Chapter 8
[Holy crap. The hero just roasted the comments. That was actually epic.]
[Ahhhh! That confession just hit me right in the chest. Say yes, Blair. SAY YES.]
[The comments lost. And they lost hard. Real feelings beat fake destiny. Every single time.]
I looked at Reid’s serious face, heard his real words, and cried even harder but they were happy tears.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, buried my face in the crook of his shoulder, and choked out, “I trust you, Reid. I trust you.”
Reid smiled. His arms tightened around me, and he murmured against my ear, “Good girl.”
Back in my room, Reid had the staff bring clean clothes and hot water. Then he went to the kitchen himself and made me ginger tea with honey
He watched me drink every last drop before he started drying my hair. His warm palm moving over my scalp made me feel safer than anything.
“Hey, Reid, where’s my dad?” I suddenly remembered, my chest tightening again. “The comments said he’d lose everything investing in that deal. I’ve been so worried…”
“Silly girl. You think I’d let anything happen to him?”
Reid paused in drying my hair, a smile in his eyes.
“I knew that investment was a trap. Someone set it up. Before your dad could sign, I had my people dig up all the dirt. Not only did we block their play, we turned it around and made a killing. Your dad’s company didn’t go under. It’s doing better than ever.”
“The house getting trashed, the bankruptcy rumors, I arranged all of that.”
He saw my shocked expression and explained gently, “I could see how much those comments were eating you up. You weren’t sleeping, you weren’t eating, you kept pushing me away. So I set this up to force Tessa to show her real face. And to prove to you that no plot has power over us. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you or your dad.”
“He’s at the office right now, wrapping up the new deals. Everything’s fine. He’ll be home soon.”
I stared at Reid, my heart overflowing.
Chapter 8
StoReel
88.89%
He’d already taken care of everything.
He’d been quietly protecting me and my dad the whole time, clearing every obstacle, holding every one of my fears in his hands.
The endings I thought were set in stone, he’d rewritten them all, without me even knowing.
The aloofness I’d mistaken for cluelessness? It was just his gentle, hidden crush.
Reid finished drying my hair, then pulled me into his arms, his chin resting on top of my head. His voice was soft and a little guilty.
“Blair, I’m so sorry. Those comments put you through all of that. Made you worry for months. Almost got you killed.”
“I’ve liked you from the very beginning. The second you pointed at me in that agency and said, “I want him as my bodyguard‘? My heart was gone. Just like that.”
“I watched you come up with all those silly little schemes to get my attention. Those fake punishments. And I acted like I didn’t notice. Because I wanted to see what cute thing you’d try next. I wanted to wait until you figured out your own feelings. I just wanted to stay by your side. Be your bodyguard.”
“I thought I could keep you safe. But I never expected those comments to scare you like that. To make you think I loved someone else.”
felt like drowning.
He cupped my face in his hands and looked down at me, his eyes so full of love it
“Blair, I’ve loved you for a really, really long time. Be my girlfriend. I’ll be your bodyguard for life. And I’ll be the man who loves you for life. I’ll spoil you forever. I’ll never let anyone make you sad again.”
[Say yes! Say yes now!]
[This mutual pining is too sweet. The comments owe Blair an apology.]
[Lock them in a room. I’ll swallow the key.]
