Page 13 of September's Kiss (Loving the Curvy Girl)

“Look, you didn’t give me time to explain myself,” he pleaded. “Yes, I saw you at work that day. And yes, I sent my brother to talk to Geoff to get your number. And yes, I put a security detail on your house at night.”

“You what?” I screeched, staring at him in disbelief. “How dare you—”

“Hey,” he barked, interrupting me. “From the first second I saw you, the need to protect you overwhelmed me. I knew that from that moment on, the only thing I would ever be able to focus on is loving you and keeping you safe. I won’t apologize for it.”

My anger started to fade as his words sunk in. That may have been the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to me. But, he’d invaded my privacy. He’d investigated me like I was some kind of criminal. He had no right to do that, and I wrapped myself in that indignation like it was a blanket keeping me safe.

“That’s a very romantic thing to say,” I said, my voice still angry. “But you don’t get to come in here like some hero in a romance novel, thinking you can sweep me off my feet after what you did.”

“What I did?” he asked. He took a step forward and glowered down at me. “Haven’t you ever had someone want to take care of you before, Ember?”

His words were like a slap in the face and I stepped back from him again, putting distance between us. No, actually, I’d never had anyone actively try to take care of me that way. Well, my parents, but I was pretty sure that wasn’t what he meant.

“Joshua, I think you should go,” I said. I stared at the floor, not wanting to look up at him and have him see the tears welling in my eyes.

“I’m not leaving without you,” he insisted.

“Fine,” I said, turning on my heel and heading back inside. “Do whatever you want. You’re really good at that.”

“Don’t do that,” he said, reaching out and snagging my arm.

“Excuse me?” I stared down incredulously at his grip then turned a glare up to me.

“I did what I felt was right to keep you safe,” he growled. “Don’t try to make me a bad guy.”

“You stalked me, spied on me, invaded my privacy and I’m supposed to what? Thank you?”

“It would be a start,” he said.

“We are at my best friend’s wedding right now,” I hissed, yanking my arm free again. “And you are embarrassing me. I have lived my entire life without needing a fucking bodyguard, and I don’t need one now.”

“No, you need a man to take care of you. To protect you. To honor you. And to love you,” he said, his tone defeated. “I just wanted to be that man for you.”

“What I need,” I corrected him, my voice softening as I took a step back toward him. “Is a man who respects me. And you didn’t do that, did you?”

His expression fell and he dropped his gaze to the floor, shaking his head.

“And you’re not doing it now, are you?” I asked him.

He shook his head again, then looked back at me.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t think about it like that.”

I forced myself to calm down and try to see it from his point of view. He obviously cared about me. And as a big, alpha dog, he probably did think he was doing what he thought best. It would have been sweet if he hadn’t gone about it in such a creepy-ass way.

“Well, try to see it that way,” I said. “You can start by escorting me in like a gentleman, and we’ll go from there.”

His eyes widened and I gave him a small smile. Then he straight up bowed to me and offered me his arm. I took it, threading my elbow through and letting him lead me back into the reception hall.

****

After the speeches, and the cake and the dancing were done, we all gathered to send off Geoff and Kathy in a flourish of confetti and rice. They each stopped to kiss me on the cheek and then they were gone.

Guests began to file out around us, but Joshua and I found a quiet table in the back of the room, and let the crowd die down.

He picked up my left foot and dropped my shoe to the floor, then began kneading the sore muscles in my foot.

“Did you have a nice time?” he asked.

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