Page 52 of Passenger Princess

The words bring back what Jaime said that first night I met him, when he thought I was some drunk birthday girl trying to cute my way into a VIP section.

The acid churns but doesn't last for long when Jaime speaks. "Ava is incredibly special." My entire body stills as I watch a faint blush creep over his cheeks. "And she's also at a higher risk, given her hotel room was broken into barely a week ago."

"We have standard security at the event; they can keep an eye on Ava while she's doing her meet and greet. And the hotel issue was explained to me as some local kids messing around, nothing actually related to Ava herself."

Jaime's jaw goes tight. "Why can't that security go with Anne, and I'll be in this room with Ava and Miss Georgia?"

"She's going to be doing some meet and greets in the main dining area to break things up a bit. There's hotel security here, but nothing upfront. I'm asking you to do the job I contracted you to do, Mr. Wilde." The way she says it is a clear threat.

"I just don't understand why we can't?—"

"It's fine," I say without thinking. "Borrow him for the afternoon."

"What?" Regina and Jaime say at the same time.

"This room is small, so they're only going to let, like, five people in at a time, plus press, and there's the event security. It would be reallyhard for something bad to happen here," I say, looking directly at Jaime as I do.

"Absolutely not," he says.

"I don't understand why you're having such difficulty following a simple order. I suppose I'll have to make a note to tell Five Star how—" Regina starts, and I know the path she's headed down, threatening Jaime's job.

I don't want him to leave me, the idea of it already building my anxiety, removing the security blanket I didn't realize he'd wrapped around me with his presence, but I won't let this dumb argument hurt his career.

"Give us a few minutes, okay?" I say to Regina and Anne before grabbing Jaime's hand and tugging him into an empty room.

"Absolutely not," he says with a glare, arms crossing on his chest like he wants to strangle me as soon as the door shuts us in.

"Absolutely,yes."

"Ava—"

"There's security in there. There's very little that could happen. Is it worth Regina reporting to your boss you're not doing your job? Is it worth losing your retirement?"

"Your safety is worth that and more."

My belly goes warm with that, but I can't let him do this.

"And Iwillbe safe, Jaime. But I won't be able to sleep if something happens and fucks up your shit," I say. When he opens his mouth, I cut him off. "And that might mean they take you off my case, and who else is going to hold Peach while I be pretty?" His mouth closes, and his jaw gets hard, but I think I've won.

"So I'm just here to hold Peach?" he asks, his voice somehow lower, huskier.

"Oh, definitely. That's the only thing you're good for," I say with a smile, even though I don't feel any kind of humor. We spend a long stretch of time staring at each other in silence.

"I don't like this," Jaimesays, finally.

"Why, because you're so in love with me, you can't bear not being by my side every second of every day?" He rolls his eyes.

"No, because I know you, and even when you're not trying, which you usually are, Ava, you find trouble at every turn."

"I'll be fine, Jaime. I'll have other security there; it's not like it will be a free-for-all. It's our only option, and you know it." I close the gap between us, putting a hand on his chest and looking up at him, all brooding eyes and clenched teeth before pressing a kiss to the underside of his jaw.

With that, he lets out a sigh before finally, he nods. "Fine. Only if you're on your best behavior, though, Ava. I mean it."

"You're the best! Thank you!" I say, stepping back and clapping my hands. "Okay, let's get back before—oof!" I shout, nearly twisting my ankle as I trip on a small piece of the carpet that's pulled up. I'm headed for a faceplant on the carpet, but his arm wraps around my waist, tugging me into his chest and saving me from my inevitable demise. My heart pounds, his thumb brushing the bare skin between where my top stops and my skirt starts.

"See the benefits of having you within arms reach?" he asks, his voice a low rumble against my chest. I look at him over my shoulder and smile.

"Yeah, I can see the benefit of having you close," I whisper. I don't miss the way his eyes flash, the way they drop to my lips, the way they move back to my eyes just a hair darker, the thoughts I wish he'd just act on playing there.

---