Page 30 of Let Me Protect You

My assignment to protect her is more important than my resurfacing feelings.

Resurfacing? Like they had actually gone away.

Maybe all I need is a little release. Yeah, that has to be it. But it will have to be when she’s asleep. Fuck. She’ll be sleeping in my house while I jerk off. That by itself is enough to drive me insane.

I need to make myself known before she spots me, and I look like a creeper. “Do you need any help?”

Harmony jumps and lets out a little yelp. “Can you announce yourself next time?”

“Isn’t my question enough for an announcement?”

A look of determination overtakes her face as she strides over to the bags of coffee beans. “I’ve got it.”

I lean against the doorjamb and cross my arms over my chest. “Fine. Be stubborn. I have a lovely view from my spot.”

She shoots daggers at me with her eyes. “Don’t you have a job to do?”

I laugh. I can’t help it when she gets frustrated. “Yes, and I’m doing it right now.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“But it’s the job that matters.”

She heaves the last bag, and a memory pops into my mind. “Do you remember the last time we did this together?”

She points at me the best she can while holding the heavy beans. “Don’t you even start.”

“What?” I raise my hands in front of me. “I wasn’t the one who was too stubborn to ask for help. That bag had a huge hole.”

“But did you help when it all started spilling out?”

I press my mouth into a straight line to smother a laugh. “Nope.” And I’m not ashamed to admit it.

“Exactly.”

After what happened in the bathroom, I’m not sure why she has an attitude. I take a deep breath and hold it before getting in close so I don’t get another whiff of her scent. I want to break the ice, not torture myself. Pointing at a spot on the bag she holds, I ask, “Is that a hole?”

“What?” She attempts to turn it around, but it slips from her grip.

I close the small gap between us, to help catch the coffee. The skin on my back pinches, and I wince. As my hand grazes hers, electricity shoots through me, but I don’t let go. She stumbles backward, her back hitting the shelves, and the bag falls to the floor. Her wide eyes flutter. The rack shakes, and she gulps in air as a small box from the top shelf falls. Right before the package hits her head, I grab her hand and pull her to me.

Wrapping her in my arms, my heart thumps so hard I’m sure she feels it. After a minute, neither one of us has let go. I have to release her.

So why can’t I?

Pulling myself from my thoughts, I look into her wide eyes. “Are you okay?”

Her long eyelashes flutter more. “Yes.” She untangles herself from my arms. “I’m fine. Let me put this last bag away.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I think it will be best if we keep distance between us.” She never minces her words. I suppose that didn’t change during her absence. “Just a few minutes ago, you almost kissed me, and now you pulled me into your arms. Do you really think that’s appropriate when we are living together?”

My mouth gapes at her.

“Not to mention that after all of this is over and I help my sister with something, I’m leaving again.”

Her words are like a smack to the face. I didn’t expect us to hook up. But I also assumed that she’d stay here in Granite Falls. Now that she graduated and had her fun in NYC, I thought she’d finally settle down.