Page 29 of Her Guardian
But here she is. Right in front of me. Waiting formeto decide what comes next.
“A few more days wouldn’t hurt,” I shrug. “To make sure you get everything you need for your podcast.”
“Okay!” she says, reaching for her phone. “Let me text Lea so she can extend my reservation.”
“No need.” I shake my head. “I’ll handle it.”
Massimo won’t like it if he finds out I’m the reason she’s staying, but I’ll keep her out of his way. She cashed in her personal favor to get content for her podcast. At the end of the day, I’m still a guy who likes to do his job well.
And… I like having her around.
A lot more than I should.
CHAPTER 11
Sarah
The more I learn about Boyd, the harder it is to get him out of my head.
Especially when he’s right in front of me.
After Boyd filled in some gaps, and told me a few more stories, I’ve got what I need for my podcast. Extending my stay isn’t totally professional. I may still get some more juicy content, but I’m not ready for my adventure with Big Mafia Boyd to come to an end.
Not yet. Not when I’m still mixed up inside and unsure what is going on with me. I could fill my notebook with reasons to leave. Reasons to put Boyd in the rearview mirror and forget all about him. But theflutterdoesn’t like that idea. The flutter might have a mind of its own.
I’ve never been in love. I’ve barely had a crush. Is this what the first blossom feels like? The flutter?
For a man who spanked me because I didn’t follow his instructions. For a man who would tear apart half of Russia to find someone he cares about. For a man who bends metal steps when he’s stomping his way up them, because an asshole dropped something in my drink.
What else is he capable of?
I should be scared to find out, but the flutter isn’t. The flutter wants to know everything about this mountain of a man sitting on the bed across from mine. The flutter doesn’t care if he’s in the Mafia or that I could do an entire true crime podcast series about him without scratching the surface of his enormous physique… or what’s underneath.
“Give me a minute,” Boyd says, leaning forward and standing up. “Need to use the restroom.”
He walks into the bathroom and closes the door. I’m immediately mortified because I left a mess after cleaning up after my spanking. Too late to do anything about that.
Boyd’s drink is empty, so I fill it, and put it back on the nightstand beside the bed he was sitting on. My fingers trace the warmth he left behind on the mattress. Thinking about the source of that heat makes my pulse race.
Am I the kind of girl Boyd would go for? Probably not, but he seems to be interested, even if I’m only Pine Grove pretty, and there are plenty of better options in Las Vegas. The last girl he dated made her living on a stage—I’m not that flamboyant or brave. I don’t show my face on my podcast. I’ve never even updated my picture.
But Ifelthim, when I was on his lap. I’ve seen the way he looks at me, when his emerald-gold gaze seems to reflect an interest in more than which door he’ll kick in next.
Come to think of it, he was looking at me like that at the wedding.
I’m standing awkwardly by my bed when Boyd opens the door. I walk toward him. I’m not sure why. He stops in his tracks and narrows his eyes.
“Something you need, little girl?”
I’m starting to like hearing that way, way too much.
“Yeah,” I admit, biting my bottom lip.
“What is it?” he asks, taking a step forward.
“I… I think you know,” I answer, looking up at him and meeting his eyes.
I can’t say it. I’m not brave enough.
