Page 39 of Defended By Love

Picking the badge up with trembling hands, the words Hart Link Incorporated practically leap out at me.

Even though I already knew he worked for them, it’s another thing to know.

“Are you looking at my I.D.?” Grant asks from behind me, making me jump.

I spin around to see him with a towel around his waist and his head slung low. As good as he looks in just a towel, even that’s not enough to distract me from what I hold in my hand.

“You work for Zagreus Hart,” I accuse.

He nods, then looks up slowly underneath his already curling curtain of wet hair.

“Did you get a good look at the badge?”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to say I don’t need to say more. He’s a part of a company that pollutes, destroys, and intimidates. He, and everyone like him, are scum. They lord their power over others to do what they will—consequences for the environment be damned.

I save it though, my curious side taking over.

Shifting the badge into both hands, I look it over. At the top, it says Hart Link Incorporated in bold letters. In the middle is a picture of him. His hair flops over in every possible direction, his smile is endearingly wide, and his eyes are closed. I almost snort out a laugh. It’s just so him.

Finally, my eyes catch on the bottom. In plain letters in a boring font, it simply reads: Janitor.

Chapter 21

Feelings crackle through the air around us like static in a lightning storm. Relief, anger, trepidation, joy, lust, and confusion. I don’t know if I should be glad he’s not a head honcho of the company, or angry that he’s still a part of it. I mean, if he’s the custodian, it’s not like he’s making any decisions about polluting or deciding which group of seals to club first. Which… means we can be together? Although, there was a lot of lying, so maybe not. Especially since I’m not even sure why he lied in the first place.

On top of all those thoughts, he’s still in just a towel, looking ridiculously good. It definitely doesn’t help me sort out my thoughts when I keep thinking about writing a dissertation to honour his abs.

While these thoughts bombard me, Grant hangs his head, looking anywhere but at me. He absently scratches at some blotchy patches that have already faded to a muted pink.

“So does this change things?” he asks in a whisper that cracks with emotion.

I take a cleansing breath. If I’m honest, it does. Moments ago, he was enemy number one, a complete no-go. Now? He’s a question mark. Another mystery for me to dig and prod at before deciding which side of the fence I’m on. He’s at least on the table.

On the table. An apt comparison considering how scrumptious he looks, still glistening from his shower.

“Yeah. It does change things,” I admit, slightly embarrassed about how quickly I added an asterisk onto my firm no to dating anyone at the company.

He shrugs. “I don’t blame you.”

“Blame?”

“I mean, I’m basically just a kid from a shitty desert planet and you’re a queen. It was always just bad storytelling to have us end up together.”

I pause.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh right,” he says, shifting uncomfortably, which sinks his towel a little lower on his hips. “I guess I can tell you what the prequels are about, but don’t take it as an endorsement to watch them. The first one especially doesn’t really line up with the rest of the movies. Like, why is pod racing such an important part of a villain’s origin story?”

“No,” I say, holding up a hand to stop him. “I don’t care about whatever reference you’re making—no offense. I meant, you’re not evil. Probably.”

For the first time since I saw his I.D. badge, Grant looks up at me.

“Was that up for debate?”

I raise an eyebrow. It’s my best ‘oh-you-stupid-fuck’ expression. It’s the one I had on when I worked as a defense attorney and tried to defend a guy against theft charges… and he wore a stolen watch to his deposition.

“Why do you think I ran from you? Why I risked getting crushed by the building?”

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