Page 25 of Possessive Bodyguard Summer

At the top of the steps, I saw a beam of light sweep across the front windows and froze.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

No. No, no, no?—

Another beam of light. This one crossed the living room ceiling before disappearing.

My pulse thundered in my ears and I raced back down the hallway to my room to grab my phone.

Shit.Maybe I should have tried to wake Clay first.

Kaleigh…I should…

The bedroom door clicked softly.

I spun around so fast I nearly dropped the phone. Thank god the tall figure standing in the doorway was one I knew I didn’t have to fear. "Clay?"

He lowered the flashlight immediately. "Easy." The concern in his voice cut through my panic."I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

I pressed a hand against my chest, trying to catch my breath. "What are you doing?"

He lifted one shoulder. “Couldn’t sleep.”

I looked at the flashlight, then toward the windows. Realization slowly dawned on me. "You've been checking outside."

"Figured I'd make another lap.”

“Clay. You don’t have to do all of this because of me.”

He looked almost uncomfortable. “I’d rather lose a little sleep than ignore your worry, or my gut.”

My throat tightened. “You already checked everything before we went to bed. I’m sure everything is fine.”

"I know."

"So...why are you doing it again?"

His gaze met mine. "Because if somebody's watching this house, I want them to know I’m watching right back.”

Goosebumps prickled up both my arms, not from fear…from Clay.

No one had ever protected me like this before. Not my ex. Not my parents. No one.

"You really believe me," I whispered.

His brow furrowed and he stepped closer, softly brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “Of course I do.”

He was so close that I could see the faint stubble along his jaw, the little scar beneath his chin, and the exhaustion in his eyes.

"You should be asleep," I murmured, not trusting myself to say anything else.

A laugh escaped me. "Fair point."

His eyes dropped briefly to my mouth.

My breath caught.

There was no way he was about to…he wouldn’t…would he?