Guarded from Sabotage (Blade and Arrow Security Bravo Team #2)

Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

SARAH

I shouldn’t let Dante’s rejection bother me this much.

Considering everything else going on, my humiliation should be low on the list. Unfortunately, my bruised heart doesn’t agree.

Every time I think about last night, which has been approximately a thousand times since I got back to the apartment, all I want to do is hide. I want to dive under the covers and never come out.

I keep seeing Dante standing in front of me, the moon casting shadows on his strong features, his gaze intense and filled with what I thought was desire as he looked at me. I keep remembering how his hand felt wrapped around mine, how everything felt so natural, and the way my breath would catch whenever he touched me.

How did I get it so wrong?

Embarrassment and disappointment keep coming at me in waves; as soon as one fades, the other resurges.

I really thought he liked me. But it’s clear my fears were real, and Dante was just being nice. Telling me I looked beautiful and giving me that wonderful present…

Augh .

After spending the entire night beating myself up about it— why did I make the first move? Why pick last night of all times to be assertive? —I thought about calling Hanna. But then I remembered she’s in Vermont this week, spending some time visiting with one of Finn’s old teammates. I wasn’t going to interrupt her trip with my sob story about how the guy I like rejected me.

She wouldn’t have complained, even if I called before the sun came up; when it became patently obvious I wasn’t going to get any sleep. But I wanted her to enjoy her time with Finn and his friend, not have another reason to worry about me.

Instead, I dragged myself out of bed, took a shower, texted my parents a cheery everything’s great message, made some coffee, and contemplated cooking something for breakfast before my initiative disappeared.

Now I’m flopped on the couch, staring blankly at the Netflix menu and feeling sorry for myself, which is something I’ve been trying to avoid since this whole mess with the identity theft started.

Just a few hours. I’ll give myself this morning to wallow in misery, and then I’ll get my act together. Look for some part-time work that I can do remotely. Maybe go for a jog around the property. And practice my everything is fine and last night never happened face so when I inevitably run into Dante, he won’t have to feel uncomfortable around me.

But when there’s a knock at the front door, my hopelessly stubborn heart gives a little leap.

Maybe it’s Dante coming to talk.

Maybe he was just surprised last night, and he really did want to kiss me.

Except.

When I open the app Matt installed on my phone and pull up the video from the camera mounted outside the door, my heart drops.

It’s not Dante. It’s Jade grinning up at the camera, looking incredibly bright-eyed and chipper after what I know was a long night of celebrating. I could hear the music and laughter floating across the yard until well past two A.M., and of course, I wondered if Dante had gone back out there to spend more time with his friends.

As much as I’d like to keep hibernating, I’m a guest at Blade and Arrow, and really shouldn’t be ignoring one of the people who lives here. And based on the time I’ve spent with Jade, not only is she a lovely person, but she also did me a huge favor by going over to my apartment yesterday morning with Niall to pack up some of my belongings.

Before they went, I tried to argue I could do it myself. But Dante pulled me aside and said in that gentle way he has, “If you really want to go, Sarah, we won’t stop you. But I’m worried it’ll upset you. Trigger some bad memories. We’ll get it all cleaned up and then you can go over there. Does that sound alright?”

He looked so sweet and concerned, of course I agreed. Then he rubbed my shoulder and said everything was going to be okay and he distracted me from thinking about my cozy apartment all trashed by humming the chorus to The Wind Beneath My Wings .

Ugh. Stop thinking about how great Dante is.

I shove aside thoughts of protective, kind, and handsome Dante as I haul myself off the couch and head over to the door. As I fumble with the three different complicated locks, I call through the door, “Hang on, I’m just trying to get it open!”

Jade’s laugh comes across the video feed. “No worries. It still takes me ages to unlock all of them and I’ve lived here for months.”

When I finally get the door open, I step back to let Jade inside. Forcing a cheerful tone, I say, “Thanks for having me at your party last night. I really enjoyed it.”

She follows me into the apartment, shutting the door behind her. As her gaze sweeps around the living room, I inwardly cringe at the pile of blankets piled on the couch and the tissue box on the coffee table with several crumpled tissues around it—I didn’t cry, exactly, but a few self-pitying tears may have squeezed out.

“Sorry. It’s kind of a mess,” I start.

“It’s fine.” Jade gives me a kind smile. “First off, you just moved in here. And it’s not a mess at all.” She glances at the TV. “It looks like you were about to watch a movie. Did I interrupt?”

