Page 37 of Protecting Hailey

Mmm…I should try the red lipstick tonight.

I’d just finished applying my makeup when the doorbell rang. Christian answered it. “Hailey, Victor’s here.”

“I’ll be down in a minute.”

With one last look, I grabbed my stilettos and ran down the stairs. I threw myself into Victor’s arms and squeezed. “Thank you for coming with me tonight. I really needed to get out.”

“Of course. I’ve been dying to go to Lively, but it’s impossible to get in. That won’t be a problem with you tonight.”

I frowned. “Oh, do you think I should call ahead, so we’ll have no issues at the door?”

Victor pursed his lips. “Maybe.”

“Okay, give me a second. I’ll call Sam.”

While I dialed Sam’s number, I caught Christian’s gaze. His eyes smoldered for a moment, but then he quickly turned away.

“Sam, hey it’s Hailey.”

“Hi, is everything all right?”

“Yeah, great, actually. Victor and I are heading to Lively tonight. You don’t think we’ll have a problem getting in, do you?”

“Absolutely not. But just to make sure, I’ll call the manager.”

“Thanks, Sam. I appreciate it.”

“No problem.”

I hung up and smiled at Victor. “Let’s go.”

Christian opened the door for us and turned to Victor. “You drive. My attention will be on Hailey all night.” His eyes moved to me, and his gaze dropped for only a fraction of a second, but I noticed it.

Victor smiled. “Oh, I’m sure it will.” He led the way to his car and clicked the remote, opening the doors.

I walked around toward the passenger seat, but Christian stopped me and opened the backdoor. “Sit in the back with me. I can protect you better from there.”

I knew better than to question his instructions. He had given only a few so far, but each time, his manner had been polite, yet left no room for argument. My shoulder still tingled from the last bodyguard who wasn’t as interested in keeping me safe.

I nodded and climbed into the back. He followed me in and narrowed his eyes when he looked down. “Aren’t you going to put on your seatbelt?”

I smiled and reached across to buckle my belt. When he did not move to follow suit, just stared straight ahead, I asked, “What about you?”

His brow furrowed when he turned to me, unsure what I had meant. I pulled at my own belt and he smiled. “You know, no one’s ever asked me that.”

I laughed. “Well, they should have.”

His smile fell, and he mumbled softly, “Maybe.”

Christian

Her words unsettled me.

They should have, she’d said.

I never gave much thought to my childhood. My parents provided a clean and organized home, three meals a day, clothes, and a place to sleep. But had I ever felt that someone cared about my safety? I couldn’t say for sure. It wasn’t that I felt unloved. But there was never this feeling growing up that my parents were overly concerned about me, either. It was hard to describe. They never took an interest in what I did, as long as I followed my father’s rules and the plan he had set out for me. So Hailey’s comment, as off-handed as it probably was, had me thinking about my parents and past relationships.

Or lack thereof.

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