Page 53 of Guarded from Treachery

My heart squeezes. I’m imagining a young Matt, trying so hard to keep his little brother from being bullied, struggling to cut his hair…

“I was pretty scrawny in school,” Matt continues. A wry smile tugs at one corner of his mouth. “Not like now.”

“You’re certainly not scrawny now,” I agree, eyeballing his very impressive biceps.

“Back then I was bullied a lot. Pushed around. And then it started with Levi. I wanted to protect him, so I started working out. A lot. Running, staying after school to lift weights… And once Levi was old enough, I encouraged him to do it with me. So he could protect himself once I graduated.”

“Matt.” Shifting closer to him, I wrap my arm around his waist. “I’m sorry.”

Pink touches his ears again. “I didn’t date in high school. Not once. Even when I got bigger, no one was interested in this awkward computer nerd who dressed in clothes from the thrift store. Then I went into the Army and threw myself into it. So I never… I don’t say the right things. As I got older, women would approach me, but as soon as I said anything about computers or video games, they lost interest.”

“Well, they’re stupid,” I retort, anger edging my tone. “You’re the most incredible man I’ve ever met. You’re brave and smart and funny and handsome. Kind. Generous. And your teammates love you. Any woman who thinks less of you because you play video games is a complete idiot and doesn’t deserve you.”

Matt blinks.

My heart is racing. Did I really just say all that?

“Do you really think that?”

“Think what? That those women are stupid?”

“All of it.” Matt takes both my hands in his. A cautious hope lights his eyes. “Do you really think I’m incredible?”

Oh.

How could he possibly think he isn’t?

But then again. I know first hand how the scars from childhood can last a lifetime.

A kaleidoscope of butterflies takes flight in my stomach.

How much of the truth do I tell him? What if I say something that ruins things between us?

On the other hand, what if it changes things for the better?

I take a deep breath and blow it out slowly before I say, “I think you’re beyond incredible, Matt. I like everything about you. Everything. How your ears turn pink when you’re embarrassed. How passionate you are about your interests. And I don’t care that you play video games. I think they’re fun. And I especially love playing them with you.”

Now that I’ve started, I can’t stop. “And I like how loyal you are to your friends. How you would do anything to protect the people you care about. I like how you always look up the answer whenever someone has a question not just because you want to help, but you’re interested in the answer. And I think”—pausing, I take another deep breath—“you’re the most handsome man I’ve ever met. Not just handsome. Sexy.”

“You think all of that aboutme?”

Slightly out of breath, I nod. “Yes. I do.”

His eyes glint. “You think I’m sexy?”

Great. Of all the things for him to ask about.

Face hot, suddenly feeling very uncertain, I whisper, “Yes. From the first time I met you. And now that I know you, I think you’re even sexier. Maybe I just made things weird…”

His hand comes to my cheek. “You didn’t.”

There’s an intensity in his gaze that wasn’t there before.

“I know you’re not interested in me like that,” I add quietly. “I hope I didn’t just mess things up.”

His eyes darken to a deep espresso. “Notinterestedin you?”

“Well, since I’m a client. And”—I gesture at my still-flat belly—“you know.”

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