Page 8 of Daddy's Little Charmer
“Because I want to be a part of your life and take care of you.”
Harmony shook her head. “I can take care of myself.”
“You call living in the slums, working at a strip joint, and having a mouse for a roommate, taking care of yourself?” He growled in frustration.
A twinge of hurt and remorse hit Harmony’s heart. She didn’t know why his displeasure and disappointment bothered her so much when she’d only just met the man, but it did, a great deal. She bit her lip and blinked several times to dispel the tearsthat burned her lids.
She swallowed and tried to pull away from him, and gritted her teeth when he tightened his grip. After a slight struggle, she gave up and stood docile in front of him.
“Yes,” she said defensively. “It’s the best I can do at the moment, and I’m actually pretty proud of myself for getting through school.”
Christian sighed and rubbed his forehead with a finger. He wasn’t used to letting his emotions get out of control. He knew he’d hurt her feelings and had to pull his mindset back or he’d have her running.
“I’m proud of you, too, Baby. I just hate that you’re not safe.”
Harmony snorted and threw her hands out. “I don’t see how it’s any of your business.”
Christian narrowed his gaze. “I’m making it my business.”
Harmony grunted. “I don’t give you permission to do that.”
Christian chuckled. He couldn’t remember the last time he needed permission to do anything. Maybe in grade school?
She tried to pull away again. “Let me go.”
He tightened his grip on her hips. “I’ll let you go, but I’m warning you, this isn’t over.”
Harmony sighed. “Fine,” she groused. She would say anything to get away from the man who was slowly driving her crazy. Some of it was from frustration, but the bigger part was the way he made her body feel.
Chapter Three
Christian reluctantly released her and then watched her rush out the door and slam it. He’d told her the truth. This thing between them was far from over. In fact, it had just begun.
Instead of heading home like he had planned, for the restof the night, Christian sat at a corner table with his laptop and a glass of scotch and watched over Harmony, taking in every move she made and who tried to touch her. After watching several men try to grope her, he’d ordered one bouncer to trail her and prevent any man from touching her.
It shocked him that he knew she hadn’t caught on to her protection detail, and he worried even more about her. How could she not notice a two-hundred-pound hulk following her everywhere?
Christian closed his laptop and stretched as he canvassed the room for Harmony. Most of the patrons had left, the dancing was over, and the staff was cleaning up. His worry mounted when he continued not to see her.
He stood and hurriedly worked his way to the bar. “Roberto, where’s Harmony?”
Roberto turned from the sink. “She went home.”
“What? When?” Christian asked.
“About half an hour.”
“How could you have let her leave?”
“I had Tommy take her. I’d never let her go on her own,” he said, wiping his hands with a white bar towel.
Christian walked swiftly to the table he’d worked at and gathered the things he had his driver bring in earlier in the evening when he decided to stay.
“Hey, handsome, are we on for tonight?”
Christian turned to Candy and then frowned down at her.
“No. I have no idea where you got that idea,” he growled. “And let me remind you that you know what our expectations are, and you also know if you’re caught one more time having sex behind my building, you’re fired. Now go home.”
