Protecting Her

“I don’t keep any of my work at home or in my car. That would be stupid.”

“Makes me think maybe they just want you.” I suck in a breath. “I’m not trying to scare you, Catriona. I just want to make sure you understand the severity of this and don’t try to downplay it in your head.”

“I’m not. I’m going to take the bodyguard.” If anything, whoever this person is, there’s a high likelihood that they are after the vaccine I’m working on. I shouldn’t be shocked at the lengths people will go to, but when money is involved you never know what people will do. I know there are a whole lot of companies pissed about some of the choices I’ve made.

They either want to beat me to making the vaccine or stop me altogether. With fear or—I cut my chain of thought off, not wanting my mind to go there. Then their plan would be working. I’m not going to let them scare me. I’m not stopping. Nor am I changing my mind about what I’ll be doing after I’ve finally got it. We could save so many lives. Nothing else matters to me. That’s the reason I’m working so hard.

“Here.” Carrie hands me my bag. “Be careful.” She gives me one of her hugs that are always a little too tight. “Text me. I want to know if they’re hot.”

“Who? My date? There is only one. Do you do two at a time?”

“Wouldn’t turn it down, but that’s not what I meant.” Again she laughs. “I meant the bodyguards.”

“There is more than one of them?”

“I don’t know. Just text me later.” I turn to leave, and she sNathans my bottom. “Go get one of those 80 million bacteria.”

“You’re weird.”

“I know. It’s why we work so well together.” This is true. I head out. I pull my phone out of my bag as I hit the button for the elevator. It opens, and I step on. Crap. I see Eric coming down the hallway. I hit Nathan’s floor before looking down at my phone.

“Catriona, hold the elevator.” I don’t look up, pretending I don’t hear him. “Catriona!” I have no choice now. I glance up to see he’s almost to the elevator, but the doors close in the nick of time. Probably because I’m hitting the button for them to. I hope that wasn’t too obvious.

I glance at the time again. I’m going to be late. I hate being late. Even when it’s something I really don’t want to do. Why did I agree to do this again? It has to be more than Carrie pushing me. That was seven dates ago. I could have quit by now. She’d get it. I gave it a go at least.

I think a small part of me thinks that maybe I’ll feel a spark of attraction. I get envious when I see other couples together. I often daydream about what it would be like to have a person in my life. What if I’m not built that way? What if I’ve been on my own for too long? I don’t know what it means to lean on someone else. It’s been that way for so long that I wouldn’t even know how to act if someone wanted to take care of me. I usually can only count on myself. That’s how it’s been since I was a little girl.

The elevator dings, pulling me out of the thoughts of my childhood. I shake them off as I head toward Nathan’s office.

“You can go in,” Rebecca says as I near her desk. “Do you want anything?”

“I’m good, but thank you.” She gives me a smile before she goes back to clicking away at her computer. I push open the door to his office.

“Can we make this fast? I’ve got a date.” I freeze when four sets of eyes land on me.

“Date?” the big one asks, folding his thick arms over his chest. “There isn’t going to be a date.” My eyes meet his dark gaze. Something flutters in my stomach for a moment. It’s as if the connection I’ve been looking for is suddenly standing right in front of me. I have two thoughts simultaneously. Who is this man and why does he think he can tell me what to do?

Chapter 3

Gabe

These people are nuts. They want to protect their biggest asset while sending her out on dates with strangers.

“You can’t cancel my dates,” protests Catriona. Her chin comes out as she folds thin arms across her chest. Sadly she is not a troll and she’s more fucking hot in person than she was in the photo. In fact, I’d go so far as to say she takes shit photos because in real life Catriona is so beautiful I’m almost on my knees. The thought of her going on a date with another man enrages me. Damn fucking straight I’m canceling her dates. I’m also canceling all contact with any dicks in the future. Her lab will be all women all the time. This Nathan dude is going to be the first one I jettison from Catriona’s circle.