven’t been able to redecorate yet.” He pushes off the wall and heads toward the doorway that leads back to the cafe. “Let’s go help Barb before it gets too busy. If you don’t remember something or need any help, ask. I don’t bite.” Then he has the audacity to wink. “Well, not hard anyway.”

My mouth drops to the floor as he struts away. His dark pants hug his ass like a glove. And no matter how hard I try, I can’t tear my eyes off it. Even when we’re at the house, if I see him, my gaze always narrows in on his perfect butt whenever he turns away.

He pauses in the doorway, his frame taking up the entire space, and glances over his shoulder before giving me a cocky smile. “I can feel your eyes on my ass. Again.”

For what feels like the hundredth time today, my cheeks heat. I roll my eyes, trying to play it off. He’s seriously insufferable. “You know you like it.”

A soft chuckle rumbles out of him, but he doesn’t reply.

My heart twists. It would be so easy to fall right back in love with this man. But that’s the worst idea I’ve ever thought up.

Chapter 15

Elias

Mugs clank together, and customers chat in a cacophony of my everyday work as I maneuver around Barbara. The tight space behind the counter isn’t made for a broader man’s build, but I make it work. The scent of a blueberry muffin warming permeates the air, and I can practically see Harmony drooling from here. It was always her favorite.

Damn it. I refocus on the drink I’m making and pull the lever down on the urn, filling the to-go cup with black coffee.

Harmony hums to herself as she works and taps her foot a couple of times to the beat of the soft country music. Her hips sway back and forth in a hypnotizing way, and I have to literally force myself to look at the drink in my hand.

What was I thinking to outright flirt with her when we live together? Actually, let’s back it up even more. Had I lost my mind when I offered to teach her how to cook? I forgot myself somewhere in between accepting this assignment and now.

As I go to place the beverage on the counter, Harmony turns suddenly and bumps into my ass. The lid on the drink in my hand pops off at the same time. Some of the scalding liquid in my cup spills over and soaks my apron while simultaneously something hot splatters onto my back and seeps through my shirt. I widen my eyes at the sudden burning, and I jerk away. Hitting the back counter with a thud, I cough, trying to cover up my wince.

Harmony’s cheeks turn a shade of scarlet for the third time today. “I’m so sorry.”

She grabs a towel from her back pocket and starts patting at my apron. Right. Above. My. Dick. My heart pounds in sync with every tap. When she turns me around to start on my back, I face all the customers who stand by the pickup area. I gulp down air as almost a dozen pairs of eyes watch.

A middle-aged woman reaches inside her purse and pulls out a phone.

“Stop,” I growl to Harmony.

Her eyes flick up to meet mine. “Stop what?”

I grab her hand, and my heart thumps against my ribs. I ignore the sensation. It’s only a distraction. And in our case, distractions can kill. As I pull her along, away from the rude lady with her phone out who will only bring more trouble for us, Harmony digs her heels in.

“Can you stop fighting me?” I say under my breath so only she can hear.

“Tell me why you’re dragging me back here.”

We’re in the doorway to the break room. Only a couple more steps and we’ll have the privacy we need, but Harmony won’t budge. “Do you want to stay out here where customers already have their phones out and you’re left unprotected?” I gesture toward the small crowd of people. “Or would you rather brave the break room with me?”

Harmony mumbles something under her breath that I can’t quite hear and struts into the break room. Her hips sway, and I tear my gaze off her ass to the epoxy floor. She heads directly to the first aid kit as I untie my apron and toss it into the dirty laundry basket.

She rushes back to me and flashes a burn ointment package. “This should help.”

I motion for her to go into the bathroom ahead of me.

“Why do I have to go in there with you?”

“I can’t leave you out here without protection.”