Page 25 of Let Me Protect You

If there was a green sign to move forward and try to kiss her, this is it. Just do it! The little devil on my shoulder screams. As if she thinks better of it, she takes a step back. I shake my head. I have to stay focused and make sure she’s safe. Even more so now that I took on a second person to protect.

After the threat is gone, there’s still no future for us, so I need to keep my distance.

Her dream was always to leave. We had stayed awake on the phone for hours every night, and she’d talk about going to the big city to become something more. If she stays here in Granite Falls because of me, I really would hold her back like Serenity said.

Harmony was never meant to be a prisoner in a small town. She’s meant to go out in the world and shine.

Chapter 13

Harmony

Two weeks crawled by as Elias and I tried our best to avoid each other. The only time I saw him was when I checked in on his wound, but it’s fully healed now with only a puckering of skin where a scar is formed. There’s no more animosity between us but anytime I’m near him, it’s like I’m being pulled toward him, and I can’t resist it. I want to unravel the new Elias while finding the pieces of the old him, too.

I groan out a loud sigh. This is exactly why I have to stay away from him.

Staring up at the ceiling, I find different shapes as if I’m looking at clouds. So far, over the weeks I’ve spent locked up in here, I’ve found a cow, a few different stars, and something that looked vaguely similar to Santa.

I roll over and face the door. I can’t help but wonder if Elias is out there or if he’s hiding, too. Or maybe I don’t affect him as much as he does me? No, that’s not possible. I swear he almost kissed me.

My phone vibrates, and my entire body tenses like it’s preparing to either fight or flee. Even though I’ve heard nothing from The Mastermind, who I now refer to as who is behind the texts, they’re still out there.

I push into a seated position and grab my phone. Turning on the screen, I heave out a sigh of relief when I see his name blink up at me.

Elias

Are you hungry?

Harmony

Can you hear my stomach from your side of the house?

Elias

I went out in the freezing winter air to use the grill because you shook the entire house with how loud your stomach growled.

I’m about to type back a message but instead decide to go out to the kitchen and find out why he thought grilling was the best option in the dead of winter. As I open my bedroom door, I’m hit with a wall of scents. I can’t place all of it, but I definitely detect spicy peppers. I inhale again. Did he make carne asada and fresh salsa? Drool leaks out of my mouth as I sniff my way to the scent.

Until now, we’ve had simple food, mostly due to his injury. It never occurred to me he knew how to really cook.

I stop in the entryway of the kitchen. The table is already set for two people. His back is to me as I wander closer. I was right. There is fresh salsa. He shifts, and when his black sweater pulls against the muscles in his arms, I can’t help but remember how they felt wrapped around me—so strong and steady. That definition definitely wasn’t there before I left for New York.

He cranes his neck to look at me over his shoulder. “Are you going to stand there and ogle me all day or come in here and try some of my food?”

I jump and look away. My cheeks burn so much I’m probably redder than a fire truck. “I wasn’t ogling.”

“Just admiring my food then?”

I shrug and chance a glance at him. His back is turned to me again as he arranges food on a big platter.

“Well, I didn’t realize Vicki taught you some of her recipes. Why have you been making me sandwiches and pasta with jarred sauce if you know how to make the good stuff?”

“I’ve been busy on conference calls with Sully.” He picks up the food and brings it to the table. “I can teach you how to cook Mexican food if you want me to.”

My heart skips. If he shows me how to make it, that would mean more time together. Can I handle that?

Playing with the hem of my shirt, I decide. “Yes, I’d like that.”

He nods and brings the salsa to the table while I stand there like an idiot. I lower myself into one of the chairs.