Page 8 of It Shouldn't Be You
“A month from now, at the end of October,” Owen responds.
“We can work with that. What else?” Alex prompts with an easy grin.
“I want to get a job or volunteer at a pet sanctuary.” When Logan nods his agreement to that with a smirk, I brace myself for what’s probably going to be the hardest one to sell.
“I want to bring my Four Points guard with me.”
Logan’s smirk disappears in an instant, replaced by a frown as he leans forward and growls, “Who?”
Before I can answer, there’s a knock on the door. It swings open, and in walks Cole, all swagger and cocky glory. He surveys the room with his trademark smirk and asks, “Sorry I’m late. Did I miss anything?”
Chapter 5
She has lost her fucking mind. Hell fucking no.
There’s no way I’m letting that fuckboy be my wife’s personal guard. Over my dead body am I letting someone who’s so clearly in love with her be that close to her twenty-four-seven.
“No. Hard pass,” I snap, glaring at Cole as he lingers near the door, arms folded across his chest.
“Back the fuck down, Graham. She’s taking a guard and that’s final. It’s not up for debate,” Jonathan cuts in, glaring my way.
“Which I am not against. Hell, I’d planned on suggesting this myself. Just pick someone else. Anyone else.” I turn to Abigail, pleading with her to work with me on this. The last thing I want to do is start our marriage off on the wrong foot and it feels like we’re dangerously close to it already.
Confused, she looks from me to Cole before her eyes flash with determination. “No. I picked Cole for a reason, and I’m sticking with that decision. I feel comfortable with him, andI trust him to look out for me. Surely you want me to be comfortable? To be safe?”
Her sass is going to get her a red ass if she keeps it up, but fuck. I can’t argue with that. Of course, I want her to be comfortable. And her safety is paramount. For better or worse, the compound is going to be her new home.
“Just please pick someone else, Princess. Anyone else.”
“What’s your problem, man? If you think I’m going to get in your way, I’m not. I’ll be shadowing Abbie, that’s it. I won’t be anywhere near your operation,” Cole, losing his smirk, finally chimes in. His usage of her nickname and the familiarity dripping from his tone has me grinding my teeth. Who the fuck does he think he is? She’s my wife, not his and the sooner he learns that the better. Preferably before I do something that will blow this whole thing up.
“It’s not too late to call this whole deal off,” Jonathan drawls in a low tone that freezes my protest in its tracks.
As much as it grates on me, this isn’t a deal I can afford to lose.
“Fine, but one of my men will be with her at all times too.”
Just how far away can I place him without being too obvious I don’t want him anywhere near us?
“Fine,” she snaps with an eye roll, as Cole disguises a laugh as a cough.
“Now this wedding—how exactly is that going to work? We can’t spend a month here and I’m not leaving you behind for that long either,” I muse out loud, mentally flicking through my calendar to see what I can shift around.
“There’s a few dates here and there but for the most part it wouldn’t be until maybe a week before I’d need to be here full time.”
I look over at Peter with raised eyebrows. As my second, he should know my schedule as well as I do. When he tips his head in agreement, it's settled.
“Perfect, now, shall we go join the others and leave the heavy shit for an hour or two?” With that remark drawing a few chuckles from everyone, Jonathan leads the way out with Jack following closely behind, muttering in his ear. No doubt it’s about me. Alex throws his arm over Owen's shoulders before leading him out with Peter tailing them after tossing Abigail an encouraging smile.
Cole, after checking with Abigail, leaves too. As the door clicks shut behind him, I circle the table and lean against it beside her as I say, “I was expecting a lot worse.”
She laughs, standing to face me. “Don’t tempt me. Cora and Lily wanted me to make a mile-long list.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Eh, it was mostly common decency shit. I’m trusting you’re not that much of a dick to need those things spelt out.”
“I’m nothing like my father if that’s what you're implying.” If I have to spend the rest of my life proving that to everyone, I will.
