Page 76 of The Bombshell and the Bodyguard
“I care, Jess. He’s my best friend. I don’t know if he’s ever gonna forgive me.”
“For what? Protecting me? Giving up weeks of your life to take me somewhere safe and then stopping the guy who was trying to drag me off and nearly beating him to death? Hap should be thanking you, not harassing you. What a bully.”
“He’s not being a bully. He loves you. He just wants what’s best for you.”
I placed a hand on his shoulder. “He loves you too, Wilder. Andyou’rewhat’s best for me.”
“That’s debatable,” he muttered, turning away again.
The quiet words stopped my heart cold. “Why would you say that?”
Wilder’s shoulders lifted and fell in a sullen shrug. “It’s not the first time a girl’s been hurt on my watch.”
“You’re talking about the situation in Iraq?”
He nodded, returning his gaze to the window. The flight must have been near its end because the view of clouds had given way to landscape below, the miniature homes and cars growing larger in perspective.
“Emotion got in the way that time, too. I was so loyal to my commanding officer, I had so much admiration and respect for him I didn’t follow my instincts. I followed his orders and left him alone with her when I knew better—Iknewbetter. Iletthat girl get hurt.”
He pounded the arm rest. “I almost letyouget hurt.”
I stroked his tense forearm and the back of his hand. “Iwasn’thurt. And there’s nothing you could have done to prevent what happened—he was hired as a security guard after a background check. He had no record. And you stopped him in time. All’s well that ends well, right?”
I didn’t like the determined set of Wilder’s jaw or the sound of hishmmphresponse. Maybe changing the subject would help.
“When I spoke to Hap, all he did was ask about how I was feeling. What did he say to you?”
“He asked how I could seduce you when you were at your most vulnerable.” Wilder slid his eyes over to meet mine again.
I barked a short, sharp laugh. “That’s ridiculous. I’m not sixteen. I’m a grown woman. And if anything, I was the aggressor. What did you tell him?”
“The truth. That I’d never take advantage of you. That I have too much respect for you to treat you like a one-night stand or a casual fu—relationship.”
My eyebrows shot up. “And what did he say?”
Wilder didn’t answer, just looked at me with a bleak expression.
“What, are you afraid it might scar my tender ears?”
Still nothing. His lack of response was starting to make me nervous.
“Look, when we get home, we’ll talk to him,” I said. “I’ll tell him that like it or not, we’re together now, so he’ll just have to get used to it.”
Still no response.Uh oh.“We are, aren’t we? Together?”
Wilder’s jaw hardened even further, and his brows dropped low over his eyes, which looked very dark at the moment. “I’m not sure that’s... the best thing for everyone involved.”
My heart lurched. “Oh no—don’t you do this to me again, Wilder Lowe. When we were young and you kissed me, I was too inexperienced to know whether you meant it or not. But what happened between us on the island—and the way you kissed me after the concert when you rescued me—youmeantthat. You love me just like I love you. I know you do.”
Though his eyes were screamingYes I do, Wilder’s mouth stayed firmly shut.
Tears collected behind my own eyes while a hard lump formed in my throat.
“I’m leaving Eastport Bay for Venice in a week to perform at the Mad Music festival. Will you be with me... or not?”
His face remained an unemotional mask.
“Anthony will keep you safe while you’re in Eastport Bay. First thing tomorrow morning I’ll start looking into a full-time bodyguard to travel with you to Italy and wherever you go after that. I’ve already proved I’m not equal to the task.”
