Page 55 of Thirsty Bodyguard Summer

“You want a lot of things intensely.”

His mouth flattened, but he didn’t interrupt.

“I don’t know whether you want me after the threat is gone, the concert is over, and I’m not the woman standing between you and every door.”

He rubbed one hand over the back of his neck.

“That’s fair.”

I stared at him.

“You expected me to argue,” he said.

“I expected charm.”

“I can do charm after we finish the difficult part.”

“You’ve had casual relationships.”

“Yes, I have. A lot of them.”

He didn’t soften it or tell me the tabloids had invented his history.

“I liked casual,” he continued. “It was easy. We knew what we wanted, nobody asked for more, and I could leave before either of us had to rearrange anything.”

“That’s honest.”

“It isn’t flattering.”

“I didn’t ask you to flatter yourself.”

“I’m trying something new.”

I rubbed the bare skin at my wrist where the earpiece cord usually rested.

Shane moved closer.

“I haven’t asked another woman what happens after the weekend in a long time,” he said. “Maybe ever.”

“That doesn’t mean you’ll like the answer.”

“No, it doesn’t.”

He stopped within reach but didn’t touch me.

“What makes this different?” I asked.

“You know what I did at that party, and you didn’t use it to excuse me or punish me. You watched me work and cared whether I was any good. You protect me without making me feel helpless, and you tell me why a rule matters instead of expecting me to shut up and obey.” He paused. “You’ve never asked me for access, a favor, or anything I could buy.”

My chest tightened.

“That was a lot of honesty for one room.”

“I’ve been thinking about it since the beach.”

“You didn’t know we were having this conversation.”

“I hoped we were.”