“No, I couldn’t find something to watch.” Sinking down on the couch, I shove the mountain of blankets aside and gesture for her to take a seat.

“Oh, I know. I feel like the more choices there are, the harder it is to pick.” After a moment, she adds, “Dante said you love tearjerkers. And romances.” Her lips quirk. “In fact, I heard you got him to watch Beaches .”

My stomach squinches into a little ball. But I force a smile. “Yes. It was really nice of him to keep me company while I watched it.”

Jade’s expression slides into something more serious. “Dante is one of the nicest guys I know. But…”

“But?”

After another pause, Jade says, “I’ve known Niall since I was eighteen. And I was half in love with him from the start. I never knew he felt the same, not until recently. He thought he was doing the right thing, keeping me at a distance while he was active duty. He thought I’d worry more, or that he’d hold me back from finding a man who could be around all the time.”

Her features soften with affection. “Men can be so clueless sometimes. I never stopped worrying about him. And I never found a man who even came close to Niall.”

“But it all worked out.”

“It did.” Jade smiles. “And while part of me wishes we’d gotten together a long time ago, I think everything happened as it was meant to.”

I have a sneaking suspicion where she’s going with this, and maybe Jade got an idea from seeing Dante and I together at the party, but she’s missing a huge part of the equation—the moment when I kissed Dante and he pulled away.

“Well.” Her tone pitches up. “I really just came by to see how you’re doing. And to invite you over tonight, if you’re up for it. Niall is leaving today for a security job in Houston, and he’s going to be gone for a few days. I was thinking we could drink wine, get a bunch of cheese and chocolate, and watch a movie or two.”

Part of me wants to keep hiding and nursing my wounds. But that’s the exact opposite of what I’d suggest to any of my clients, and I know darn well that sitting home moping isn’t a good idea. So I say, “That sounds nice. I can make something to bring over. Little taquitos? Mini tacos? Or if you want dessert, I can make cookies or brownies.”

“Those all sound great,” she replies. “Anything you bring is fine. Maybe seven-ish?”

As my schedule is now completely open, I nod. “That sounds?—”

Another knock sounds at the door.

This time, I don’t let myself hope.

It could be Erik, who offered to do yoga with me, telling me last night that it really helps with his stress.

It could be Niall, wanting to spend time with Jade before he has to go out of town on business.

But when I look at my phone, this time it’s the one person I’m simultaneously hoping and dreading to see.

His rumbly voice comes through the feed. “Sarah? Are you… I hope I’m not waking you up. But I was hoping I could come in?”

My chest constricts. Now I’m going to have to figure out a way to smooth things over, to pass off my failed kiss as… what? Being tipsy after having only two beers all night? Getting carried away in the moment? Can I pretend it never happened at all?

Jade nearly leaps from the couch and sprints towards the door, calling over her shoulder, “I should be going. Niall’s leaving in a couple of hours and I want to spend some quality time with him first. I’ll see you this evening.”

And before I can reply, she yanks open the door—no complicated locks to undo this time—and says, “Hi, Dante!”

He blinks at her, then glances over her shoulder at me. “Sorry. I didn’t realize… I can come back later.”

“No need.” Jade beams at him. “I’m just leaving.”

And then she darts out the door, leaving Dante in the doorway looking at me.

“If you’re busy,” he says, “I can come back.”

He runs a hand through his hair, tousling the messy waves and making him look even more handsome and boyish than before. But there’s a different demeanor about him than usual. His shoulders are slumped and there’s an uncertain expression on his face, his gaze dark and worried as he waits for my answer.

“No, I’m not busy.” I wave for him to come inside. “Come in.”

He heads to the couch, taking a seat at the opposite side from me. His forehead creases and his lips press into a narrow line.

Crap. What should I say? Obviously, he’s here to clear the air. To say something about how we need to remain professional and maybe it would be better if he doesn’t spend as much time with me as he used to.

Oh.

Just the thought of it hurts. No more movies with Dante. No more cooking together. No more talking and laughing and teasing each other.

But I’m a grown woman and not a child. I’m the one who initiated the kiss, so I’m the one who should fix things. After a deep breath and exhale, I say, “I’m sorry, Dante. Last night… I shouldn’t?—”

“No, Sarah.” Dante shakes his head quickly. “No. Don’t apologize. If anyone should apologize, it’s me.”

