Page 20 of Get Undressed With Me

“I’m sorry I put my hands on you without permission.”

Brittany looked away, suddenly uncomfortable.

“It’s fine.”

“It’s not fine.”

“You were doing your job.”

“That doesn’t excuse it.”

Something about the sincerity in his voice when he said it, as if he was making a vow only for her, had her turning back toward him.

“Gus, you’re here to protect me. You have permission to put your hands on me if you need to for my safety. I trust you.”

She watched him exhale and realized how much it bothered him that he had touched her without permission. Amazing. Robbie was a touchy-feely guy, a hugger who made instant friends with everyone he met. Brittany hadn’t liked the instant familiarity he had shown with her when they first met, but she had grown used to his need for physical touch and his lack of boundaries.

But here was Gus, concerned he had made her uncomfortable just because he had steadied her in the crowd. And something about her telling him she trusted him felt… important. Like it had shifted their relationship in a way she was unprepared for. But it was the truth. She did trust Gus.

She just didn’t want to think too hard about why.

Finally, he nodded and surveyed the area, always keeping an eye out.

“Thank you. Should we get going?”

Brittany nodded and turned.

“Let’s do it.”

They made their way through the convention center, Brittany pausing every now and then to pose for pictures with fans while Gus watched silently from the sidelines. Finally, Brittany found the autograph and meet-and-greet area and approached a woman with a headset and a tablet who looked official and stressed. She brightened when she saw Brittany and immediately started typing something on her tablet.

“Ms. Jenssen, let’s get you checked in and settled into the green room. Can I get the name of your guest?”

Gus stepped forward. “Gus Lozano, Ms. Jenssen’s security detail.”

The woman kept typing, nodding at Gus. Brittany realized she must not be the first person to show up with security that day, which made her feel a little better. Like it was normal.

“Right this way.”

She walked at a clip quick enough to have Brittany skipping to catch up. Gus was beside her as they were led to the back area, where a portion of the large room had been curtained off. A few chairs and several mirrors filled the space. One table boasted a beautiful arrangement of red roses, the sight of which had Brittany freezing in her tracks.

“Anything you see is for your use if you need it,” the woman told her. “There’s water in the fridge in the corner for you and your guest. I’ll come get you when we’re ready. The line is going to be allowed in shortly.”

With an efficient nod, the woman was gone, all without actually introducing herself. But Brittany barely heard anything that was said, her gaze so focused on the flowers. She felt herself go cold.

“What is it?”

Gus’s voice was soft, and closer than she expected, coming from behind her. She heard the concern there and swallowed hard, willing herself to act normal, to not care, or at least to not show that she cared. She felt Gus’s hand on her back, light but steady, like he was ready to catch her if he needed to. She looked up at him, a little off guard. Was this how Robbie felt about his brother? Was this why he always called Gus when something was wrong?

Because Brittany, a woman who was used to taking care of herself in more ways than one, very suddenly saw the appeal.

“He likes to send me roses.” She didn’t have to say who ‘he’ was for Gus to understand. His jaw went hard, his eyes turning back to study the roses more closely.

“Don’t move.”

Like that was an option. Brittany counted her breaths while Gus strode over to the curtain and stuck his head out. After a moment, the woman with the tablet came in, still stressed but chipper.

“What can I do for you?”

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