Page 37 of Protector

“No! It’s not that at all.” I grab the phone back and turn it face down on the table. “Listen, I can’t…” I run a hand over my hair and sigh. “I don’t want to get you involved.”

Taking my hands into his, he says, “Whatever it is, it sounds like I already am. Look, I know I was an idiot, but I care about you. I don’t know what you’re telling people about us but…damn…we weren’t even—”

“I know. Rio, it’s nothing to do with you. Not really.”

“Then what is it?”

At this point, I don’t see how I can’t be truthful. Somehow that psycho Sam feels threatened by Rio or maybe can’t stand the thought of me being with someone. He must have watched the video I posted earlier. God, I’m an idiot. I should have thought of that. My eyes burn, and I fight against the tears. “Rio, I’m so sorry.” I look down and my hands, and the next thing I know, Rio is pulling me into a hug.

“It’s okay. Just talk to me.”

It takes me a few moments to get myself calm enough to speak, pushing past the fear, the guilt for bringing another person into this nightmare. Then, I proceed to tell Rio everything, including about Brooks being my bodyguard.

“Geez, Shay, I’m sorry. I wish you’d have told me sooner.”

“I’m sorry. I was hoping it would all blow over. I should have told you so you could tell them you weren’t going to be on the show.”

Rio narrows his eyes at me. “No, that’s—I wouldn’t have done that. I’m saying you should have told me so I could help you. Protect you.”

My heart warming at his words, I give him a small grin. “That’s nice, but—”

“Oh yeah, you’ve already got Thor protecting you,” he says with a tone of hurt in his voice.

“No. I was going to say, it’s not fair to you to risk your safety, your career for something that isn’t your problem.” I stand and grab my phone, shoving it into my pocket. “Look, you should probably go. There’s a break in shooting, so we have some time, but you need to really think about if you want to move forward after what I just told you.”

Rio stands too. “What are you going to do?”

“It’s my mom’s birthday, so we’ll be spending a couple of days in the wine country. No one really knows but those invited, so don’t say anything.”

“I won’t, and thank you for trusting me with that.”

“I do trust you. But I also want you to be safe, and if that means we don’t ever talk or see each other again…”

Rio takes me by the shoulders. “You want to go back to friends? Then, that means I’m here for you. I’m not going anywhere.”

I nod. “Thank you, Rio.”

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

Brooks

Sitting across from Jackson in his office, I can barely focus on our conversation. I haven’t been in the office since I took this assignment with Shay, so I knew Jackson would have questions for me. I’ve been short on the phone and via text, but thankfully, the guy trusts me, as I do him.

That doesn’t mean I will share with him this shit between Shay and me. I know damn well it won’t go over well. Not to mention Jackson knows me well enough that he’ll see it’s way more than a simple attraction. This isn’t me. I don’t fall for someone I’m working with, let alone someone as young and innocent as Shay.Fuck, when I think of it that way, I want to kick my own ass for the thoughts I’m having about her. For the unrelenting pull to be near her.

“What the hell’s up with you?”

I blink and refocus on Jackson. “What? Nothing.”

“Then why are you grinding your fist into your thigh? Your face is all…fucked-up too.”

Flaring my nostrils, I glare over his desk at him. “I don’t know what that means.”

“It means you’re not right.” He rises from his chair, walks around the desk, and perches on the edge of it. “Is it Jade?”

I shake my head. “Nah. She’s good, man.”

Letting out a breath, he runs a hand over his hair. “Good. That’s good. Then I have to ask. What is this case doing to you? If I made a mistake—”

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