I look back down at all the stuff I got. This might not have been such a great idea after all. “Don’t do that.” Rita rests her hand on my shoulder. “Make him celebrate. God knows I could never get him to do it. I do know one thing. His mom would be pissed if she knew about all the birthdays he's been missing.”
“All I’ve gotten so far is cupcakes. The man is impossible to get a gift for.”
“I think he’ll enjoy just spending time with you.”
I snort. “Should I invite anyone else over? James? Any friends?” I only know James and that’s his cousin. Then the people he works with. I’ve never met his friends. I’ve never met that one girlfriend either. I start grabbing some of the things I’ll need.
“I think the two of you will be fine.”
“I don’t know his friends.”
“He doesn't go out much. You see how much the man works.”
“But he’s dated,” I point out. Am I being obvious?
“So I’m told.” She rolls her eyes.
“He didn't let you meet her either?”
“Nope.” She hands me a carton of eggs.
“Maybe he thinks we’ll embarrass him?”
“I don’t know why men think or do a lot of things.”
I burst into laughter because I couldn't agree more. I don’t understand anything Reed does anymore. The only thing that I do know is that I want to.5Reed“He’s fired.” Robert takes a calming breath. “I’m not joking. Get a woman this time. This isn't open for discussion.” Robert turns without saying another word, knowing that he’ll get nowhere. No one ever does when it comes to Tinsley.
The man should be fired. His undercover skills are obviously lacking since she saw him. That isn’t the only thing that has me all fired up. The fact that he scared her has me ready to lose it.
The whole point of the bodyguard was to keep her safe. I would have told her that I had someone protecting her from the beginning, but I know she would have said it wasn't necessary. Not because she didn't want one, but because she wouldn't want someone going out of their way to do something for her. To feel like she’s being a bother or a burden. But she could never be any of those things to me.
She is the most important person in my life whether she knows it or not. There isn’t anything that I wouldn’t do for her or to keep her safe. So I just do what needs to be done so she doesn’t have to worry over the details. That had come back to kick me right in the nuts today, though. The object had been to make her feel secure and my guy had done the opposite.
I think Carter was just as surprised as the rest of us when Tinsley made a random stop at the store on her way home from classes today. It wasn’t like her to stray from her routine. She’s been doing a lot of things differently lately. She’s changing. Or maybe it’s healing.
She’s coming out of her shell more. That was the whole point of this. To give her time away from her old life. To start something new. I want her to heal. The idea of her being scared all the time is something that weighs on me every day. It’s why I give her so much room to breathe when that’s the opposite of what I really want.
My only question is what was she doing in the department store? In the men’s section, of all places. That’s the last place I’d ever thought she’d be. I lean back in my chair knowing the rest of my day is shot. My mind is now filled with far too many questions. All of them surrounding a blond girl that could be knocked over with a hard gust of wind. She’s proving to be my hardest feat.
I’ve faced off with so many people in my life. I’m good at winning. It’s why I’m where I am today at such a young age. Nothing stood in my path for long. Except her. I can’t seem to get my footing when it comes to her. I’m never sure of myself when it comes to her. A hard wind might blow her over, but a mere look from her could end me.
I hit my mouse, causing my computer to come back to life. I type in the password to pull up the security footage at home. I tab through the screens until I find the one I want. Tinsley fills my screen. She stands in the kitchen licking purple icing off her thumb before going back to decorating cupcakes. That’s why she went into the grocery store. She’s never had a need before. If she needs something she only has to put it on the list. The knowledge that she stopped to get stuff to make me cupcakes does nothing to tame my need for her.