Page 16 of Innocent and Sweet

“It’s complicated,” Kam said from the living room of her suite. “I need to go. I don’t want to hurt you, but I can’t do this right now.” He left her suite and headed down to the first floor. Julian, John and a few of the others on the security team stood in the staff quarters. None said anything, but all watched him. He made his way to his locker and dumped the contents into his duffle bag. Fuck. He hated being watched. He jammed the jacket into the bag, then ensured he’d grabbed everything.

“Kam.” John stood beside him. “We get it. She’s tantalizing.”

He growled but said nothing as he put his boots on.

“You’re not the only one who’s wanted to make a play for her, but we’re her staff. We can’t be with her.” John grasped the locker door. “Kameron.”

“I never did this for the money,” he said. He stuffed his arms into his motorcycle jacket. “Never did this to get an in with the family. Yeah, I wanted a good paycheck, but I had people depending on me. Then I got to know her. Anissa isn’t a spoiled little rich girl. She’s more. If you’d have paid attention, you’d have seen I haven’t cashed my damn paychecks. I don’t need their money. I did the job because I truly wanted to see her safe.” He zipped his bag, then slammed the locker door shut. “I gotta go.”

“Kam.” John tried to keep up with him, but Kameron left him behind.

His heart ached. He’d taken the job with the Dunn family because he’d needed the money, but now he didn’t. He strapped the bag to the back of his motorcycle, then donned his helmet. Most of the time, he would’ve ignored the headwear, but tonight, he opted to wear it. The way things were going, he’d do something stupid and wreck the damn bike. At least his fucking head would be protected.

He zipped out of the garage and headed away from the house. His heart stayed with Anissa, even if she didn’t want him. She made him whole. She knew him. But he’d let her down.

Kameron blasted across town to his street. He hated where he lived, but selling the house wasn’t an option. He couldn’t let his grandmother’s house go to the developers. He spotted the sign in the yard. The developers had been there again. He parked the bike in the shed, then locked up and tossed his bag onto the back steps. He hated the developers and the whole fucking world. Most of all, he hated himself. He ripped the sign off the front door.

Dunn Holdings

He crumpled the reminder and tossed it with the others in the recycle bin. If he responded to the reminders, he’d have to face the possibility his home would end up flat. The neighborhood didn’t deserve to be turned into a strip mall.

He unlocked the back door and turned on most of the lights. Fuck his electric bill. Fuck his tiny house. Fuck his life. He sank onto the kitchen chair and removed his helmet. He’d stood up to so many people, but the moment he could give Howard Dunn hell, he backed off.

Why?

Because he didn’t want Anissa to see her father’s true ruthlessness. He’d been so blind.

He scrubbed both hands over his face. His phone buzzed. Part of him wanted to check the notification, but the rest didn’t. He could have a message from his sister or a reminder of some sort. Could be a mention on social media. But he doubted those were the case. If the notification had any link to Anissa, he’d lose his shit.

He swiped across the screen to check the icon. A text. Go fucking figure. He retrieved the message.

Anissa:You don’t have to do this. Just tell me the truth.

What was he supposed to do? Answer? Delete the message?

His head throbbed as he typed out a reply.

Kameron:You deserve better than a security guard. You should be happy. I’m sorry.

He turned the screen over and sighed. He’d blown his life to hell and couldn’t change his past. He’d had and lost the woman he loved. What a fucking crock… he’d finally admitted to himself he loved Anissa, and now he couldn’t have her. Jesus.

---