Chapter 3
Will
Lily wears her feelings like a second skin. Since she came out and pointed her umbrella at me, I’ve seen her go from surprised, to confused, to almost laughing, to surprised again. I can’t wait to get a real smile out of her.
Every part of her body tells me how she’s feeling in real time. I think I could read her even if it wasn’t my job to read people. We have a connection, something I’ve never felt so immediately with anyone else before. Her wide hazel eyes, the dip of her perfect brows, her fierce grip on the umbrella, all of these details tell me that she’s scared, unsure of what to do next.
Her flushed cheeks and her trembling lips point to fear and it only stirs my protective instinct more. I’m used to confrontation, used to staring down opponents twice my size. She’s different. She’s special.
“What do you mean someone is following me. Not just you?” The question is weak, like she knows she doesn’t really have to ask it and that only makes my heart break more for her. She needs someone to protect her. And that someone is going to be me.
“I’ve been following you for a few days because I noticed your nerves on the way home the other night, that you kept looking over your shoulder. Me following you should freak you out, I understand that, but you have to believe that I am looking out for you.” I know I sound a little insane, but I’m desperate for her to believe me, to find any way to spend more time with her.
“So do you know who has been following me, leaving me this little gifts?” she asks and something flashes across her face—relief? No, something darker. Dread. Whoever sent those flowers, she didn’t want them. Didn’t like the idea of them. And now that she knows it wasn’t me, the reality sinks in that someone else is watching her. I’ll find the man following her and I'll make sure he vanishes from the surface of this earth. The sad and scared expression on her face breaks something deep inside me.
She opens her mouth to say something but then she closes it immediately.
I want to pull her in my arms and tell her it’s going to be okay but I’m not sure if I should. So for now, I take a step back.
“If I make you uncomfortable, I can leave and make sure you never see me again,” I say and flinch internally at the thought of never having to see her again.
But if it’ll make her feel better, I’ll keep my word.
“But, I’d rather not leave your side till I find the man following you and figure out his intention,” I add and fold my arms across my chest.
Her gaze immediately shifts to my forearms, brushing over the muscles, then to my mouth. She quickly looks away, cheeks coloring. Her reaction twists something warm inside my chest. She’s not entirely terrified of me—she’s noticing me in other ways, too.
“Why would you do that?”
“Because I want to protect you.”
“And why would you do that ?”
Because you’re an ethereal being from heaven and you should be protected at all costs.
“Because I can and I want to.”
Her breathing picks up, the tip of the umbrella wavering. She just looks at me and her eyes pull me deeper into her essence.
I want to watch her forever and protect her till my last breath.
“Okay,” she says skeptically, “why should I trust you? Someone who has also admitted to stalking me.” She has a glimmer in her eye that makes me want to play with her, but I also need her to know the truth.
“I was in the Marines for almost ten years, and for the last few years I’ve been working as a… mercenary of sorts, protecting people, taking care of their problems as they need. Trust me, honey, I can protect you and find out who this freak following you is.”
She glares, umbrella still in hand, though her grip loosens. “This…this is insane.”
“It doesn’t have to be,” I reply, keeping it simple. “You need protection, and I’m qualified to handle it.”
She groans, lowering the umbrella at last. Her gaze roams over my shoulders, the lines of my chest under my jacket, then snaps back to my face. I notice that lingering look. A small, involuntary thrill sparks in me, aware of her attraction even if she’s angry.
She blows out a breath. “So, if I permit you, you’ll stay here and protect me?”
“Yes.”
A moment passes. She glances inside her house then back at me. She pulls her full lips between her teeth as she weighs her options, and I have to force myself to look away.
Then her shoulders sag and even before she says it, I know I’ve pushed through her defenses a little. “Fine. But no weird stuff.”
“I won’t do anything that’ll make you uncomfortable.”
“Following me around for two days, showing up at my door, and insisting on being my bodyguard is a bad first step at ensuring my comfort, but okay,” she says. Her eyes flick to my mouth again, and she flushes. “You’re weird.”
That makes me smile a fraction and her gaze lands in the small dimple I have on my left cheek. She shakes her head furiously and then steps back into her house.
“Are you… going to just stay out here?”
“Yes.”
“Great,” she mutters, and she shuts the door. I hear her locks click three times.
That’s good.
I’ll ask if I can install a better lock there tomorrow.
I look around the stoop, with my arms folded across my chest, and wonder about the man who has been following her and although I’m good enough to know he’s not lurking outside right now, I can’t help but feel a rush at the thought of catching him here.
I take a seat on the stoop, continuing to survey the area and eventually pulling out my phone to continue reading my book on “healing my inner-child.” I’ve been trying to address my draw to violence for a while, and books like this help center me while allowing me to remain alert to the sounds around me.
