Chapter 21
21
H is girl was flagging.
And yeah, he was calling her his girl in his head.
This was a bad, stupid, dumb idea.
And yet, the longer he spent with her, the more he wanted her.
Despite all the issues. Despite the fact that he could get fired. Despite her brother’s threats.
All he wanted was her.
The two biggest issues were Cate and her needs. Pushing forward while not frightening her away.
And his need to ensure her security. Her protection. It was gnawing away at him. Insistent.
Protect.
Protect.
There was a reason he’d become a bodyguard after leaving the Special Forces and why being a Dominant spoke to him. Taking care of others, ensuring their protection was a drug to him. But it was one he could easily overdose on. Ethan knew he could go too far. His need to keep someone safe often led to him being blinded to other things.
That’s why his last girlfriend had left him. She’d told him that he smothered her. That she felt like her privacy was being constantly invaded and that she couldn’t breathe.
That she needed space.
And he hadn’t felt anything for her like he already felt for Cate after just three weeks.
So, he had to be careful to keep himself from going too far.
Although Cate was very different from Mimi, who had been outgoing and adventurous.
Kind of reckless in his opinion. Which is what had led to most of their arguments.
You don’t live here. If you get involved and leave her . . . then that could hurt both of you.
But especially her.
And that was something he never wanted to do.
Fuck.
For now, he’d be her friend. And he’d try to figure out whether these feelings for her were something he could get under control.
Or if they were something he had to act on.
Then, he’d let the rest sort itself out.
And if his feelings grew?
Well . . . he might need to get used to the traffic, people, and congestion in LA.
Fuck. Him.
The meeting was thankfully finished. He had waited outside, and now Cate and Oliver were talking quietly in the foyer.
Turning toward him, she walked over and Oliver followed.
“Hey, Ethan.” Oliver smiled cheerfully.
“Oliver.” He nodded to him.
“You know, I would have picked you up, Cate. Ethan didn’t have to come all the way in here with you.”
“Actually, I do,” Ethan told him. “I’m her bodyguard.”
“Oh, sure. But I’m happy to help. I could even come stay at the house if you need me to,” Oliver said to Cate.
“I’m not sure why that would be necessary,” she said.
“But thanks for the offer,” Ethan added to soften the blow.
“Yes. Thank you,” she said, obviously taking a cue from him.
Oliver nodded stiffly. “I’ll be going, then.”
She glanced over at Ethan as Oliver left. “Is he upset with me? I’m not sure why he’d offer to come and stay.”
“Perhaps he thought you might be more comfortable with him there.”
“Oh. Yes. I should apologize again.”
“You can call him later,” Ethan told her as they walked to the elevator and climbed in. “Right now, I’m going to take you for something to eat.”
The doors opened into the garage and he escorted her to the car.
“To eat?” she asked.
“Yes, you need to eat, so I’m taking you out.”
“Out?” She gave him an alarmed look as he opened her door. “Eat out? I don’t usually like to eat out.”
“Then we’ll eat in. Trust me?” He held his breath. He needed her to trust him.
She eyed him for a long moment. “I suppose I could try that.”
“Good girl.”