To Love and Protect (Must Love Diamonds 4)

Chapter 12

Shelby sat on one of the bar stools in the room her parents used for political entertaining, picking at a piece of leftover wedding cake as Loyal and Roxanna finished opening gifts. As always, Honor had worked her magic with the sweet treat, but guilt over being snotty to Dev when he dropped her off had killed her appetite.

He’d only been looking out for her safety, and she’d reacted badly to his order not to go anywhere alone because she’d been disappointed he wasn’t coming inside with her. Truth was, she should’ve been relieved to avoid the questions her family would’ve asked when they walked in together. Especially after the brunch scene from three weeks ago, and the attention he’d paid her last night.

Besides, Dev was right. She couldn’t let her guard down no matter where she was. She’d relaxed over the past couple of weeks knowing someone else was watching over her, but she needed to be more vigilant. Like last night, when he’d insisted on checking her apartment instead of just leaving her at the front door.

It struck her in that moment if he hadn’t done that, she’d have been by herself when she found the message on her mirror. A chill snaked down her spine at the thought of having to face that alone.

Celia slid onto the empty stool on her right, snapping the ugly, frightening thread of Shelby’s thoughts.

“Hey, sis. You’re awfully quiet today.”

“Just tired.” And thankfully, she, Honor, and Mae had picked up her slack in the post-wedding bridesmaid duties. “I didn’t get to bed until after two, and was back up again a little after seven. You and Robert were smart cutting out early.”

Her sister leaned in closer, letting her dark, chin-length bob slide forward like a privacy curtain. “I was ovulating, so it was either leave early or have him take me in the back corner of the coat room.”

Shelby winced and pushed her cake aside. “TMI, Ceels. TMI.”

“Oh, stop acting like a virgin.”

Raine joined them in time to overhear Celia’s teasing reprimand. “She’s not acting—unless Dev took care of that last night?”

Shelby tilted her head at their cousin in disbelief.

“Devante?” Her sister trained her brown gaze on Shelby, propped her chin in her hand, and wiggled her eyebrows. “Do tell.”

“Would you two keep your voices down?” she grumbled. “There’s nothing to tell.”

“No?” Raine asked. “Then how come I saw you two pull up in his truck earlier?”

“Because Dad hired him as my bodyguard last night after Noelle stole my other bodyguard for a quickie on the job.”

“Lucky you,” her cousin quipped.

Shelby slid off the stool. “Yeah, lucky me. The stalker who sabotaged my car broke into my apartment and left a creepy message on my mirror, and my new, hot bodyguard flinches with revulsion every time he gets near me. Life’s never been better.” Self-pity choked out the last words.

Mortified at everything that had just spilled out of her mouth, she brushed past the two of them. Perfect. She’d told Dev not to say anything, and then she went and word vomited all over the place.

Without a thought beyond escape, she ended up in the kitchen. Celia and Raine followed fast on her heels.

“Shelby, wait.” Her sister caught her arm and pulled her around to face them. “When did your apartment get broken into?”

She leaned her head back, blinking rapidly to stem the tears. Once she had her emotions under control, she did her best to gloss over the events of the past eight hours. “Last night. But I stayed at Dev’s, and he called the police first thing this morning. It’s being taken care of.”

“I’m sorry,” Raine said softly. “I didn’t know things were that bad.”

“Well, she doesn’t have a bodyguard for the fun of it,” Celia retorted.

“It’s fine. I’m fine.” She sniffed away the last of the tears. “And don’t go saying anything to anyone. I don’t want to make a big deal of this and disrupt things for Loyal and Rox.”

“They’d be the first ones to say your safety is more important than wedding gifts,” her sister argued.

“I know, but I am safe. Dad’s got Dev on the job now.”

Sarcasm rang in her voice. It wasn’t fair, and she didn’t even mean it the way it came out. She knew she was safer with him than Blake. Clearly, she was taking it personally every time he flinched away from her.

But how could she not?