Page 12 of Defending Love
As I stood silently and stared at his brown hair tied into a short ponytail at the nape of his neck, his wide shoulders, and then lower to his trim waist where his white shirt was tucked into his black pants, I realized the truth. I hadn’t exaggerated my recollections. If anything, I’d minimized them. Perhaps it was a survival technique.
To have meticulously recalled a man I never expected to see again—a man like Eli—would be to forever compare every other man to him. To date, I’d yet to meet anyone who came remotely close.
I’d successfully suppressed the memory of our kiss and the fire in his touch—until now.
My breathing deepened, pressing my breasts against the material of my shirt. Darting my tongue to my lips, I recalled the ferocity of his pressing down on mine.
My memories, completely restored and without elaboration, were back with a vengeance, warming my circulation and twisting my core.
Eli turned, his shimmering green eyes scanning from my bare feet up to my wet hair, and a grin tugged at his lips. “Do you feel better?”
Inhaling, I nodded. “I didn’t nap, but the shower was good.”
He stepped from the stool.
It was my turn to scan. Starting with shiny dark shoes, long legs clad in black pants, up to a black belt, I pressed my lips together. His white button-up shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, and his tie and jacket from earlier were missing. The ring on his left hand caught my attention. He’d worn it before, but then it wasn’t anything other than decoration to deter advances so as to keep his attention on the job.
Eli must have followed my gaze. He lifted his hand and spun the gold band. “I didn’t marry if that’s what you’re wondering.”
“None of my business.”
“Neither have you.”
“None of your business.”
“Technically, as your bodyguard, it would be my business.”
I took a few steps closer. “I thought when you left last time, you said you didn’t believe in long-term or repeat assignments.”
His head moved from side to side. “Fuck, Dani. Don’t read more into this than it is. Your father was murdered, and I wanted to be sure you were safe.”
One more step closer and the woodsy scent of his cologne tickled my senses. “I wasn’t safe with Melinda?”
“She couldn’t stay.”
“You don’t trust your fellow bodyguards at Guardian Security?”
Eli came closer still, causing me to lift my chin to maintain eye contact. It was when his palm gently cupped my cheek that I closed my eyes, feeling his touch tingle throughout my already-warmed circulation. When I opened my eyes, he was close enough for me to feel the radiating heat from his hard body. “I never should have kissed you.” His nostrils flared. “Before. It was wrong.”
I swallowed the disappointment I knew was in store and took a step back. “Don’t worry. I’m only a job. You made that clear.”
“Did you tell anyone about the kiss?”
I shook my head.
His green eyes hooded as he peered down at the floor and back up to meet my gaze. “I’m not like that, Dani. I’ve worked for Ben for almost ten years, and I’ve never gotten personal with a client.”
“Never?”
“Not a client.” His nostrils flared. “Just you, and I did what I could to correct it.”
“You left,” I said matter-of-factly.
Eli nodded. “I was a fucking coward.”
My lips quirked. “Then you’re definitely in the wrong profession.”
“I can take on any danger. I’ve faced death more times than I can remember. I don’t get frightened easily, but there’s something about you. You scare the shit out of me.”