“Why can’t I stay with you? You can keep me safe.”
“I would if I could, but I’m leaving for another mission as soon as I leave here. You’ll be fine. You’re a strong-willed woman.” Leaning in close, he whispered in my ear. “Just don’t take shit from him. Show Blake you can handle this and he’ll turn around.”
As much as I wanted to believe I could, I doubted myself. I didn’t belong here and it was evident. “Okay,” I whispered, “I can do this.”
Logan led me upstairs to my room and set my bag on the bed. The room was all white and elegant, clearly a female’s room. It was beautiful; definitely a contrast to the masculinity downstairs.
“I have to go now. Remember, you can call me anytime.”
My eyes burned, but I refused to cry. All I wanted was to be back at home and have Scott still alive. Maybe that was why I liked Logan so much; he reminded me of a younger version of him. Opening my arms, I rushed over to him, wrapping them around his neck. “Thank you for watching over me. Be safe on your mission.”
He squeezed me tight and let go. “I will. If I need to come back and kick shitdick’s ass, just let me know.”
The thought made me smile. I wished he would preemptively do it. Maybe then, Blake wouldn’t be such a prick. “You’ve got it.”
Turning on his heel, his footsteps echoed off the wooden stairs, and all too quickly, he was out the front door. I didn’t watch him leave because I knew I’d be tempted to chase after him and jump in the car. If Blake didn’t want me there, why did he agree to let me stay in the first place?
The house was quiet, but there was a noise coming from the back. Logan told me not to take any shit and I wasn’t planning on it. Blake was going to talk to me, even if I had to force it out of him. Finding my way through the huge house, I stormed outside. With his back to me and a hammer in his hands, Blake crouched low to the ground, pounding nails into a wooden fence. His muscles flexed with each strike, but I was too pissed off to even notice how sexy his body was. Who am I kidding? I noticed the first time I saw him.
“Dammit,” I hissed low. I couldn’t be thinking about him like that. He was an ass, end of story.
Getting to his feet, he glanced at me, then focused back on the task at hand. “Something I can help you with?” he muttered.
“I thought maybe, since we’re going to be stuck with each other for a while, we could talk. Our stories need to be consistent if we go out in public. I don’t know what all you know.” I said it nice and sweet, even though I wanted to take his hammer and slam it against his head.
He turned to me. “That’s the thing, Hollywood. I don’t know our story because I didn’t want to take this fucking job. Just know this, I’m not going to kiss your ass because you’re famous.”
Sucking in a breath, I could feel the blood rushing to my face.
“You see me as a dirty, worthless cowboy who doesn’t know anything other than shoveling shit and playing in the dirt.” He stepped closer and I stumbled back, the look in his eyes making me tremble. “I’m a trained killer, princess. The government calls me in to solve cases they can’t. But yet, here I am . . . babysitting you. It’s a fucking joke.”
My heart raced, anger boiling in my veins. “So keeping me safe is a joke? I’m here because Robert says you’re the best.” I laughed with no humor behind it. “I find myself wanting to explain who I am, but then I remember I don’t give a shit what you think of me. I didn’t want to leave my family and friends behind, believe me. If you want me gone, I’ll be glad to go. I refuse to be treated like shit when none of this was my fault.”
He studied me for a minute. A small smile appeared, making me shiver. “Actually, I don’t think I want you to go,” he said.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Oh yeah? Why is that?”