Page 81 of Noel Secrets

“With you they do.” Then she arched up and kissed him.

The kiss was healing, and thrilling, as well. She lost herself in Price’s arms, his lips connecting with hers, lighting her up from the inside out and reassuring her she didn’t have to face this world alone. Not with Price here to inspire, thrill, and lift her.

Their relationship was new, but she could sense Price wouldn’t trifle with her and she’d never been so drawn to and impressed by anyone.

She couldn’t remember the last time she was this genuinely happy. Price could protect her and make her smile and thrill her with his kiss. She trusted him and wanted to fall in love with him.

Had Addie met her match? She hoped so. And that was as telling as anything. She hadn’t felt hope regarding a relationship with a man since Jamison pretended to be a good guy then assaulted her.

With Price, she felt hope and so much more.

Chapter Ten

Price had to let Addie go. He was getting far too invested. He promised himself he’d release her and go to his rental house.

In a few more minutes.

She’d kissed him first; he was following his client’s instructions to grow closer to her. That still didn’t solve his moral dilemma, but he had no idea how to resist Addie and her enticing lips. He lost all rational thought when they kissed.

The kisses intensified, and he found himself reacting and enjoying every moment. He lifted her onto his lap and kissed her more deeply. Addie Belle was a better thrill ride than any of the crazy adventures he’d done with his friends and teammates.

Healing and thrilling. She’d been right about that. With Addie in his arms, he didn’t even think about not being enough for Jaydyne, of not finding anyone else he’d truly connected with in a romantic and relationship type of way in the past fourteen years. Addie was everything he’d been searching for. She was more than worth the wait.

He was her protection detail, and she was his assignment.

That thought had him slowing down the kisses and gently lifting her to her feet. He’d had to pretend he didn’t know whothe scum ball Jamison was. He was hiding far too much from her and it was ripping him up inside.

He needed to talk to Daphne again. Make a plan for how to tell Addie. The relationship was getting messy. Except for Addie. She wasn’t messy. She was more incredible than anyone he’d ever met.

“I’d better get home and let you get some rest,” he said. “Busy day at work tomorrow?”

Addie swayed slightly on her feet. He stood and steadied her with an arm around her waist. She blinked beautiful blue eyes up at him. “You think I can concentrate on work after a wowzer of a kissing session like that?”

Price chuckled. His professionalism was seriously in question. Addie’s sister—not the client because she’d had her fiancé do the paperwork, but basically the client—Daphne had told him to grow close to her and fall in love. He was blurring lines, but he had a hard time knowing what to do about it.

Addie was more important than any job. Did that mean he should tell her the truth about everything? He’d quit this job and protect her because he wanted to. He’d quit Aiden if he couldn’t be with Addie.

That thought jerked his head out of the clouds. He hadn’t been willing to quit the Navy to save his marriage, and he’d just thought that he would quit working for Aiden to be with Addie. Most retired military and police would give up anything to work for Aiden. He suspected that was why Detective Thayne was so enthralled with him.

He’d be willing to give up his job with Aiden and he hardly knew Addie.

Everything he knew about her felt ideal.

Except this note-leaving situation, lying about protecting her, and everything Daphne had asked him to hide from her.

He studied her beautiful face, wishing he could give her another ‘wowzer of a kissing session’. “Hopefully the detectives will find out who sent Travis, and you, the notes. They must be related.”

“That was random,” she said.

“Sorry. Security guy.” He clenched his free fist. She had to have a lot of questions about him being here, but she hadn’t voiced them.

She nodded, some of the wonder leaving her gaze. “It’d be nice to put that mess behind me.”

“For sure.” He released her and headed toward the door. She walked with him. “Thank you for dinner.”

“Thank you for the delicious desserts. All of the deliciousness.” She looked at his mouth and he couldn’t hide a smile.

“Addie … I have never been cheesy or silly with anyone but my nephew. I’m both with you. I’d wear an ‘I’m with Minnie’ shirt and go to Disneyland for you.”