Protecting Her: A Romance Bundle

As soon as we were alone, Robert poured us each some tea and leaned forward. “Tell me about yourself, Molly.”

I moved up in my seat and thought about what to say. “Well, I have lived here for almost a year now. Noel’s folks let us stay there and helped us open the cafe. It was something she’d wanted to do for so long and I suppose that she roped me into it. I graduated with a degree in Literature and thought life would be different. It’s good, though. I added the shelves and all the books to the cafe.”

“I like that touch. I am sure that most of your customers do,” he said as I smiled.

“I think so. It’s Noel’s place since she does the baking and the business side of things. Her dad is smart about all of that and he helps her. I just help where I can.” I shrugged as he frowned.

“You do a lot more than that. Noel could never run that place on her own and in fact, I think that you two could use a little help. Do you get any days off?” Robert asked as I shook my head. “You have to get up early to be there?”

“Around 3:30,” I admitted as he gave me a horrified look. “I help her bake everything fresh. I live on caffeine during the day and naps after work. Life on the edge.” I smirked to let him know that I was making a joke as Robert’s eyes softened. “What about your job?”

“I am a major in the air force. I have been with them for twenty years now,” he boasted proudly as I nodded. “I moved here to do a little cleaning up at the base and now I am overseeing the classes for the new guys.”

“You like it here, you said?” I asked as he nodded easily.

“It’s a nice place to settle once I retire in a few years. I can go fishing and hunting. All of that manly stuff.” I laughed because Robert was the picture of masculinity to me. He was gorgeous but took excellent care of his body and had a bit of an edge to him. This place suited him.

“How old are you?” I finally asked, needing to know. I’d tried to do the math, but it was too hard because he looked so good.

“I am forty-two. How old are you?” Robert asked as I looked down at the table. That was a lot of years between us.

“I just turned twenty-three.” I admitted, searching his face. “Is that too young?”

“No, not at all. I think that you’re something of an old soul, Molly. I remember being your age and you’re above all of that.” He smiled and I wondered what he was like back then. Was he like Lance when he was my age? Was he like that now? There were a million warning signs going off in my head but my heart was beating fast in my chest. My body was craving him and I pressed my thighs together.

“My mom always told me that, too. She said I was born older.” I grinned. “They’re in Malad City. I was born here, but I jumped around to go to college and then moved here.”

“Any siblings?” He asked and I shook my head.

“I’m it. They had trouble having kids and once I was born, they stopped worrying about it. We were happy when I was growing up.” I looked into his eyes. “You?”

“I have a brother that’s thirty-eight. James. He’s a cop in Philadelphia where they all still live.” He smiled fondly as he spoke of them and I knew that he loved his family. “The military thing is a family deal. All the men were in the Air Force and James started there but ended up joining the police force. I have a hell of a lot of respect for him.”

“I can see that you’re close,” I responded before the waitress came with our food. She set mine down quickly and leaned over to place Robert’s plate in front of him, smiling as he smirked at her. “Does that happen everywhere you go?”

“Sometimes, but it doesn’t matter. I’m with you.” His words played through my mind as I took a drink of my tea. I’d heard them before.

We ate and talked about the towns that surrounded us and places we liked there. I had only been to the movies a few times and the diner since Noel and I weren’t into drinking too much with our hours. We’d done a little hiking as well, but I admitted to Robert that Noel was a lot more social than I was.

“We can get to know the town together,” Robert told me as I blushed. “I’m surprised that you don’t date more. You’re beautiful.”

I leaned back and pressed my lips together. Behind this red lip stain and dress, I was still the scared girl that didn’t want to trust anybody. “I haven’t done a lot of that.” I looked at him and thought that he must have women throwing themselves at him since he

was in school. He dated. I could tell that he did and probably all the time. “I…I have something that I should tell you.” Was it too soon for him to know that I was a virgin?

Robert leaned closer to me and met my gaze. “What’s that?”

“I haven’t dated a lot and I also have never…slept with a man,” I took a good look around before speaking to assure myself that we were alone. I looked at him and watched his skin pale as he leaned heavily on his arms. “I know that you have probably been with a lot of women and I didn’t want you to waste your time with me.”

He stared at me as a dark look crossed his face, filled with doubt for a moment. “How am I wasting my time with you?”

“You could take me home if you want to. I know that I am probably not what you expected.” I heard the horrible words and self-doubt pouring out of my mouth but I couldn’t stop it. I lowered my face to stare at my lap as I tried to regain my composure.

“Molly,” he said as I felt someone sitting beside me. I hated Lance and what he did to me as Robert circled my shoulders with his arm. “I don’t care about that.” I lifted my face to look at him doubtfully. “Someone did. Someone hurt you.”

We left the restaurant shortly and he took my hand as we walked towards the car. I didn’t want to talk in that room where anyone could hear my embarrassment. “Do you want me to take you home?” His voice was low as I looked at him.

I didn’t, but I was too nervous to say that. “Not really.” He paused and moved closer to me, locking his eyes to mine.