Standing There (Love in the Park 1)

“I still had a job to do. You know, it’s terrible for business if we got personal with our clients. At your graduation, I nearly broke all the rules and rushed up to you. Meeting you at the concert was purely accidental.” He reaches for me, but I dart out of his grasp. My heart was a sucker for him, but I had learned what being naïve could cost me. And that shit, Katherine easily abandoned me.

“I’m supposed to believe that?” I ask incredulously.

He barks out a laugh, shaking his head. “Yes, because it’s the truth. See, the thing is… I pulled myself from watching you, and my staff made sure that I wasn’t made aware of your location unless necessary. They were surprised to see me last night, too. Truthfully, I was there to take my sister to a concert and meet with the mayor. My company handles the security for the event.”

Damn, I should have put two and two together. “Oh shit. That explains why he stopped me. He made an excuse saying that the exit was closed off. Why didn’t you tell me today?”

He drops his chin to his chest, huffing out a breath. “I don’t have much of an excuse other than I wanted you to know me better before you tried to push me away.”

“I don’t know what to believe.”

“Believe this.” He presses his hand over mine, bringing it to his chest. “I’m not sure how to go further. There’s more to say, but I know that when you find out, you’ll hate me more.”

I decided to give him a break. I understand some of his intentions, even if I don’t like it. “I don’t hate you. I’m confused and hurt. I’ve been burned before.”

He nods. “Yeah, your brother mentioned having your heart broken. I’m not that guy.”

What? Brent read that whole situation wrong, but that’s probably because I never told him the truth either. “I’ve never had my heart broken. I was hurt and feeling horrible about myself but wait…” I narrow my eyes getting mad all over again. “Does that mean my brother knows you’ve been acting like more than a bodyguard.”

“No, and he’s probably going to want to fight when he finds out. He only told me when I asked for more details about your activities. Of course, it’s because I selfishly wanted to know all I could. He brought up how you didn’t go out and date much and then the one time you did, you had been crushed by some guy.”

“There’s something I don’t understand. Why all the protection? Is it because I’m leaving for school soon?”

“Leaving? What? You still think I’m going to let you leave?” My thighs clench at the promise of keeping me with him.

“Yes, I’m supposed to start school next week.”

“We’ll see about that,” he mutters, shaking his head at me. “I’ve got lots of things I’d rather you were doing. None of them have you leaving me.” Fuck, he’s doing it again. My body is alive with need. I read his intent clearly. Suddenly an image of me in the kitchen with his arms sliding around my waist, rubbing my round belly.

I can hear a noise outside the room, bringing back to our current situation. “So what’s really going on? What happened outside?”

He doesn’t say anything for a cool minute. “Are you thinking of a new way to keep the truth from me?” I accuse.

“No, I won’t lie to you,” he says, sliding his hands around me and looking into my eyes. I wait for him to continue but it feels like forever when he explains, “Your attacker was released from his sentence. A technical error.”

I try to breathe or to even utter a word, but my world goes black.

Chapter 11

Roman

I’m grateful that I’m holding her when she passes out. Carrying her over to the sofa, I place a pillow under her head and go for the smelling salts in the emergency kit. She startles for a moment, looking around in pure fear. “I’m not going to let him get to you ever. I’ll protect you.” I stand up to get her some water, but she grabs my forearm fiercely. “Don’t leave me.”

I bend down and kiss her lips. “I’m not going anywhere. There’s a fridge across the room. I need to get you some water.”

I focus on Lindsay, lifting her head and getting her to take a drink. “I’m sorry, baby.”

“He’s here,” she stammers out with her body quivering. I pull her up to a seated position and wrap her up in my arms.

“Hopefully in a body bag soon. He was outside the property, but he’s causing a ruckus, but it’ll be over before you know it. I won’t let him get to you. You have to remember that.”

She whips her head up to look at me with fear in her eyes. “What about Brent? We have to get him to somewhere safe.”