Page 107 of South Beach Bodyguards

“This is my fault,” she said, chewing her lip and fingering the edge of my suitcase. “I feel really bad about everything that happened.”

“Well, you should,” I said, not wanting to pull any punches. “You lied to me. You knew Ricardo was doing something illegal and you kept me in the dark about it. I’m pissed at you for that, and because you set me up with Wester.”

“I told you, that’s not what happened. Ricardo never paid Wester to do surveillance. You’re being really stubborn about it. Wester is miserable. He told me you blocked his number.”

“I’m not a part of your ‘lifestyle’,” I told her, using air quotes. “This isn’t for me. I don’t want any part of Ricardo’s money, or Benito’s drugs, or your lies, or Wester’s panty-dropping pick up lines.”

She frowned at me. “Well, don’t yell at me.”

“Don’t you get it? I’m just a regular chick, and I’m okay with that. I don’t belong in your weirdo world.” It had been a huge and monumental task for me to admit and accept that my sister didn’t need me. She was an adult who made her own choices, and she had chosen to stand by her husband.

It had nothing to do with me. I needed to let go of my role of self-appointed protector.

“That makes me sad.” She was pouting.

“It makes me sad, too.” That’s why I was leaving. I needed a distraction and a fresh start to recover. Regroup. Forget and forgive.

“Ricardo sent a car to take you to the airport.”

That made me sigh as I zipped my suitcase then hauled it off the bed. “I wish you hadn’t done that.”

It made me feel dirty somehow.

“He feels bad. He wanted to do something for you.”

I didn’t believe Ricardo felt bad about anything, but he was Eva’s problem, not mine. I needed distance and time.

We left my apartment, and I checked the lock three times. Clara was supposed to be checking on the place while I was gone, but it still made me nervous. There was a black town car idling in front. Tinted windows. Great, I was going to the airport in a douche-mobile.

Eva gave me a hug and a wave. Then she opened the door and leaned in and spoke to the driver. I climbed in the back and she smiled. “Oh, and Ricardo thought you might need a bodyguard, too. Love you, bye!”

That’s when I realized Wester was in the car, three fucking feet away from me. My jaw dropped and I tried to get out, but the door was locked. The driver pulled away. “Hey!” I called up to him. “Stop this car, I’m getting out!”

But the jerk just shook his head. “Mr. Davis said I can’t let you out until you’re at the airport.”

“Olivia.” Wester touched my knee.

I jerked away like he had scalded me. “What are you doing? Why can’t you just leave me alone?”

“I need to tell you what happened. I’d prefer to do it in private. Will you talk to me once we get to the airport?”

“No.” I didn’t need to hear excuses.

“Then we’ll do it now. I need to tell you that I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let you believe that I was on Ricardo’s payroll that night. But the truth is, I got scared.”

I didn’t say anything. An apology was nice but he was about four weeks after the fact. Out of pride, I forced myself to look at him. He was as gorgeous as ever and he was staring intently at me. Very serious. But I refused to be swayed.

“I got scared of you because I haven’t cared about anyone since my girlfriend died when I was eighteen. Benito and I were to blame. We got her involved in a drug deal and she got shot. It nearly killed me. The only good thing that came out of it was I went straight. But I haven’t let anyone get close to me. I haven’t even missed having a relationship. Until you. But that night...” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I realized that I was falling in love with you, and I was afraid that I would lose you. So when you thought that it was a job, I saw an out and I took it. And I’m sorry for that because I hurt you and the last thing I wanted to do was hurt you.”

I didn’t want to feel any sympathy for him. But hearing about his girlfriend chipped away at my resolve. It explained a lot. Damn near everything. “Thank you for apologizing,” was what I settled on. “I appreciate that.”

“Let’s do this, Olivia. Let’s be together. Let me prove to you that I’m worthy of you.”

My heart was aching and I dug my nails into my thighs. “I don’t belong in your world, Wester. It’s just not a place I want to be.”

“It’s a job. You don’t have to be a part of it. Or if you really hate it, I’ll quit. I can find something else to do.”

That confused me. “Why would you do that? Quit your job, that’s crazy.”

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