Page 13 of Guarding Her Heart
“He’s a nice guy.” I say, a bit flirty to tease Ethan.
His eyes zero in on me, “Don’t even think about it, Jenny.”
I laugh out loud, “I’ve only got eyes for you, Ethan West.”
“Good.”
As the night goes on, I feel the connection between us growing stronger, the attraction deepening. But in the back of my mind, there’s still that nagging worry, that fear that something—or someone—is going to come between us.
After dinner, we take a walk along the marina looking at the million-dollar yachts, the warm breeze ruffling my hair as we stroll hand in hand. The moon is high in the sky, casting a silver light over the water, and for a moment, it feels like we’re the only two people in the world and I’m loving it.
But then I see it—a figure standing in the shadows up ahead, watching us. My heart skips a beat, and I instinctively grip Ethan’s hand tighter, my breath catching in my throat.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, his voice laced with concern as he follows my gaze as he pulls me behind him.
I blink, and the figure is gone, vanished into the night like a ghost. I shake my head, trying to convince myself it was just my imagination, that the stress of the text message is playing tricks on me.
“Nothing,” I say, forcing a smile. “Just thought I saw something, but it’s nothing.”
He doesn’t look convinced, but he doesn’t push either. Instead, he pulls me closer, wrapping his arm around my shoulders as we continue our walk.
“Jenny,” he says after a few moments of silence, his voice soft but serious. “If something’s bothering you, you know you can tell me, right? I’m here for you, whatever it is.”
I hesitate, the words on the tip of my tongue, but something holds me back again. I don’t want to ruin this evening, don’t want to bring my fears into this moment.
“I know,” I finally say, leaning into him. “And I appreciate it. I really do.”
We continue walking, but the unease from earlier starts to creep back in. I want to tell him about the message, about the figure I thought I saw, but I can’t bring myself to do it. Not yet. Maybe it’s something or maybe it’s nothing at all. There’s no reason to make a fuss for nothing.
By the time we reach my apartment, the tension has settled into a low hum, a constant buzz in the back of my mind. Ethan walks me to my door, his hand warm in mine, and as we stand there, I feel a pang of regret—regret that I’m not being completely honest with him.
But then he leans in, his lips brushing mine in a soft, lingering kiss, and for a moment, all the worries fade away. When we pull back, his eyes search mine, as if he’s trying to read my thoughts.
“Goodnight, Jenny,” he says, his voice full of warmth. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, Ethan,” I reply, my heart aching with the desire to tell him about the text message, but I don’t. I just watch him walk away. I’m such an idiot.
As I close the door behind me, the silence of the apartment feels suffocating. I lean against the locked door, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts. I want to trust Ethan, to let him in, but the fear of what might happen to my heart if I do is paralyzing.
And then there’s the message—the threat that looms over everything, casting a shadow over the happiness I’ve found with him. Maybe it’s just a hoax and I’m worrying for nothing. Or maybe it’s just Richard trying to get me back – again.
I’m not sure who sent it, or what they want, but one thing is clear: they’re not going to make this easy. If I’m not careful, I could lose everything—Ethan, my sense of safety, and the chance at a future I thought I’d never have.
As I climb into bed that night, I can’t shake the feeling that something is coming, something dark and dangerous. And I don’t know if I’m ready to face it.
But one thing’s for sure: I’m not going to let fear win. Not this time.
Chapter 5
Ethan
The sun is rising over Hibiscus Harbor, casting the sky in a warm palette of pinks and oranges, but the beauty of it barely registers. My mind is stuck on Jenny—on the way she looked last night, like she was carrying a weight she couldn’t share. I should have pressed her more, but I didn’t want to push too hard in fear of pushing her away. Instead, I’m here on the beach, trying to sort through my thoughts, hoping the ocean’s rhythm will calm the turmoil inside me.
I park the truck and sit there for a moment, staring at my phone. My thumb hovers over Jenny’s name, tempted to call her, to ask if she’s okay. But I don’t want to come across as overbearing, so I pocket the phone and step out into the warm morning air.
I think about the spot where Hooplas will stand. That place represents a new beginning—a fresh start for me and the guys, a way to build something lasting. And maybe it could be the start of something real with Jenny, too. But I’ve got this nagging feeling that something’s wrong, that something or someone is trying to keep us apart and I’m pretty sure it’s that fucktard ex-husband of hers, Richard Sorenson.
As I lean against my parked truck, looking out over the water, I hear footsteps behind me. They’re too deliberate, too measured, and my instincts kick in. My training sharpened my senses, and I’m acutely aware of my surroundings and that I’m no longer alone. I turn around slowly, and there he is, fucktard himself. Richard.
