Page 11 of Innocent and Sweet

Chapter Five

Kameron held her hand as she exited the vehicle. The more he touched her and admitted his attraction, the more he craved Anissa.

She started forward, but instead of walking into the house she tumbled to the concrete.

Kameron scrambled out of the car and covered Anissa. His heart squeezed. He hadn’t thought to make sure John or anyone else was out there waiting on her. He hadn’t scoped out the situation to assess whether or not they were alone. Fucking shit. He’d lost his focus. He’d claimed being with her would heighten it. Wrong.

“Are you hurt?” He listened for gunshots and scanned the area for intruders. He didn’t see anyone. “Anissa?”

“I’m okay.” She grunted. “Get off me. I need to breathe.”

He kept his ears open but rolled off her. Kameron knelt beside her. “What’s wrong? Where are you hurt?”

“I’m not.” She blushed. “But my skirt is ruined.” She tugged the fabric over her legs. “I think I snagged it.”

He moved the torn skirt out of the way. The material had separated along the seam and stopped high on her hip. Well, fuck. Kameron scooped her into his arms. Why hadn’t John or Julian come running? He carried her to the garage. Had they all fallen down on the job? “Can you stand?”

“I’m fine. My pride is bruised and my ego wounded, but I’ll manage.” She brushed herself off. “No one’s trying to kill me.”

“Are you sure?” He glanced out the door. John and Julian stood beside the car. Now they showed up. The jackasses. He shrugged out of his jacket and draped the garment around her shoulders. “Use the back staircase. I’ll join you upstairs when I finish dealing with those two.”

Anissa snuggled in the jacket. “You promise?”

“Have I let you down yet?” He kissed her. “I’ll keep following you and picking up the pieces. If you fall, I’ll catch you.”

She cupped his jaw. “Thank you. I can promise I’ll tumble again. I’m good at it.”

“I know.” He counted on her falling -- hopefully in love with him. He waited for her to successfully hurry up the steps to the second floor before he left the garage. He growled when he strode up to John and Julian. Ira, the driver, didn’t make eye contact. Kameron sighed. “Gentlemen. Looks like we’re back.”

“You are.” Julian pointed to the car. “I’m hoping she’s still innocent.”

John groaned. “Keeping her innocence isn’t our job. Keeping her safe is.”

“She’s still innocent,” Kameron snapped. “I made sure she got home safely. She went upstairs in my coat. When she got out of the car, she tripped and destroyed her skirt. She used my jacket to cover her posterior. She’s fine.”

“Cover her posterior?” Julian snorted. “Are you sure you weren’t the reason she ripped her skirt? Hmm?”

“I won’t entertain that with an answer.” Kameron removed his necktie. “She’s fine and upstairs. I’ve done my job. The rich shit tried to move in on her and failed. She had a good time, and the family name is still stellar. Now I’m off the clock.”

“You’re about to lose your job.” John stepped between Kameron and Julian. “She’s off-limits. Oh, and I found this in the backseat.” He held up her bra. “It must’ve fallen out of her dress? Your pocket maybe?”

He gritted his teeth. No answer would work. They suspected he’d fooled around with her and would go right to her father. The best he could hope for was he’d just lose his job.

“I see.” John glared at him. “I’m sorry you’ll be leaving the team. We can’t have someone protecting her if they don’t have her best interests at heart.”

“I don’t? Jesus. I’m devoted to her. I know Anissa better than any of you.” He stared down at his boss, then snatched the bra from him. “She said this thing chafed and she wanted it off. I didn’t see a damn thing, but it doesn’t matter. I quit. I’m done guarding her body. I won’t work with men who can’t trust me.”

“Motherfucking bastard.” Julian grabbed Kameron’s arms. “You knew she wanted you.”

“She feels comfortable with me,” Kameron snarled. “Yeah, she does. She trusts me, and I know her better than anyone. If it means I’m with her but not her bodyguard, then I’ll be whatever the hell she wants me to be.”

“Her father won’t allow her to be with you.” John inched forward. “He wants her to be with someone he can trust. Someone who will love her and can take care of her in the way she deserves. Can you do that?”

He could try.

“Don’t fool yourself. She’ll decide she likes fancy shit. She’ll want stuff,” John said. “Trips and whatever. With Evan or Alex or one of those rich shits, as you call them, or any of the other guys her father chooses, she’ll keep this life. She’ll keep us.”

He tightened his fists. Now the situation made sense. The livelihood of the security team mattered more than Anissa’s happiness. If she kept her life of luxury, then they would, too. How nice. He couldn’t convince her to dump them any more than he had sway over their staying around.

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