Page 84 of Unguarded

I split another log with the heavy steel. The sound of wood snapping open cuts the air. I’ve been at it for hours. A small mountain of wood is piled beside me. The sun is starting to turn the sky pink as it dips behind the trees.

“When did you fall in love with her?”

Another log cracks open. Sweat travels down my spine, leaving a cool trail on my skin in its wake. I lift the hem of my soaked T-shirt to dab my brow. It’s soiled and sticking to me. I peel it off and toss it to the side. My abs are coated with sweat from the hours I’ve spent out here in the sun, trying to work through my newfound realization that I’m in love with the celebrity I was hired to protect. It’s stupid, but I didn’t fucking know it until today.

I thought it was lust. I thought I just wanted to fuck her, but even after I did that, I felt ten times more addicted to her. I want to know everything there is to know about Monroe Blue.

“When did you fall in love with her?”

Feminine laughter floats on the breeze. I pause, the axe still midair. Monroe stumbles around the corner of the house, her arm looped through my little brother’s. The cool sweat on my skin immediately heats to boiling point. Her blonde hair is curling around her cheeks, like a scene from an old movie. I don’t know how she manages to look like a vintage pinup doll with rosy cheeks twenty-four seven, even with her glamour team a thousand miles away. She’s dressed in a cute little pale pink sundress that hugs her curves just right. Duke is wearing a shirt the exact same color.

Her delicate fingers are clutching a wineglass, the pink contents splashing out on the ground with each of her unsteady steps. Duke releases her arm to wrap his around her waist. He’s way too fucking close to her for comfort. Blood rushes to my head.

Her bright blue eyes rise to meet mine. She gasps, her back going ramrod straight. Her pink lips form an O. Duke turns to me, a flash of fear crossing his features. He pulls away slightly, but doesn’t let go.

Monroe’s eyes leisurely travel from the axe all the way down my exposed torso to my filthy jeans tucked into my cowboy boots. Unmistakable lust fills her gaze.

“When did you fall in love with her?”

I swallow the drool accumulating in my mouth before dropping the axe to the ground. I stalk toward them. Duke’s eyes widen with fear, but not nearly enough. Monroe raises her glass to her lips, and she sips from the rim.

I’ve been expending my energy for hours on this fucking wood pile, but I still have plenty left to use on my brother’sface. He realizes my intent, backing away from Monroe as I grow closer.

He lets her go completely, turning toward the house. “I just remembered that I need to?—”

I speed up, catching him by the shirt collar and jerking him back toward me. Monroe lets out a scream when my fist connects with the side of his jaw.

The rage that’s been sizzling inside me all fucking day is unleashed. Duke isn’t afraid to take a punch, and with three older brothers, he knows how to throw one back. He ducks my next attempt and delivers one to my left eye with a quick jab. Pain shoots through my face.

“You can have two more, motherfucker. I was just watching over her until you got back.”

His statement only angers me further. My arm rises up to guard my face. I’m patient, and he’s not. He throws his head back with a laugh.

“You’re fucking crazy. She’s yours, fucker! I didn’t do shit.” He’s laughing harder now.

I use both hands to reach out and grab the back of his head, slamming my skull up into his mouth. Blood pours out of his nose. His lip is busted and possibly his nose from the force of my head butting him.

“Fucking hell, Cash!”

I pull my fist back, landing another blow to his face on the side of his jaw. He goes down. I hear another scream from behind me.

Holden rushes out from the house, shaking his head. His eyes are dark with rage.

“Get your angry, deranged ass back to the bunkhouse.”

He jerks our little brother up off the ground, blood spewing from his nose like a fountain and coating the front of his pink T-shirt.

I smile down at him. “Don’t touch my woman.”

Holden jerks Duke’s hand and drags him toward the house. “Rosie will clean you up. I thought you would’ve learned your lesson by now.”

Duke and Rosie dated when they were just kids, but Duke’s always been the one to stir shit up.

I turn back around to face Monroe. Her face is white, eyes trailing over me and the blood coating the front of my naked chest and abs.

“You’re a madman,” she mutters.

“Only when it comes to you, Princess.”

---