I’m not sure how much time passes before I hear the door creak open and Lily comes to sit down beside me, passing me a cup of coffee. She’s changed into a sweat set and her wet hair is pulled back into a low bun, her face looks clean and freshly moisturized. Seeing her so natural, so relaxed, it only makes me want her more.
“Thank you,” I say, clutching my hands around the mug. It’s a relatively warm night, but the cup of coffee will help me on my stakeout.
“You’re welcome,” she says, giving me a soft smile that I am desperate to see more of. “Seen anything yet?”
“Nothing yet. Maybe I’m deterring him,” I say, pulling a sip from the mug. The brew is rich and the splash of cream she put in gives it just enough lightness. It’s exactly how I would have made the cup myself and that fact shakes me a bit. How does this woman I’ve just met already know me so well?
She scoffs lightly at my response. “How many stalkers have you stopped in your… line of work?” she asks, meeting my gaze. The second the brown-green depths of her eyes look at me, I know I’m completely gone for this soft woman who is so confident on stage. I’m grateful I followed her, glad for the chance to get to know her.
“A few,” I say. “Although, none quite like this. None for someone I felt drawn to.” I hold her gaze and notice the slight flush on her cheeks.
“How can you be drawn to me? You’ve only seen me perform a few times, we’ve never even had a real conversation.”
“Let’s have one now. Tell me how you got into acting,” I say, and she tilts her head like she’s surprised I want to know more about her.
“I was involved with the children’s theater a lot when I was a kid. Both my parents worked and I needed something to keep me busy during the days, so I joined the production of Annie, just as a background actor and I loved it. I loved learning to sing and dance, seeing how the older kids memorized their lines. I did a play with them every summer until I went to drama school, and now here I am, doing off-Broadway work. It’s not where I want to be, but it’s a steppingstone,” she finished and looks a bit surprised at how much she told me. I love that about her, how she is so reserved offstage and like a firecracker when she’s performing.
“Where do you want to be?” I ask, taking another sip of my coffee.
“Broadway, or the movies,” she says, a gleam of wonder in her eye.
“You’ll make it there,” I say, giving her a smile, and she beams back at me.
“Thank you,” she says, and then she surprises me by leaning on my shoulder. “And thank you for looking out for me, I’ve been so worried no one would believe me. And then you came out of nowhere and stepped up. I… I really appreciate it,” she says, squeezing my arm before sitting back up.
“I’m happy to watch out for you, honey,” I say, pulling her into my side. I can’t help but notice she fits there perfectly and I am reluctant to let her go.
“I need to get to bed,” she says after a moment, “are you planning on staying out here all night?”
“I am.”
“You can stake out from inside, there’s a couch by the front window. I don’t want you to freeze out here.”
I consider declining her offer, but I’m desperate to be as close to her as I can be and my watch won’t be of lower quality just because I’m inside.
“Okay,” I say, rising and reaching for her hand. She entwines her fingers with mine before leading me back inside the house. I watch her lock the door, making sure both deadbolts are secure. She turns and walks right into me.
“Oh my god! I didn’t realize you were standing so close,” she says with a laugh, but I just pull her closer to me. Her laughter immediately subsides when I reach up an arm and stroke a lock of her hair behind her ear.
“You could stand closer,” I say. I don’t know where this side of me is coming from. I’ve been with plenty of women, but I’ve never felt a need like this, a desire for connection and closeness with someone like this. Something about Lily just screams to me.
She surprises me and leans in, eyes peering up to meet mine once again. She’s so much shorter than me and I can’t help but lean forward, closer to her lips.
“I’ve never felt like this before,” Lily says. “I’ve never felt this comfortable with a man before, especially so quickly after meeting. I don’t know why but I—I trust you,” she whispers.
“I feel the same.” Before either of us can say another word, I lean closer and press my lips to hers, the softness of her kiss is exactly what I need.
I pull back after a moment, knowing that if we continue, I won’t be able to stop.
“Wow,” Lily says when we break apart, raising a hand to her freshly kissed lips. I chuckle before spinning her around and telling her to get to bed, she mentioned that she has early rehearsal tomorrow and I don’t want her to go in exhausted. She tells me that there’s stuff in the fridge if I get hungry and pulls out some extra blankets. She looks at me with a smile and presses a shy kiss to my lips and running upstairs.
I settle on the couch, peering out the window and letting my thoughts wander.
I’m in deep. I know it. But now that I’ve gotten this close, there’s no chance I’ll let her face the danger alone. I might have come to this town on a different mission, but Lily has become my mission now. And I won’t fail her.
I can’t fail her.