Page 16 of Guarding the Singer

"Then maybe," she looked around the room and smiled at someone who caught her eye with their smile, "maybe I should stay. At least for another hour or so?"

William held out his hand and she put her hand in it without hesitation. "I'm here for you."

She smiled and felt the warmth in his touch.

It wasn't tense or possessive.

It was soothing.

And she could feel some of her nervousness falling away.

She might fill stadiums and such, but this was anevent on the global scale. She felt... out of her element.

"Well," she fought her own awkward feelings, but sometimes her anxiety won out, "I feel like you're stuck with me. You kind of have to say that."

His immediate frown made her feel even worse.

She didn't want him to feel like she was belittling him or anything like that.

"William, I-" She sighed and shook her head. "I'm all out of sorts and my head... it feels like the air in here is super heavy... tight."

He still had a hold on her hand and wrapped his hand around hers as he started to walk.

She found herself walking beside him, the crowd around them moving enough to let them through.

Before she knew it, they were by the windows and while they weren't open, she could see outside.

The night sky was boundless blue from streetlights outside and she could see the Capitol building down the street.

She felt so much better, smiling at the sight first and then she tipped her head up to look at him. "Thanks. I feel so much better."

William stayed at her side, and she could see his reflection in the glass. It wasn't full color, but just shades of light against the glass, but she liked the look. "I bet all the ladies love how you look in that dress uniform."

She could see his physical reaction in the glass. He drew back a little, his gaze still fixed on her.

"What ladies?"

She heard the shock in his voice and turned to look at him.

They were close, but she had enough room for her to see the strong line of his jaw and handsome planes of his face.

"The ladies," she shook her head. "You don't have to be modest. I bet you have women throwing themselves at you. That uniform? It's impressive. And the man in it?" She touched her champagne glass to her cheek again, but even the chilled champagne inside wasn't enough to temper the heat she was feeling. "I can't imagine anyone walking by you without smiling in your direction."

She heard his soft chuckle and then she saw him shake his head.

"I don't know who you're talking about. I spend my time on base. I have duties there. Responsibilities. I don't recall anyone throwing themselves at me, but I don't usually look."

There was a whole family of butterflies in her stomach.

Why?

She didn't know.

No.

She did.

As hot as the room was from the crazy crush ofpeople out there, the heat she was feeling standing next to William Winchester had been building since the moment she'd met the handsome Marine.

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