Page 20 of Like You Love Me

“It had to be around eleven-thirty.” She shook her head. “He just won’t stop, will he?”

Things were getting complicated, London thought and sighed. “Alcoholism is a disease.”

“Should I tell Mona?”

He thought about it. “Unless Caleb saw you, you might want to stay out of it.” He had seen Mona Lisa’s husband at the bar in the middle of the day many times before and told his older sister, who seemed more upset about London seeing him than her husband drinking in the afternoon instead of working. After that, he just stopped calling to tell her.

Camille clucked her tongue. “That’s one marriage I will never understand.”

“I guess you’re not supposed to,” he said and shrugged.

She made a sound of disgust in her throat. “That’s why I prefer to be single.”

“If you had a man, I wouldn’t have to be changing tires in late January,” London said with a rude snort.

“Hey, that’s what brothers are for, remember?”

He tossed his head back with laughter. “I guess you’re right.”

London arrived home to find Sierra in her bedroom. She was sitting Indian style on her queen-sized bed, playing Xbox. His grin widened.

“Hey sweetheart, how’d your audition go?”

Without tearing her eyes from her game, she gave a thumb’s up.

“Good job,” he said, then headed toward his bedroom, where he found Bianca staring at the television screen. “Hey, baby,” he said.

The sound of his voice jolted Bianca, and she gasped. “London, you scared me!” There was an edge of panic in her voice.

“My bad,” he said apologetically. “I thought I made plenty of noise coming up the stairs.” He noticed she had that faraway look in her eyes again. “Is everything okay?”

She gave a dismissive wave of her wrist, but the stern set of her lips told him there was something else going on. He walked across the room and sat on the bed beside her. “Sweetheart, did something happen at work?”

Bianca nodded and drew a long breath. “I was at the office, and everything felt almost back to normal until I was walking out of the building. It was eerie.”

“Eerie how?” he asked.

“Like I was being watched.” Her gaze was frantically searching his eyes for an explanation. “One of the security guards was patrolling the parking lot. He called out my name. I panicked and rushed to my car.” Her voice was filled with emotion.

London squeezed her hand. “Sweetheart, listen to me. You experienced an incident that could have been tragic. It’s understandable. It’s going to take time.”

Tears filled her eyes. “The Beaumont Corporation is my home. I was in that building while growing inside my mother’s womb. I should feel relaxed and comfortable, but instead I was scared, even in broad daylight.” Bianca stopped and dropped her head briefly. “After what happened with Troy, I just don’t trust security the way I used to.”

London leaned in closer and cradled her face between his hands. “It’s okay. I promise you it is going to get better,” he said softly and planted kisses on her forehead.

She drew back far enough so that she could look into his eyes. “I trusted Troy. Do you know how many times we walked to my car together? I used to feel so safe knowing he was there to protect me.”

“Things are going to get back to normal again. You’ll see. Jace reached out to me this afternoon about any referrals I may know to head security.”

“What did you tell him?”

“I have an old friend who retired from the Air Force after serving twenty years in security forces. He’s divorced and looking to relocate close to the ocean where the pace is slow and plenty of boat docks for fishing.” His smile widened. “I think this town will be perfect for him and us.” He saw some of the worry subside from her eyes.

“I feel safe already.”

London drew her tightly into the circle of his arms again. “You don’t have to worry. I will always do whatever I can to protect you.”

“I know.”

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