“Jesus, Eve.” He’s staring at me like I have two heads. And so what if I do?
I’m shaking now. And I sound like a lunatic. A crazed lunatic. It all sounds so ridiculous out loud. It’s not like I ever really considered all of this. I never planned to fall for a man in the first place. Who the fuck would be able to manage me and my duplicity? No one.
Except Colt.
Dammit.
I draw in a slow breath, trying to rein in my crazy side and soften my voice before I speak again. “It’s not going to happen, Colt. No matter how you slice it, it will hurt my career. Even if not one person suspected we were sleeping together, I’d still look weak for needing fucking protection. No one will care what the reason is. All they will see is a damn bodyguard outside my door like I’m a prima donna.”
Colt’s head drops toward the floor. I’m exasperating him. Too bad.
“I’m already in way over my head here. I’m already trying to figure out how I’m going to pick up the pieces—both professional and personal—after you disappear. I simply can’t add anything else to my plate, Colt. I can’t do it.” I turn around and stomp from the room. I’m not even close to being little right now. I’m a full-grown adult having a meltdown.
I head for my bedroom, slam the door like a goddamn toddler and pace the floor, trying to think and calm the fuck down. There are a dozen reasons why I just shouted all that nonsense, and none of them have a thing to do with Colt trying to protect me.
I’m furious with myself and the situation and the world.
When I’m worn out, I climb up onto the bed, prop myself against the headboard, and draw my knees up to set my chin on them.
Eventually, Colt knocks on the door. “Eve? Can I come in please?”
“Yes.” What the hell other options do I have? Plus, I need to apologize to him. I’m being a brat and I’m not even little.
He enters cautiously and shuffles over to the bed, taking a seat as far away from me as possible. He hangs his head, then lifts it. “I’m sorry.”
“I know. It’s not your fault.”
“I’m not a woman, so forgive my naivete, but do you really think your job opportunities are going to be thwarted because some asshole would like to kidnap you?”
“No.”
He jerks back, his eyes wide.
I sigh. “I exaggerated. My office is a wonderful place to work. Everyone is treated fairly, male or female. I do worry frequently about how much harder I have to work to climb the corporate ladder, but I’ve never seen or heard of any direct evidence that would insinuate that I would lose opportunities with this particular team simply because I got married or had a baby.”
He’s staring at me. Can’t blame him. I just spent fifteen minutes telling him a giant pile of shit and tore it all down in two minutes.
“Then…” His brows are raised in confusion.
“I’m a hot mess because I’m in love with you, and you’re going to destroy me.”
There. I said it. It wasn’t like I could keep that a secret forever.
He gasps and doesn’t move a single muscle for several seconds. Finally, he jumps into action, climbs onto the bed, and crawls toward me. He doesn’t say a word as he yanks me into his arms and gathers me against him.
I’m stunned by his reaction.
His lips find mine and he kisses me senseless, with a desperation only seen from two lovers who’ve been separated for a year and just got reunited. He cups my face and angles his head to one side, kissing me fiercely.
When he finally releases my lips, we’re both panting. He looks deep into my eyes, holding my head. “I love you too, baby.”
Tears form in my eyes and fall down my cheeks. It’s like a ten-ton brick has been lifted off my shoulders. We don’t have a single answer that would even begin to solve our problems going forward, but at least we’re on the same page on that one issue.
Colt swipes at my tears. “Don’t cry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
I chuckle as I reach around him to grab a tissue off the bedside table. I blow my nose, not even remotely delicately, and wipe my tears away.
Colt eases me down onto my side and lines himself up next to me so we’re facing each other. He strokes my hair from my cheek and forehead. “I don’t have more than that right now, Eve. Not a single answer. Just that I love you.”
I nod. “Okay.” I get it. He can’t possibly have thought this through.
“I’m not saying it changes anything, but no matter what, I can’t walk away without you knowing how I feel. The truth. It would be a lie to tell you otherwise. I’ve fallen so hard for you, both of you.” He grins. “I love them both. I love the woman who reigns like a lion in the office and the little girl who curls up in my lap and needs to cuddle.”
I smile. My heart is racing because this changes nothing, but it’s also everything.
“Now, my immediate concern is keeping you safe. That’s all that matters. I’ve learned over the past week exactly what I do to make you tick. I get it. As long as I don’t dominate you, you can hold on to your adult persona just fine. I promise I can be the demure boyfriend slash bodyguard who stands outside your door as if I work for you and not the other way around. But you have to let me do that, Eve. Please.”
I sigh heavily. “Okay.”
He lifts a brow. It’s different somehow. When I’m little it puts me in my place.
