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I caught myself before I rolled my eyes. “I’m not falling for my bodyguard,” I muttered, irritated with the idea. I was in a life-and-death situation, not shopping for a relationship. Plus, Donovan would never allow it, so even if I was catching feelings for Zayne … I shook my head, dismissing the idea. He was gorgeous, but more than that, kind. Zayne treated me differently than any guy I had spent time with since …forever. More than anything, I felt that Zayne actually cared about and respected me as a person. My thoughts drifted back to the first day we met.What if it did, Giselle? What if you found a passion that set your soul on fire again, something to live for?No one had ever viewed me as worthy of having a passion unless it made them money—except for Zayne.
Irritated that the bodyguard was breaking down my walls in the short time he’d been around, that I actually looked forward to seeing him, I squared my shoulders and refused to give in. There was no way that Zayne would want a used woman like me.
The sound of the doorbell pulled me away from my thoughts, and I tossed my makeup in the drawer.
I entered my bedroom just as the door flew open, startling me. I scurried backward and landed flat on my ass. Donovan chuckled, probably getting off on the idea that he’d scared me. The son of a bitch thrived on my fear in any form he could get it.
My brow arched as Zayne slipped past Donovan and approached me. “Are you okay?”
His deep voice did funny things to my insides. No one had asked me if I was all right in a long time.
Zayne held his hand out, and I took it, the warmth of his touch mesmerizing me. Glancing at Donovan, I noticed him assessing our interaction.Fucking asshole.
“I’m fine, thank you.”
He pulled me into a standing position, his green eyes flickering with concern.
My heart skipped a beat as I witnessed the single sign of emotion from him. Even though he cared, it would take more time to earn my trust.
“I’m leaving for the office, Giselle. I’ll see you tonight.” Donovan strutted through the room, grabbed my chin, and kissed me on the mouth. Then he whispered, “Be a good girl … or else.” He nodded at Zayne before he left.
Horrified at Donovan’s display of ownership, I glanced at Zayne, but his stoic expression had slipped back into place and cloaked what he may have thought. My nostrils flared, anger laced with bitterness pulsing through my veins. I wouldn’t be in this damned predicament if Zayne had let me die.
“I need you to take me shopping today.” My tone was dismissive as I gathered my Hermes handbag and phone from the top of my dresser.
“Sure.”
I rolled my eyes at his short answer, then marched past him and into the hall. My brows arched, and I glanced over my shoulder, wondering why he was just standing there. “Any day, bodyguard.” I hurried down the first half of the stairs, muttering under my breath about how such a gorgeous man could be so irritating. A yelp escaped me as pain shot through my hip, and I grasped the railing to keep myself from spilling down the rest of the steps.
With a quick move, Zayne grabbed my waist and steadied me with his arm while I found my footing.
“Giselle, you’re not okay. Talk to me. Are you still sick?” Zayne quietly asked.
“I’m fine,” I gritted out, attempting to manage the lingering pain.
“Don’t waste my time lying to me. It won’t work.” Zayne released me but stood on the same stair. “Have you eaten?”
My head snapped up. “You’re not my babysitter, Zayne. Leave it alone.”
His forehead creased with my demand. “All I asked was if you’d had some food.”
Zayne’s green eyes locked on mine, and I realized he wasn’t going to back down.
“No.” Zayne continued to help me while I grasped the handrail and continued my descent of the stairs. Before I could reach the front door, Zayne opened it, then escorted me to his Mercedes. Although he waited near the front passenger’s side of the car, gripping the handle, I huffed before I opened my own and climbed into the backseat.
Once settled, he slipped on his sunglasses, then glanced at me through the rearview mirror. “You can talk to me, Giselle. I’m not the enemy.”
What the actual fuck was happening? I leaned forward in my seat and glared at him. “Don’t be stupid. Why would you think anything was wrong?” I held up my finger and placed it over my lips, hoping he would understand to shut up. “Take me to the mall downtown.” My tone was bordering on rude, but Zayne couldn’t say another word, or he would get us both killed.
Silence filled the space over the next twenty minutes, and the fight between my anger at where Zayne’s actions had left me and the flicker of hope that maybe he wasn’t the enemy after all took me on a wild rollercoaster ride. It was time to find out where his loyalties lay.
He clearly hadn’t said anything about me asking him to kill Donovan. I wouldn’t be walking out of the house today if he had. Regardless of how I felt about Zayne, he might just be my ticket to a new life, but … a sheen of sweat coated my palms, and I wiped them on my shorts. Donovan would have scolded me for acting like a child by rubbing my palms on my clothes, but he wasn’t here.
Zayne parked the car at a meter on a downtown street, and I hopped out before he did. Once I was a few vehicles away from him, I stopped and rummaged through my purse for a piece of paper and pen. Scribbling furiously, I felt Zayne’s presence behind me. I spun around and grabbed his wrist, practically dragging him with me. After we were at the end of the row, I nervously scanned the area, my stomach dipping to my toes. My hand visibly trembled as I deposited the note in his palm.
Fuck, what am I thinking?We were out in the open, and anyone could have seen what I’d just done.
Panic ripped through me as I watched him read the note. If he said a word to Donovan …
