Page 93 of Dex

My parents hold hands and go back into the house.Dexter and I remain standing until the line of cars is out of sight.For the first time since I’ve known him, he looks less cocky.More vulnerable.Like he’s lost.

And I realize that’s exactly how I feel too.Like I’m out of my depth.Alone.In a world I don’t fully understand, surrounded by people I don’t truly know.

I reach for his hand, seeing him look so alone.I don’t want that for him.This might not be real, and even though we’re nothing but business acquaintances, friends, at a push, I need him to know that I’m here for him.

He presses his fingers in mine, and I exhale a breath.

***

DEX

I don’t like this.Not one damn bit.

Paul Knight lingering here means trouble.

When I glance at Daniela, her expression is tight, her lips pressed together in worry.She’s figured out what kind of man my father is.Smart girl.She knows he’s dangerous, that he doesn’t just hang around for no reason.If I were in her shoes, I’d be worried about my parents too.

After seeing my family off, I feel unsettled.Out of place.It’s an unusual feeling, like I don’t belong, like I’ve stepped into a world that isn’t mine.

And then Daniela smiles at me.Without hesitation, she loops her arm through mine, squeezing lightly.

“Don’t worry, you’ll see them again in a few days.”Her voice is warm and reassuring.It’s exactly what I need.I want to believe her but a heavy feeling hangs in my stomach.I offer a weary smile, feeling not so lonely now.

“We should get ready to leave,” I say.We’re expected to arrive in Bahia later this evening.I pray that I don’t do anything stupid when we’re on our honeymoon.It’s going to be a torturous three nights.I barely survived last night.

The jet her father provides for our honeymoon flight is smaller, more understated than what I’m used to.It’s not a Knight Enterprises jet.No state-of-the-art tech, no marble finishes, no custom upholstery.But it’s functional, and that’s all that matters.

The truth is, I don’t care about the jet.I care about the fact that I’m stuck on it with Daniela for the next two hours, because last night, something changed.

Falling asleep tangled together, waking up with her curled into me, her body warm and soft against mine, shifted things.And then, of course, the moment she saw me naked.

I need distance.

I decide to ignore her completely.Which is difficult when she’s sitting across from me, fresh-faced, effortlessly stunning.She’s not even wearing anything overtly sexy.Just a breezy white linen dress, casual and comfortable.But somehow, that makes it worse.

She’s too at ease.Too cheerful.Like she’s picked up on my mood and decided to fix it.

It puts me to shame.

“One is better,” she says, nodding toward our security detail as my bodyguard boards behind us.

“You’re a Knight now.You come under our protection.”

“They’re hardly discreet.”

Up until now we had two men, identical to every other high-end security operative, dressed in all black, wearing mirrored shades, built like linebackers with short buzzcuts.They might as well have “bodyguard” stamped on their foreheads.One was the security detail provided by her family, and I had my own.We decided to get rid of hers and settle on having just one man.

“I need to work,” I say, opening a folder, pen in hand, forcing myself to focus.Out of the corner of my eye, I see Daniela stiffen.Maybe it was the flick of my hand dismissing her.Maybe it was the coldness in my voice.

Something about it annoys her.

“You work all you want,” she mutters, ordering a cocktail from the hostess before pulling out a book.

The two-hour flight is silent.

I pretend I’m unaffected, but I’m rattled.Shook.Trying to ignore the battle raging inside me.Trying to figure out how the fuck I’m going to survive a year in close proximity to this amazing woman, when one night with her has left me feeling so adrift.

When I first agreed to it, I thought I could handle this, but no amount of pissing the old man off is worth this.I’m going to have a permanent hard-on and it’s going to be the death of me.

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