Page 64 of Sweet Temptation

“That’s great,” he said absently as he made notes. “I’m sure she does a great job.”

Fuck me. What was happening to my life?

I felt like I was being punished. And yet, according to him, I’d done nothing wrong.

I was afraid of this.

It was all becoming clear, as I sat here listening to Ronan and my body physically revolted against every word, like I’d just bitten into something rotten. This was the reason I didn’t want to tell anyone about Blair. About all the phone calls and the messages, about him showing up at my shows even though I didn’t want him there anymore.

When he’d started creeping on me, I hadn’t feared him. I didn’t realize there was a reason to fear him until he tried to break into my house.

But I feared my way of life having to change.

It was one of the reasons I’d been drawn to Flynn, yet never told anyone what was going on. I could see that now.

I wanted to feel safe before I consciously knew I was in danger.

Now, Blair probably couldn’t even get near me, yet it was happening anyway; everything was changing.

“I have people in and out of my house all the time,” I told Ronan, firmly. He was still jotting notes.

“Not anymore.”

“Are you kidding me?”

“I’m not kidding. Until I have a chance to assess things further and understand what we’re dealing with, we need to limit the people that have access to you and your home.”

“So, you go where I go, around the clock. And yet I can’t see my friends.”

“You can see your friends. We’re just going to keep it more manageable for now.”

“Managing my social life. Sounds fun. And why aren’t you managing Ashley’s social life?”

“I’ll be keeping in touch with his bodyguard.”

“And how will you have time to do that, while you’re watching me around the clock?”

“Honestly,” he said, looking at me, “I don’t sleep much. And my partner, Naveen, will be overseeing things from the office as well. While I’m focused on you.”

He held my gaze, unwavering, while I probably gave him a very frustrated look.

“Look, Summer.” He laid his pen down. “You’re my client. I work for you. If you’d prefer someone else as your bodyguard, we can make other arrangements.” He didn’t bat an eye when he said that.

But I was still thinking about that other thing he’d said…

While I’m focused on you.

Why did I like that so much?

Fuck no, I didn’t want another bodyguard. I didn’t want any bodyguard. But if I had to have one…

“Brody wouldn’t have put you here if he didn’t think you were the best man for the job,” I said. “So you must be the best man for the job.” Then I added, with a healthy dose of attitude, “As long as you don’t bore me, we’ll be fine.”

“Excuse me?” he said, like he hadn’t heard that right, when he knew he had.

“Bore me. Yes, you heard that right. I don’t do bored.”

“Then I guess I’ll try not to bore you,” he muttered.

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