Page 29 of Under His Guard

Otherwise, I would realize how damn near I am to spilling way too many secrets at her feet. No chick wants that kind of baggage this fast, even if we aren’t dating.

The back of my mind itches with the imaginary sounds of gunfire, and I really need a fucking drink right now.

“Interrupting my routine puts a huge damper on my skills. I’m a creature of habit. I need stability.”

“I hate to tell you this, doc, but stability is out the fucking window right now. If it’s not me, you’re really going to be stuck at a hotel or something.”

Clara curses, throwing her arms up as the pacing starts again.

“What in the absolute fuck is my life right now? I didn’t do anything to them. Can’t they just arrest the guy? I told them he was the same person from the hospital.”

I rake a hand through my hair. “I’m no lawyer like Cam, but I’ve listened to the guy go on about this kind of stuff. From my understanding, no, it’s not enough. They’ll look into it, but witness accounts are considered the most unreliable evidence there is.”

“Are you kidding me?” Clara frowns as she stops with her hands on her hips.

“I wish I was, babe.”

She eyes me. “Do not call me that.”

I hold up my hands again. “Sorry. No offense meant.”

Clara stalks off, sitting on the curb outside the antique store, the two squad cars parked just to her right. I can’t help but sag as I look at her.

It’s damn true that she didn’t sign up for this bullshit, and unfair seems like an inadequate word to describe the situation.

I go sit down next to her.

“Hey.” I nudge her with my shoulder. “I want to help, okay? These assholes fucked with my family. I don’t want to see things with you get anywhere near as serious as what happened at that warehouse.”

“What did happen at the warehouse?” She looks over at me, resting her head on her folded arms where they’re perched on her knees.

“That’s a long story, doc. Not sure this is a great place to tell it.”

She looks back down at the street, her chin resting on her forearms.

“This sucks, you know. I have a very promising career at the hospital, and it’s all I’ve ever worked to achieve for years.”

I can see the distance of memory cross over her eyes.

“I didn’t have a great upbringing. This job, being a surgeon, is everything to me, and it feels like it’s being ripped away in the blink of an eye.”

My voice gets low, and I think back to dear old Dad and the raging shithead he was.

“Don’t let them.” Clara looks over again. “Don’t let them ruin it for you. Get safe, help Cam and the cops catch them, and let’s get them locked up where they can’t do this to anyone else.”

She narrows her eyes at me.

“By living with you? Do I have that right?”

I cock a nonchalant grin, shrugging. “It’s not the worst idea I’ve come up with.”

She laughs sarcastically. “Oh really, and what would that be?”

“Tequila shots right after Jell-O.” I exaggeratedly grimace. “I puked a really horrible green color almost instantly.”

I get her to truly laugh at that one, and damn, the sound of it is like angels singing while they’re fucked by the devil.

Way too damn sexy for her own good.

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