Page 136 of The Bodyguard

God, I hate that. I hate that she’s worried about being with me.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?” Savannah asks, guarded, as she should be.

“For not being there for you,” I reply, holding her green gaze. “For not telling you how I feel.”

Her lips part.

“I’ve assumed a lot of things and hell, maybe I’m right and if so, then I will watch you walk into the awards tonight on your own. But if...if you feel the same way and...”

Fuck. I’m not usually this uncomfortable. I tug my finger under my collar again.

“If?” Savannah whispers.

“If you love me, too,” I say, then clear my throat.

“You love me?” she asks, as if it’s the most outrageous thing in the world.

“Yes, I fucking love you.” I snap. “Why do you think I stayed away?”

Savannah fish mouths it for a few seconds, then seems to catch up with what I’m telling her. “Wha... what? Are you joking? I thought you stayed away because you didn’t love me, you buffoon!”

“Buffoon?” I exclaim. “I tell you that I love you and you call me a buffoon.”

We stare at one another, our breathing labored, our expressions frustrated for a long moment, and then Savannah’s lips soften into a tiny smile.

“You love me?”

I nod.

“You love love me?” she asks and I’m starting to think she’s enjoying this.

“Yes. Christ. Can you please say something, Savannah!”

“You love me,” she says, this time as a statement.

Heaven help me, I need her to give me some damn indication of what she is thinking before I lose my mind.

“Ryder.” She leans forward and takes my hands. “Why have you stayed away? I needed you.”

“Because I thought it was the right thing to do. I’m your bodyguard.” I take her hand, fighting the urge to pull her onto my lap, but she’s all glammed up, and that dress is worth more than my house.

Probably.

“You saved my life,” Savannah says.

I shake my head.

“You saved my life, Ryder,” she insists. “You nearly broke my heart, but you saved me that day. Aidan told me how you worked it out and that’s why you came over.”

You nearly broke my heart.

“I can’t be in the shadows again, Savannah. I can’t watch you and not tell the world you’re mine. I’m not that man. I’m possessive and dominant and I want you in my arms, on my arm, and in my fucking bed.” I growl.

Her eyes glisten and hope springs inside of me.

“I don’t care,” she says.

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