Page 15 of These White Lies

I don’t know what’s wrong with me. She isn’t even my type. I like fun women. Women who are happy to have a good time. Not sharp-edged shrews who make me smile with their smart mouths.

Though to be fair, the woman I met four years ago wasn’t like this. Her strength and intelligence are the same, but there’s something about Elizabeth now that feels jagged. Like the broken pieces she showed me that night somehow shattered further, leaving behind razor sharp shards she uses to protect herself.

This Elizabeth is cold and closed off. The very thing she feared becoming—of losing herself completely.

I know because she told me. Secrets between strangers. Right before she melted in my arms.

“Be inconspicuous. This is a trial run only. I’ll decide at the end of the day if you’re necessary,” she says, as I pull into a parking space close to the entrance of her traditional four-story brick office building.

“No problem.” I hit the lock button as she reaches for the door handle.

She gapes at me. “What are you doing?”

“There are certain… protocols.” I have a feeling the wordrulesisn’t one she’d appreciate. “If I’m to keep you safe, you have to do what I say… when it comes to safety.”

She lifts her brows and gives her head a little shake, as if to say, ‘Get on with it.’ I bite back a grin.

“Youneverget out of the car unless I’m standing at your door. The second the door closes, you lock it. I’ll unlock my door when I get there. The windows stay up.”

She rolls her eyes at me.

“If we are walking, you stay on my left side and within hand’s reach.”

She laughs. “You’ve watched too many movies.”

I turn, letting her see the seriousness on my face. “This isn’t a joke, sweetheart. This is real, and I’ve seen a lot of nasty shit. I can keep you safe as long as you don’t do anything stupid.”

“I’m not stupid.” Her eyes narrow to slits.

“No, you’re not.” I agree. “Which is why you will listen to myexpertadvice. Because in this case, that’s exactly what I am.”

Her jaw moves back and forth, like she wants to argue.

“Do you let your clients tell you how their stuff should be handled?” She looks a little surprised at that. “Yeah. I didn’t think so.”

Not giving her any more time to object, I exit the car and am pleased that, when I reach her side, she is still waiting in her seat.

“Good job, sweetheart.”

She shoots daggers at me. “Don’t call me that. My name is Elizabeth.” Her head tilts slightly. “Actually,youcan call me Ms. Gowan.”

My cock twitches. Jesus.

Her offices are everything I expect—tasteful and professional. Decorated in nondescript, muted tones, everything looks expensive, but there isn’t a single personal knickknack in sight. We walk past several desks, and she smiles at each person politely, but it’s clear she’s their boss. There is no sense of camaraderie until she stops at one of the desks.

“How’s Bruno doing?”

“Better. I think the medicine is helping.”

Elizabeth offers the woman the first genuine smile I’ve seen since we’ve arrived. A small yip sounds, and to my surprise, the head of a tiny, fluffy dog pops up above the edge of the desk from the woman’s lap.

“That’s good news.”

“You allow pets in the office?” I ask as soon as we are out of earshot.

“Not usually, but Bruno has a kidney issue. He needs medication several times a day. He’s Lorie’s baby.” She doesn’t break stride.

Her assistant looks up as we approach her desk. The woman is in her mid-twenties, neatly dressed in a navy blouse and fitted slacks. Her smile is easy, but her eyes flick curiously to me before snapping back to her boss.