Page 52 of If Our Hearts Collide

Why did I not even pay attention to the type of footwear she chose for today?

I should have walked slower and considered how uncomfortable she must be with the pace I was forcing upon her.

My success as a bodyguard is spent being observant, and yet I missed this important detail when I decided to stride off in full dick-mode.

I want to apologize, but the words get stuck in my throat. Saying sorry now just seems so…

Pointless.

She’s upset. I’m upset.

I tried.

Ireallytried to make this work.

I thought that I could get her to bargain and be on my side. Nope. Her words about all of the sexual encounters she plans to do is what did me in. I feel murderous thinking of how I’ll have to stand on the sidelines and endure whatever recreational activities she wants to subject herself to.

Men are going to want to bury themselves into Penny, and I’ll have to bury them into the ground because I won’t be able to handle it.

Penny is my responsibility, but something gnawing at me from the inside is telling me that she is more than just that.

At least with Angie and Claire, they were committed to their men. Penny, however, is single. From the way she described her plan, she has high hopes of bouncing between multiple men, all at the expense of her own safety.

She might feel like she has to make up for lost time, sowing her oats and being reckless.

If her brothers find out, I think they may lose their minds. How do I even explain to them why I can no longer guardtheir sister? They deserve an explanation. They will demand one actually. How do I even paraphrase the things Penny said?

I open the passenger side door and step back to allow Penny access. I don’t dare touch the soft skin of her elbow or the perfect curvature of her lower back. In such a short amount of time, I’ve already gotten close to her.

I’ve gotten so close that I’ve committed her fresh-picked strawberry scent to memory. I’ve gotten so close that I know when she is stressed by how she touches her hair or when she is excited by how she bites at her inner cheek to contain her smile.

But she isn’t smiling now.

Nope. She is not happy at all.

It’s her off shoe that makes it into the vehicle first by the toss of her hand, followed by the other one that she kicks off onto the floor.

Then I see them—angry red blisters. Just the sight causes my breath to catch in my throat. “Fuck,” I say breathily. “Pen, I’m sorry.”

“Just shut the door, Collins. We are done here.”

Her words, echoing the same ones I spoke just minutes ago, sting. I’m an idiot for not considering her well-being. “I’m so sorry.”

“Just go. I promise not to get blood on your pristine mats.”

I wince over her attempt at indifference. “Let me make this better.”

“Don’t bother. Just take me back home.”

She reaches for the door to close on her own, but I stop her. Bending my body into the car, I lean over her to open the glovebox. I can hear her breath catch as she exhales.

“Let me help you.”

“I’mfine.”

“No, you’re not.” I rustle through the insurance information and emergency supplies, until I find the first aid kit tucked in thecorner. “I caused you to get these sores, so at least let me tend to them.”

“Coll—”

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