“That doesn’t make any sense. I’m the one?—”

“Sarah.” His brows pull into a deep V. “I… I screwed up. And I’m so sorry.”

“What?” Why is he apologizing? Unless he’s sorry for giving me the present, and spending extra time with me? Does he regret it? Does he think it crossed a professional line?

“I thought I was doing the right thing,” he says, frowning. “I thought… I needed to keep things professional. Friendly.”

Ouch. There’s a weight pressing down on my chest. But a flicker of anger kindles, too. He made me think he enjoyed spending time with me. Made me hope. “So you were just being nice? All the time we spent together, the things we talked about?—”

My throat goes thick as hurt sweeps over me. “I thought it was more. That maybe… we were becoming more than friends. But that was stupid of me. And now I’ve messed things up.”

“Oh, Sarah. No.” Dante moves over to the middle cushion, his gaze fixed on me. “It wasn’t stupid. And you weren’t wrong. You’re not. I’m the one who messed up. Not you.”

“What do you mean?”

“It is more. More than how I feel about a client. More than how I feel about a friend. With you, Sarah… I care about you. A lot. I—” His cheeks go pink. “I think about you all the time.”

My breath catches. “You do?”

He leans forward and takes my hand, but it’s tentative, like he’s waiting to see if I’ll snatch it away. But I don’t. I can’t. Not when it feels so right.

“Yes.” His eyes are like a storm at midnight. “I think about how beautiful you are. How smart. Kind. Sweet. Funny. Brave. Sexy. I feel so much more for you than just friendship. But I had this idea if I let myself give in to it, I’d put you in danger. That my emotions could compromise my focus on keeping you safe.”

“And… now?”

He cradles my hand between his two bigger ones, engulfing it in reassuring warmth. Tiny sizzles of heat radiate up my arms and through my body.

“I kept thinking about it all last night. After you left, I just walked for hours. I thought about the guys I know, how they managed to make it work. That maybe they were more focused because they were protecting someone they cared so much about. And I realized… nothing can make me stop thinking about you.”

“I think about you, too,” I whisper. “All the time. I’ve never felt like this before.”

“Me too.” His gaze burns into mine. “Never. And I don’t want to keep trying to ignore how I feel about you. I can’t. I want to protect you as more than just a bodyguard or a friend. I want?—”

Grimacing, he continues, “Maybe I’m too late. I know I hurt you last night, and I’m so sorry. How I acted before… how could you not think… I really screwed up. And I’ll understand if you don’t want to give me a chance.”

The weight lifts off me, filling me with a fizzy hope. “Everyone makes mistakes, Dante. I know you had good intentions.”

Dante moves even closer, so our legs are touching. His eyes light with the same hope I’m feeling. “Can you forgive me, Sarah? Will you let me make this right?”

“What did you have in mind?”

“Well. I was hoping… instead of just spending time as friends, we could date? Does that sound crazy? Too soon?”

Joy bubbles up. “It’s not too soon. And I think I’d like that.”

He touches my hair, brushing it behind my shoulder, letting his hand trail down my back. “And something else.”

It’s hard to breathe. “What else?”

“Can I have another chance to kiss you? Last night… I wanted to so badly. I haven’t stopped thinking about it. Can we try again?”

Oh.

My heart.

“Yes. We can try again.”

Dante lets out the breath he was holding. “Thank you.”

His big hand cups my cheek, both rough and soft at the same time.

He leans closer, until I can see the flecks of silver and green in his eyes.

As we move towards each other, everything else falls away.

My heart flutters with anticipation.

And then.

We kiss.

His lips cover mine, moving slowly at first—gently caressing and nipping and his tongue lightly teasing.

Then the kiss grows deeper. His tongue plunges inside my mouth, tasting and exploring.

Dante groans low in his throat.

Need coils deep inside me.

His fingers tunnel through my hair. I clutch his biceps— oh, they’re even better to feel than to look at —as I pull myself even closer to him.

The kiss might last for seconds or minutes or hours. Time loses meaning.

When we finally pull apart, we’re both gasping for air. But kissing Dante is better than breathing.

“Sarah,” he murmurs, his gaze dark with emotion. He strokes my cheek, his fingers cool against my flushed cheek. “That was…”

“Amazing.”

A tiny, satisfied smirk lifts the corners of his lips. “It was. Did I make up for last night?”

“Yes.” I snuggle into his chest, notching my head under his chin. “You absolutely did.”