Page 9 of Guarded By the SEAL

Oh, my God. That is another issue. One that I keep trying to ignore but I can’t. Everywhere I go, Harry is there too. He’s acting like a creepy stalker, refusing to let me out of his sight, and it’s driving me mad. I ball my fists up by my side in temper, but I also grit my teeth so I can’t say anything. I already promised Harry that I wouldn’t be argumentative again, and I don’t want to break it already.

It’s fine, I tell myself in a serious attempt to cool myself down. This is a part of the process.

I try to tune Harry out as I walk through the flower garden, over toward the waterfall, through the woodland paths. I soak in the beauty, the nature, the peace which I would never normally get in the city. I have to admit that it’s blowing me away, makingme yearn for this sort of life. Maybe this is what I’m supposed to have had all along. No rat race, no idiotic, thieving husband. Just me and nature.

Well, and Harry. Fucking hell, how can I forget about him when he is around every corner?

“I’m okay, you know,” I call out in a prissy tone. “I don’t need to be watched like a hawk.”

“Er, that’s kinda my job,” he replies with a laugh. “I’m being paid to keep an eye on you.”

I roll my eyes in an over-the-top manner, really hoping that he can see it. “You don’t have to take it quite so literally, though. I’m capable of taking a walk around. Nothing can happen to me in the middle of nowhere. I don’t think we’re going to get jumped by surprise on an island.”

“You can actually be jumped and surprised anywhere, Petra.” Goddamn it, I hate his patronizing tone, even if what he’s saying right now could be the truth. “So, yes, I do need to be careful even if we’re out here on an island. We are dealing with some very dangerous people here. We have to be smart about it.”

I pout out my bottom lip in anger. I just want to enjoy the peace here, the tranquility. I want to enjoy this day and forget about all of that crap. I don’t want to deal with what I’ve left behind. I actually think it was quite spiteful that Harry brought it up. It’s as if he doesn’t want me to forget and move past it at all. I know that I can’t do that here because it isn’t real life, but I could have a moment away from it, couldn’t I? I feel like I could get some clarity while I’m here. Come to terms with everything.

“Right, well, I might as well go inside, then,” I bark out. “No point in both of us walking around.”

“Hey, you don’t need to be like that.” Harry laughs, which only serves to wind me up even more. “I’m enjoying it out here. It’s pretty nice, isn’t it? And we could even walk together.”

Urgh, fuck that. I certainly don’t want that, of all things. I give him a withering look before turning on my heels to stalk away. I hope he gains from my body language exactly what I mean. But unfortunately, my point gets lost because I trip over a small rock in my way. The fall comes suddenly. I’m not expecting it, so I can’t do anything to regain my balance. I stumble forward and slam to the ground hard, crying out as I bash my knee into a rock, creating bolts of pain all the way through my body.

“Don’t worry, I can help you.” Harry is by my side in an instant. “Oh, don’t panic, that isn’t too bad. Surface wound at most. We can get that sorted in a moment. Let me just get you inside.”

I squeal as Harry scoops me up from the ground with ease like I weigh nothing and lifts me up. I automatically wrap my arms protectively around his neck, which is irritating because I’m still annoyed with him. He hasn’t given me a choice, though. I’m pretty much stuck glued to him at the moment.

“How do you know what it is?” I bark out, needing him to see that I’m not happy.

“Ex-Navy SEAL.” He shoots me a smile. “I have dealt with things far worse than this. You will be fine.”

Well, I have to admit that does silence me. I can’t really argue with that, can I? This man is very capable, and in more ways than one. I don’t have to like it, but I might have to trust him some more.

“Right, well, I’m glad it isn’t bad.” I’m trying, I really am, but I still seem to sound irritable with him. “Thank you for… you know, helping me out and not just leaving me in a heap.”

He doesn’t say anything, and I can’t help but wonder if that’s because he can feel my pounding heart. It’s ricocheting off my rib cage and I don’t really know why. Maybe because this is the closest I have ever been to a man who isn’t my husband, and I don’t quite know what to do about it. It’s making me feel all strange, but weirdly, not wrong. I don’t belong in this man’s arms, yet I don’t want to leap out. He’s protecting me, I suppose that’s the main thing. I need him.

8

HARRY

“Okay, are you alright now?” I ask Petra as she places the bag of ice onto her knee. “That will take the swelling down. Then if you rest it for a while, you’ll be okay. It shouldn’t take long.”

She nods, not really giving me anything, but then she has been pretty much silent ever since we got inside and I started to take care of her. I can tell that this dynamic between us makes her uncomfortable, but she doesn’t have any choice. I’m not getting anyone else over here for that injury. It doesn’t need it.

After the nice comment she made outside, which I have to admit shocked me a little, she has been cold and quiet, but I’m not about to let that bother me. Cold is better than yelling.

“Right, well I’m about to make a sandwich for lunch. Would you like one?” She nods. “Sure, I will see what we have for filler and let you know what the choices are. Also, you should make a list of anything you like which isn’t here. I presume that we will be here long enough for me to need to do a shopping trip.”

I ramble on, just filling the silence. I’m not getting anything out of Petra. It really is like she has turned to stone, but it doesn’t stop me. Surprisingly, considering the weird way that this day has gone, I’m feeling a bit more upbeat. I’m hoping that Petra is finally in a place where she can see how we need to put her safety first. I think I might be getting through to her, just a little more each minute.

Ring, ring… Ring, ring… Ring, ring…

Petra’s eyes light up in delight. She already thinks that this is going to be news about her father, which I can’t be positive about since it won’t be anyone else’s top priority but hers. So, as I see Benji’s name on the screen, I let her know that I need to take the call outside and make my escape.

“Hey, how’s it going?” I half-whisper as soon as I’m far enough away from the house that I don’t think Petra will be able to hear me. “Sorry, just give me a moment. I need to make sure I can’t be heard.”

“Oh, no,” Benji replies knowingly. “Is it going that well? Do I even need to ask?”

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