Page 13 of Protecting Her

A couple people congratulated me and told me I deserved it, but I didn’t really hear it. All I could hear was the way my heart thudded in my chest as I walked off the stage. I’d just fulfilled a dream. A step on the road I’d wanted to travel for so long, but hadn’t been able to step onto. Until now.

I took a deep breath and made my way to leave the bar, but a familiar face stopped my progress.

“What are you doing here?” I asked; it was the first question that popped to mind.

“Wow. You really are amazing,” he replied and walked up to hug me.

“Kevin, seriously.” I laughed, and returned the hug before quickly moving away. “Where have you been?”

“Taking care of some family stuff, but they can all fuck off for now. I wanted to see you. And talk to you. My brother has kept me way too busy, but I decided I’d had enough of it all.”

“Oh.” None of that really made sense to me, but I guess it did to him. “Did you do all of this?” I waved my hand around, and he smiled.

“I told you I could find you a job. This is the perfect one, don’t you think? Did you get the contract?”

“What? No. I got an envelope with some money in it, but I can’t take all of that.” I didn’t want to give it back, but my pride wouldn’t let me keep it all.

“Are you kidding? That’s an advance on your pay! There was supposed to be a contract with it. I guess that got lost. Never mind, we’ll sort that part later. Care to join me for dinner?”

“You want me to just go out to dinner with you now?” A sudden squeeze in my stomach made me feel sick as I realized he wanted something out of this after all.

“Well, yes. I thought you’d like some company.”

“I’m not a prostitute you know?” I made to push past him when the realization that all of this was an expensive way to buy himself a woman dawned on me. “I would think a guy like you wouldn’t have to buy a companion. Damn.”

“What? No! Ember! Stop! What are you on about?”

“You’re my sugar daddy is that it? I have to sleep with you for all of this? Well, I’d rather be on the street, thank you.” I hated that my heart hurt so much, and I called myself a million kinds of fool. Of course, that was what he was after. Why else would a man go to so much trouble?

“Ember, no. You never have to sleep with me again if you don’t want to. I have to admit, I rather enjoyed that night we shared together, but if you don’t want that from me, then that’s fine. It’s a shame to waste that talent of yours, that’s why I did this. I needed a singer, and you blew me away. I don’t expect anything in return but for you to sign a contract with us and to hear that beautiful voice of yours for many nights to come.”

I wanted his words to be true, and I studied his face to find the lie, but I couldn’t see one. “You… that’s really all you want?”

“Yes! I wanted to celebrate and go over the contract with you, but you can say no to that too.” His green eyes bored into mine, and I could tell he hadn’t lied.

My stomach squeezed all over again when I remembered what those eyes looked like when he was over me, deep inside of me. I had to take in a quick breath to keep myself from going to him. I had to think about what he’d said. This wasn’t about sex, but how much he wanted to help me. That was a good thing.

“Alright.” Part of me wanted to believe him so badly that it almost frightened me. Men were dangerous. They could break your heart. Or your body. I’d learned to be careful, but so far Kevin had only shown me kindness.

And that smile of his was something I couldn’t resist. The fullness of his bottom lip caught my attention, and I couldn’t pull my gaze away.

When I’d seen him I’d wanted to rush to him, to throw myself in his arms, but I’d held myself back. I went to do that now and somehow tripped over a chair leg. I crashed into a waitress who had a tray full of freshly cleaned glasses and cringed when I heard them all shatter. Kevin caught me and asked if I was alright, but I brushed it all away.

“I’m fine, I’ll pay for the glasses.”

“Don’t be silly; are you sure you’re alright? What did you trip over?” He looked around, and I wondered if I should tell him now that I didn’t have to trip over things, sometimes I was just clumsy like that. I knew he’d get used to it eventually, most people did who knew me.

“Where did you want to eat?” I asked to distract him and swung my case to walk out of the bar. It hit him in the back of the knee and he dropped like, well, like I’d hit him with my guitar case.

“Damn!” He groaned as he pushed himself up from the floor. “Sorry, I didn’t realize I was in the way of your case.”

“No, I’m sorry.”

“No worries and no harm.” He brushed himself off and grinned down at me. “Shall we drop that in your room before we go out?”

I felt desire spark inside of me the moment he said that. His eyes held mine, and I knew we both thought the same thing. An empty bedroom. His hand reached out for mine, and the mood changed.

He might have said I didn’t have to sleep with him, but just then I wanted to. I wanted to so desperately. I’d just knocked over a dozen glasses and him, yet he was still there and hadn’t said a word about my clumsiness.