Page 24 of Mine to Protect

“What are you looking at?” she asked meekly from her spot on the floor, not glancing up.

“You.”

I shouldn’t open this door, but I couldn’t help it. Somehow, this one woman had a pull over me even when she wasn’t around. Past women never invoked this strong protective compulsion—hell, any feelings. Until Alta.

She didn’t need me. I’d ruin her. Break her past the point of no return. Her dark desires were fucking rainbows compared to mine.

Stay away.

Run.

For her, I should.

But for me, I wouldn’t.

In the cold life I’d been dealt, was it terrible to want one good thing from it?

One good person.

One Alta Lady Johnson.

“Why?” Alta finally peeked up from the paper, allowing her hazel eyes to meet mine.

“You’re dangerous, you know that?” I said before thinking better of it.

“Me? Dangerous.” She giggled nervously. “Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black? Pretty sure you could break me just with the crazy, intense stare you have.”

The corner of my lips twitched upward in as much of a smile as I could manage lately. “You’re distracting, mesmerizing, whichisdangerous.”

Hell. Where did allthosewords come from?

“Oh.” The fire’s coals crackled and the logs popped behind her as she uncomfortably shifted against the floor. “I… I’ve spent so long being ordinary. You’re the only one who’s noticed me.”

“Why?” I was a bastard. I knew exactly why she wanted to remain anonymous.

“Long story,” she said on a sigh. “I was noticed once, and it went sideways.” The scraping of her index fingers along the ripped cuticles of her thumbs spoke to her rising anxiety. “Let's just say being around you and Chandler is the first time in years that I feel like I don’t have to hide.”

The couch complained as I shifted forward, closer to her.

I was a fool.

A weak fool who couldn’t resist the enigma in front of him. It wasn’t the strawberry-blonde hair or the delicate features of her beautiful, natural face. No, this was deeper.

“You don’t. We’ve got you covered.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Yes,” I said quickly. Whatever she wanted to know, I’d tell her.

“What is this?” Averting her timid gaze, she flicked the file folder between us. “You’re super intense, and I’m… I don’t really….” A red flush crept up her neck before blooming along her delicate cheekbones, accentuating the small scattering of faint freckles.

Fuck, this is a bad idea.

I’ll ruin her.

“Stay away from me, Lady.”

Her eyes met mine, daring her to push back. “What? I didn’t mean—”

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