Page 111 of Where We Bloom

“Hey, I’m fine. We just need to talk this out. You’re always telling me to talk to you.” I want to reach for him, to touch him, but we’re both so damn angry with each other. “It goes both ways. I didn’tknowhe was there to protect me. I didn’t know there was a threat to you and, therefore, me. I. Didn’t. Fucking. Know. And I don’t want Simon to be in trouble or lose his job just because things happened a certain way because of choices I made out of ignorance.”

“Why are you sticking up for Simon?” he demands, then his whole face changes. “Unless?—”

“Do not fucking go there.” I stomp to him and takehis hands in mine, holding on tight. “We’re not doing that, Connor. Are you crazy? You didn’t like it on the plane last night, and I won’t tolerate that now.”

He sighs and closes his eyes. “Feck.”

“I simply know when to own my own shit. Yes, he knows his job, but it was also on me for sending him away because I didn’t know better. So I guess you should yell at me, too.”

“Goddammit, I was fucking terrified!”

He paces away from me, fisting and un-fisting his hands before he wipes his hand over his mouth and then turns and pins me in his stare.

“You know, I think I’m going to change and give you some time to calm down.”

I walk away, headed for the stairs, and then suddenly, I’m airborne, in Connor’s arms, and he’s carrying me bridal style to the couch.

“You won’t walk away from me in anger,” he says, sitting and keeping me in his arms, holding me against him. “Never. We’ll have this out and move on with it.”

“Did you fire him?”

“No.”

“Did you threaten to?”

“Fuck, yes.”

I wiggle and straddle him so I can see him better. “Why didn’t you tell me that he’s security and not just a driver?”

“I didn’t think about it. I put him with you to act as another Miller, and it didn’t occur to me to spell it out to you becauseI don’t ever explain myself, Billie.I’m the boss. I make the rules, I give the orders, and everyone else follows them to the letter, or they’re gone.”

“But I’m not an employee.”

“No, you’re everything.” His voice is rough, and he looks so fucking tired when he closes his eyes for just a heartbeat, then he pins me with his gaze again and skims his fingertips down my cheek to my neck, holding me so tenderly, it makes me swallow hard. “I’m not used to relationships, angel. The one I had ended in divorce, and there hasn’t been another since. So far, I think our communication has been pretty good.”

“Pretty good,” I confirm. “Once you pulled your head out of your ass.”

His eyes narrow, and his hands rub up my thighs and around to my hips, and I continue.

“I’m not asking to be privy to every decision you make because that’s ridiculous, but if it involves me, I need to know, Connor.”

“You’re right.” He licks his lips, his eyes on my mouth, his hands firming on my body, as if it’s getting harder for him to keep himself under control, and it makes my nipples tighten against his chest. “I apologize. Iwon’tapologize to Simon because he fucked up. He’s going to be your personal security detail for the foreseeable future.”

“Like on this trip?”

“All the time. Even after we get home.”

I frown, slowly shaking my head. “I don’t need?—”

“Mo rúnsearc.” He takes a deep breath and cups myface so gently, so in contrast to the anger he clearly feels. “I’m. Not. Asking.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “I don’t see why I need to be protected at my shop.”

“Why are you so bleedin’ stubborn?”

“I could ask you the same thing.” I move to get off him, but he holds me in place.

“I protect what’s mine,” he says, his jaw clenched. “I protect what I love, and goddammit, I’m so in love with you, I ache with it. Living without you at this point isn’t an option for me. You’re the reason I open my bloody eyes in the morning, and the thought of someone hurting you,touchingyou in any way because of me, brings me to my knees. You were in a part of the city known for not being the safest today, and then I learned the man I hired to keep you safe when I can’t be with you walked away from you.AllI could think was that you could be in danger, that I could lose you, and that would end me, Billie.”

---