Page 40 of The Road Less Traveled By

My heart squeezes; I’m a part of that statistic now. “I just hate that everyone online thinks they know me, that they’re allowed to have an opinion on my life without actually knowing what goes on behind closed doors.”

“Well, I know I can't take down the entire internet, but maybe Nico can try.”

“You’d do that just for me?” I smile.

He smiles back at me, something I don't see very often but cherish when I do. “I’d try my damn best, Bree.”

For the rest of the morning, Vince and I sit at my kitchen table and talk about normal things as the sun filters through my kitchen and the world wakes up.

Chapter fifteen

— FEAR OF WATER BY NOAH KAHAN

“Ellie, I just toldyou I’ve never worked with that brand because of how they treat their own employees. I think this is your agency's problem, babes.”

I hear her scoff through my phone. “I don't ever remember signing anything! Ugh, this is a giant clusterfuck. Do you think I should address it? Lina said I should, just to be safe.”

In the past few years I’ve known Ellie, she’s the one who makes friends easier than I do. She’s friends with mostly everyone I’m acquainted with, but it’s easy to understand why—the girl practically throws up rainbows. “I think you should do what you think is best.”

“Thanks, Bree. I’ll keep you updated, but I have another meeting. We’ll talk soon!”

I barely get to say goodbye before she hangs up on me.Nice. I throw my phone onto the kitchen table before it buzzes again.

Teags: Are you filming today, or can I come over and rant about thisbook?

Bree: I filmed earlier! Get over here. You know how much I love a Teags rant.

Teags: If the main character talks about how small she is one more time, I’m going to throw this book out of a window!

I laugh when she says that just as Vince comes up from the basement, looking all sweaty, disheveled, and beautiful, as always.

It’s official: I’m lusting after my bodyguard.

I try to swallow, but the lump in my throat makes it difficult. His gray shirt is practically drenched from his workout, his hair messy at the top, but one strand hangs down in front of his face.Good lord. That one hair is one of the hottest things I’ve ever seen.

And to top it all off, I can see the outline of his abs through his wet shirt. My mind jumps back to when I saw him fresh out of the shower.

I almost saw him naked, and that’s all I’ve been able to think about when I look at him. So, yeah, maybe me lusting after the man who's supposed to protect me isn't a great thing, but come on—how do I not? We have history together, he knows all about me and my favorite things, and on top of all that, he’s protective of me.

That’s his job.

But sometimes, it feels likemore, like maybe he could feel the same thing about me.

Lust, of course. Not that he would want anything more. Maybe I need to grab my Kindle and put all this sexual energy into a smutty book. Actually, that sounds like a great idea. Before I can get up, he speaks.

“I’m gonna go shower. Call me if you need me, okay?”

Shower.“Mhm!” is all I can manage.

“Are you okay?”

I raise my eyebrows at him, hoping he can’t see the thoughts swirling around my head. “Yup! Perfectly fine. Why?”

“Your face is all red. Have you been overworking yourself again? I told you, you need to calm down in the midst of all this chaos.”

“And I am! Teags just texted me a bunch of funny things, and she’s on her way over.”

His gaze swipes down my body, and I think he knows I’m lying, but he doesn't call me out on it. “Okay. She’s already cleared to come in, so she should have no problems this time.”

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