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I stepped out of the limo and waited for Veer. “But you two have become chummy since she moved here.”

“The fact we socialize on occasion because we live in the same city means nothing,” he said as he watched Jacinta with a predatory twinkle in his eye.

“I don’t buy that for a second. An acquaintance doesn’t have the ability to convince someone to run for governor or make him look at her as if he’d like to lick every inch of her body.”

“Let it go, half pint. Remember what I said about eyes and ears.” He placed his hand on my waist and guided me toward the house. “I’ll escort you inside and then make my way home. I have to tidy up my house before my parents arrive. You know how they get when I don’t have everything in the proper place.”

“Be nice. Uncle and Auntie are the sweetest people I know. I think you want to get home to hide any evidence of all those illicit affairs you like having.”

“I’m a political candidate. I don’t have time for a moment alone, much less a romantic liaison with anyone.”

“Welcome to the world of media intrusion.” I smiled up at him and winked.

I caught sight of Dev looking down at us from the second-story balcony of Jacinta’s giant house. He clenched his jaw and turned back to listen to whatever his father was saying to him.

Just perfect. I wasn’t here more than a minute and I’d pissed him off.

At that moment, two reporters jumped out of the bushes. One took pictures and the other shouted questions. Within seconds, Jacinta’s security team tackled them.

Veer pushed me behind him.

“What will your husband say about you arriving here with Mr. George?” the man asked, even though he was cuffed and his face pushed into the ground. “Is he a family friend or more? How does your new celebrity impact your career? Is Mr. George planning to use your popularity to help his campaign?”

I ignored him, but I couldn’t help but shake. Images of what had happened with Spencer Miller flashed before my eyes as well as the fear I’d felt, knowing someone had gotten so close to me.

“Come on, Sam. Let’s get you inside.”

We ran toward the side entrance of the house leading into the kitchen and then I collapsed on one of the barstools surrounding the granite island.

I inhaled deep and then dropped my head onto the counter. This sucked.

Not only was I a complete wimp when it came to paparazzi, I was letting others handle my problems instead of facing them myself. A tear slipped down my cheek.

I had to get it together. I could stare down the scariest of opponents without flinching in the courtroom and now I was falling apart at every turn.

“Here. Drink this. It will take the edge off.” Jacinta handed me a drink, but the second I smelled it, my stomach turned.

“I just need some sparkling water.”

Within a few moments, Jacinta’s housekeeper rushed over, giving me a glass of the fizzy liquid.

“God, how the fuck did they get on my land?” Jacinta pulled out her phone and began to text. “From this point on, no one will have access to any part of this property without clearance.” She glanced at Veer, who nodded and left the room, and then she approached me, taking my hands in hers. “I’m so sorry this happened.”

She knew how devastated I had been after the whole Spencer Miller debacle, especially when Decker used his political pull to have Miller’s charges dropped to a misdemeanor instead of a felony.

At that moment, Dev rushed in.

“Baby, are you okay?” He pulled me into his arms.

I buried my head against his chest, clutching his shirt under my fingers. He smelled of spiced cologne and soap. A scent so comforting, I could get lost in it.

And I did. A sob escaped my lips and within the next few seconds I was releasing months of worry, apprehension, and chaos.

I never cried and now I was doing it at every turn, and for some reason, having Dev hold me made the havoc and violation of the media invasion of my life even more prominent.

What I wouldn’t have given for him to have held me when Miller broke into our house and made me think he’d have done more to me than take pictures if I hadn’t pressed the panic button in our bathroom.

Dev picked me up, cradling me in his arms as I cried.