Page 25 of South Beach Bodyguards

“This is Miami. Lots of people have bodyguards.”

“You’re not listening to me. You don’t have to do this.”

“It’s my job, my duty.”

I stared at him. I tried to figure out a way to convey to him how ludicrous all of this was. But instead I just said in total frustration, “That’s precisely why I changed my mind. Because it’s your job and your duty to protect me. I can’t stop you from following me around campus but I can stop you from forcing yourself to hook up with me.” That sounded more whiny than I intended, but it was out there.

Ryan reached out and ran his knuckles down my cheek. “I don’t have to force myself to do anything. And by the end of the week you’re going to be begging me. Because I will have you. I want you, Isabel.”

There was nothing like hearing what you wanted to hear at the exact wrong time. I should have never asked Ryan for sex. Because now I couldn’t feel secure about it.

“I’m going to be late for class.”

“Then you better quit talking and start walking.” He smiled at me.

Ryan didn’t smile often. So when he did, it was noteworthy. I couldn’t help but grin back. “You’re very adorable when you smile,” I told him, because it was true. “You should do it more often.”

For a second he looked startled then he started laughing. “You’re the only person who thinks so. There is nothing adorable about me, let’s be honest.”

“I think you’re very adorable.” Partly because he didn’t know it. He thought he was this big, brooding bad ass, but he was also thoughtful, loyal, and had a habit of rubbing his stomach when he was hungry. It was cute. He was cute.

“You’re the only person to think so.” His laughter trailed off. “You’re a special girl, Isabel.”

Goosebumps raced over my arms, and my nipples tightened. “Is that like special in quotes?”

He laughed again and reached out and tweaked my nose. “No. I meant special as in unique in a good way.”

It was flattering, sure. Yet very brotherly. For the seventh-ninth time I changed my mind- I did want to have sex with him and now I couldn’t because I had said I wouldn’t. What the hell was wrong with me? I was being a complete and total freak.

Which was exactly what I looked like walking across campus with Ryan trailing two feet behind me, looking huge and intimidating, and lacking in a backpack to label him a student. He didn’t blend in, and I kept seeing curious glances at him, then at me. People were trying to puzzle out who he was, and what he was to me. It made me super self-conscious. It also occurred to me about twenty minutes too late that most likely I was wearing the same clothes as the day before. I hoped no one was observant enough to notice. Normally, I was quiet around campus, going to class and working hard and not spending a lot of time socializing. I had friends, but I wasn’t necessarily an attention grabber.

Today was different. It felt like everyone I walked past was staring at me and I was mortified. But it was probably just my own imaginary audience. Probably no one was behaving any differently than usual. But then I had a thought. What if someone had tried to hurt me? Where they watching me now? Waiting?

I was psyching myself out.

Needing a distraction as I walked down the sidewalk, I pulled my phone out and checked it. I had a text from Brandy, which I answered.

**Julia? Really?

I know, I typed back. I can’t explain it.

I also had a text from Juan.

Hey, how’s it going?

I wasn’t sure I even wanted to bother answering him. He had been super pushy, asking to go home with me after two dates. Not my thing. Obviously.

Shoving my phone back in my pocket, I realized Ryan was talking to someone. Turning around, I saw there was a girl in step with him smiling up the long length of him and laughing. He was nodding.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Ryan glanced in my direction, and shook his head slightly. I had no idea what that was supposed to mean. I wasn’t well versed in silent bodyguard communication. Determined to be normal, whatever that was, I called my mom. We had been texting, but I needed to hear the sound of her voice.

“Is everything okay?” she said as a greeting.

“Yes, I’m fine. I’m going to class.”

“Where is Ryan?”

“He’s trailing me. It’s weird. Do I really need to do this?”

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