Page 38 of Shielding Aubree

He didn't want her to be upset, over anything.

Instead, he looked her father right in the eye. "I understand. I do." He gave the older man a smile and spoke from his heart. "I take my job seriously, sir. But I know that there's something special about Aubree. I'm not going to do anything to hurt her."

"There's no way to know that for sure," her father leaned in and gave Aubree a kiss on her temple. "I've hurt her mother over the years, emotions can hurt as much as physical pain, but we've always made sure to remember that caring for someone, loving them, is as much of a choice as walking away. All I ask is that you remember," he looked at Aubree, "both of you remember that life isn't guaranteed to anyone. Treat each other that same way and..." He blinked a few times, and Ruben could see that he was fighting back tears.

For a man who could be so stoic and hard to read, he carried a lot of emotion inside of him.

Antonio cleared his throat and looked away. "I guess that's all I have to say to both of you."

He stepped away from Aubree and gestured back toward the parking lot. "I'm going to the car. When you're ready to leave, that's where we'll be."

He walked away and Ruben was left alone with Aubree again.

"Wow." "Wow."

They looked at each other realizing that they'd both spoken at the same time.

Ruben laughed and managed to keep himself together as Aubree wrapped her arms around his neck to say goodbye.

One arm at a time, Ruben wrapped her in his embrace.

He held her against him, nearly still.

He couldn't bear to move thinking that it would make the clock tick forward.

He knew she had to go but he didn't want her to leave.

"I'm going to miss seeing you every day."

He smiled and leaned in, whispering into her ear. "I know I'm going to dream of you every night."

She pulled back slightly, and he saw her searching his gaze. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "Does that sound weird?"

Aubree shook her head. "No." She smiled and he swore he felt his heart swell in his chest. "I've had you in my dreams every night since we met." She bit into her bottom lip. "I know that might sound creepy, but-"

Ruben took a step forward, bringing them under the heavy shade of a tree.

Her head tipped back to look up at him and he smiled as he closed the distance between them.

"No but," he smiled at her, feeling his heart pounding against his ribs, "I love that you've dreamed of me."

"Yeah?"

He nodded. "Yeah. It makes it easier for me to say that I've dreamed of you, too." He brushed his lips against hers and felt her lean into his touch.

The kiss didn't move beyond a chaste expression of affection, but it had a real effect on his pulse.

Kissing her was incredible.

Just a simple touch could bring him to his knees.

He didn't linger on the kiss for long because it wasn't the time nor place for it, but someday...

"I can't wait to take you out."

She blew out a breath as she leaned back, her eyes finding his. "Saturday?"

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