Page 22 of Love Under Protection

"So it would seem."

A few bites of toast, a bite of fruit, and I'm already feeling full. Harley, on the other hand, seems to be a bottomless pit.

The twisted face he makes when he dips the biscuit in gravy and takes a bite is priceless.

"Not like Momma made it?" I ask.

Harley gags, grabbing his coffee to wash it down. "Not at all."

I stifle a laugh behind my hand. "You should know better. You're not in Georgia."

"Hey now, I've never met a biscuit and some gravy that I didn't like. Until now." He wipes his mouth. "How was yours?"

"It was toast. And fruit. Can't complain."

"You didn't eat much."

"I felt full. Didn't want to push it. Would you think it's crazy if I said I was ready for a nap?"

In an unexpected move, Harley reaches across the table and takes my hand. "Don't overdo it. It hasn't even been twenty-four hours."

"Yeah. I think I'm going to take care of the check and go back upstairs for a bit."

Harley tosses his napkin on the table. "Like hell you're paying for breakfast."

"Harley, I have appreciated everything you've done for me and the least I can do is pay for breakfast. So, shut up and let me handle the check."

"I'm not sure if I should be impressed or embarrassed. You do know I don't make a habit of taking orders from other people."

"And you know, I'm not one to do what I'm told," I tease.

"That's not how I remember things, but I'll let you have your way this time."

At the elevator a few minutes later, I give Harley a hug and encourage him to spend the day doing something. Something that does not involve sitting around and watching me sleep. “Like I said, you’ve done more than enough for me. Now, you go and enjoy the island. Maybe you’ll find Liv and Jameson around and can go do something fun with them.”

He follows me into the elevator and presses the button to my floor. I elbow him gently and push the button for his. He presses it twice and holds it down, successfully turning the light off and overriding the call to that floor.

“Harley,” I growl.

“Walking you to the door. Then if you still want me to leave, I will,” he assures me as he tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

“You do realize, I don’t need you to watch over me. If we’d never met, I would be walking to and from my room—and anywhere else for that matter—by myself.”

“Well aware,” he says, taking my hand in his as the elevator doors open.

As promised, he walks me to the door, gives me a kiss on the forehead and tucks me safely inside.

“No sneaking out for food truck poke bowls this time,” he says with a teasing grin.

“Scouts honor. Sleep. Nothing more.”

When the door closes, I dig out my Kindle, pull my hair up in a messy bun, and head for the balcony. I doubt I’ll read more than a few words of the latest release from my favorite author Lauren Helms, with how heavy my eyes are. In my head though, reading and napping while looking out over the ocean sounds like a dream right now.

Chapter 13

Harley

“Only two more nights in paradise for you. Liv wants to explore some of the nightlife. You should come out with us. We won’t keep you out too late,” Jameson says into the phone. “Rumor has it, Raylynn’s coming too.”

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