Page 65 of Duty and Desire
He didn’t take anything in then because Lottie was on him.
He automatically flexed his body solid when she put her little hands into his chest and shoved with all her might.
He didn’t move an inch.
Before he could ask what the fuck, she was shouting at him.
“Where were you?”
Ah, hell.
He opened his mouth to say something, but she kept shouting.
“I did a turn, looked for you,and you weren’t there!”
Right.
He could smell she was scared.
But now she was showing it.
Big mistake.
He never should have done that to her.
She should not be feeling what she was feeling.
Most of that was not on him.
But he shouldn’t have left her.
No way.
And that was absolutely on him.
The worst part about it, he didn’t feel bad because he freaked her, and he shouldn’t have.
He felt bad because he freakedLottie, and he didn’t want her to feel that, or more of it.
He’d had so many bodyguard jobs, he couldn’t count them.
He already knew this one was different. But the feeling he was feeling right then knowing he did something to spike her fear, he now knew this one was going to be even more of a challenge than he thought.
“Hawk needed to talk to me,” he told her. “Jorge was on you. Other side of the stage.”
“Could Hawk maybe talk to youafteryou tell me you have to take off so Hawk can talk to you?” she asked.
“Next time, we’ll do that,” he muttered.
“Jesus!” she yelled.
Then she did it.
Fuck him, his worst fear (for now).
She turned stiltedly, raked a hand through her hair, looked at the floor, started pacing with agitation, and chanted in a whisper, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.”
“Lottie.”
