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Vaughn and I stood near the back, and I shoved my hands in my pockets, watching. Giselle’s eyes were puffy, and her nose was a little red from crying. I resisted the urge to gather her in my arms and kiss her until she forgot about the hell she lived in. I wanted to show her what love was about. I wanted to make her laugh and smile. She had become my entire world, and I wanted to love and take care of her with every fiber of my being.
Vaughn glanced over at me. “Does Giselle know that you’ve got it bad for her?”
And there it was, the shoe just dropped.
I replied with my silence.
“Dude, good luck hiding that from Pierce. You’ve got that look in your eyes.” He leaned against the wall and crossed his ankles.
“Like you did with Claire.” I arched a brow at him.
“Probably. And you know how that shit went down. In my opinion, Pierce and Sutton already suspect there is something going on with you two, or Pierce wouldn’t have said the crap he did to you.” Vaughn looked at the ladies, his lips pressing into a thin line.
“She’s beautiful, smart, a famous dancer, and she needs you. Just make sure that your feelings aren’t wrapped up in your past and fucking with your future. One wrong move on your part, and you’ll shatter her beyond repair.”
“Shit. I’m not sure what I’m going to do. I would never intentionally hurt her. I knew there was something special about her when I saved her life at the party, but I never bargained for this. I think I’m in too deep already.”
“I remember when Pierce confronted me and pulled me off Claire’s case, said my emotions were blurring my perspective. Part of that I agree with, but man ... when your heart is in the mix, I think it sharpens your senses. The drive to protect is intense as hell. Go with that, then check your shit around Pierce. From the way Giselle keeps looking over at you, she’s into you as well.”
“Are you going to rat me out to the bosses?” I knew better than to ask that question. I’d kept Vaughn and Claire’s secret for a while. I only needed him to keep mine for the week.
“Don’t bust my balls. You know me better than that, Z-man. Never. That’s not my pile of shit to step in.” The corner of his mouth kicked up.
I cracked a slight grin. “Thanks. I would say that I owe you one, but I don’t.”
“You did right by me and shut your fucking yap about Claire, but we’re family, man. We don’t always like each other’s decisions, but we always watch each other’s backs.” Vaughn gave me a slight nod.
“Agreed.”
For the next half hour, I steeled my feelings for the beautiful woman in front of me, wondering how in the fuck I was going to handle her with care. Worse than that, what if I hurt her by accident? Vaughn was right. She was fragile, and I wasn’t sure how to deal with that.
33
Giselle
Zayne had been quiet for the rest of the evening. I wanted desperately to ask him if his feelings for me had changed, but I was pretty sure they had from how he was behaving.
We returned to Donovan’s house in time for dinner, but Zayne declined to eat. I wasn’t hungry either. When I thought about talking to my parents, nausea churned in my belly, so I asked Gretta to prepare us each a plate for later.
Marty’s hawk-like eyes watched both of us, but I didn’t give a shit. I would be rid of him and Donovan soon. Plus, my family would be protected once and for all.
Hurrying to my bedroom, I flopped on my bed like a teenager with a broken heart. Staring at the ceiling, I attempted to rummage up the courage to talk to Zayne, but I was too scared to hear the words.
I glanced at him as he sat in the chair. He folded his hands in his lap and pinned me with an intense look.
“We have to stop whatever is happening between us,” he said quietly.
I shot up off the bed, then partially closed the door just enough to block the cameras in the hall from having full access to my room. Walking over to him, I leaned down, my mouth near his ear. “Do you have your scanner to see if there are listening or recording devices?” I whispered.
Without a word, he removed the device from his pocket and scanned the area. I hoped like hell my personal space wasn’t bugged because I had to ask Zayne why he no longer wanted me. Somehow, if I heard him say it, not being with him would be easier. I watched him as he searched the area, including the closet and bathroom.
“It’s clean.” Zayne sat in the chair again and stretched his long legs in front of him.
“Why? Why did you say we had to stop whatever this is?” I asked, my voice low as I folded my arms over my chest in an attempt to protect my already broken heart.
“It’s not a good idea. My boss suspects that I have feelings for you, and Vaughn confronted me while we were at his house.”
“Okay, so what’s the problem?”
