Page 114 of Forbidden Forget-Me-Not

“No. But I doubt the Wintertons will charge in here and hurt us. They aren’t mafia. They’re just pompous and entitled.”

“There is no difference. The guns and the guards are the only things missing. The mindset is the same.”

“Do you really think that Mr. Winterton would try something when he so clearly wants me to marry Dylan?”

His jaw flexed. “I do. Especially the father.”

I shivered.

“Please sleep in here…with me.”

His eyes darkened for a fraction of a second before discipline slid back into place.

“Kaylani, I love your boldness and your determination to live fearlessly. But you need to trust me and let me do my job. I’ll be right outside the door.”

I lowered my voice. “You’re not just my bodyguard.”

Goran’s expression didn’t soften.

“While we are on this property, I am.”

That hurt more than I expected. My eyes dropped, and he lifted my chin, forcing my gaze back to his. He leaned closer, voice low and controlled.

“Kaylani. If something happens, I need to be between it and you. Not in bed with you.”

My throat tightened. “I hate that you still talk like that. Like I’m your assignment.”

“You are. You’re the only one that matters. If anything happened to you, I wouldn’t survive. Do you understand?”

He pressed a kiss on my forehead.

“Lock the door behind me,” Goran ordered.

Then he was gone.

Three hours later, I was still staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep.

At 2:07 a.m., I gave up and slipped out of bed, padding toward the door. My hand hovered over the knob when I heard low voices outside.

I pressed my ear lightly against the door.

“…unnecessary,” Mr. Winterton was saying. “This is my home. There is no threat here.”

“My duty doesn’t change based on location,” Goran replied.

There was a faint, quiet laugh.

“You think I would allow harm to come to a guest?”

“I don’t think you’d allow it. I think you wouldn’t see it coming.”

Silence.

“Are you implying something, son?”

“I’m stating that my position remains unchanged.”

“You don’t need to guard her door like a prison warden.”