“I am not your mother’s lackey. I’m just doing my job.”
Bianca had half a mind to pull the blanket over her head. She was tired of this. She had other things to worry about. “I know. And it’s unprofessional to bang your client. I get it.”
Sam sighed. “This isn’t just about being professional. When I get too close to someone, I start wearing blinders. I do a poor job. Your safety is my number one priority, and I’ll be damned if I let something happen to you—or the rest of your family. They need protection too, you know.”
“So why am I getting the special treatment?”
“Your mother has reason to believe you’re the most in danger. That’s all I can say. And that’s all I know.”
Bullshit! Bianca couldn’t take this any longer. Nobody ever told her anything. They simply strung her along with half-promises.
“I’m sorry,” Sam said again. “I don’t know what came over me the other day.”
“Oh please. Don’t pretend what happened between us was some kind of mistake. Like you just tripped and fell on me, had some kind of momentary lapse. Why is it so hard to admit that you want me?”
“That’s not… it’s not…”
Bianca tossed aside her blanket, leaping up to her feet and pushing her curls out of her face so she could stare Sam down. “I want you too, you know. I wanted you from the start. Why do you think I insisted on you being my bodyguard? If I had to have a daily babysitter, I figured it might as well be someone like you. Someone sexy and strong. Even though I didn’t expect anything to happen between us, I wanted to be able to imagine it…”
Bianca lowered her head, her face growing warm. She sounded so stupid admitting all this out loud.
Sam stood up. She kept a respectful distance between the two of them, but her presence was so tangible that Bianca could feel it from where she sat.
“Bianca—”
“I’m not a child, you know.” Curls fell limply before Bianca’s face, obscuring her vision. “Nobody believes me when I say that. Both of my sisters, all of my friends… they’d done so much more with their lives by the time they were my age. Scarlett was taking names in the family business. Parker was on the cover of every tabloid and partying every night. My best friends aren’t even around anymore because they’re off at grad schools around the world, having fun, going to concerts and parties and festivals, dating and falling in love. I’ve never gotten to do that. I’ve never gotten to experiment. I don’t get to explore what I want, who I am, because I’m stuck right here, wrapped in bubble wrap and locked up in my apartment.”
Bianca looked up at Sam, whose frozen features were trapped between sympathy and reservation, and pulled up her tank top, not to flash her, but to show her the device clipped to her waistband.
“You know what this is?”
Sam nodded. “An insulin pump.”
“It beats having to inject myself with insulin, but it’s still a bigger pain in my ass than you.” Bianca pulled her top back down. “It’s a constant reminder that I’m just this fragile baby that can’t be trusted to look after myself or do anything on my own. And it’s always getting in the way. Every time I fool around with someone, it’s a thing we have to address. I can take it off for short periods, but my whole day is structured around this stupid shit. All because of how I was born. It’s not fair.”
Sam shook her head. “No. It’s not.”
“I’m grateful that my parents have always been able to afford the best medical care for me. It’s more than even a lot of my friends have had. But that doesn’t make me feel any better.”
Sam took a step forward. “I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want your pity! I want you.” Bianca knew it was a long shot. But she hoped—wished, prayed—she’d get through to Sam. “You make me feel like none of that matters. You make me feel like I’m alive for the first time in my life.”
“I’m… I’m too old for you.”
“You’re 30, not 60. We’re both adults. So what does it matter?”
“If your mom found out—”
“She’d be so pissed.” Bianca crossed her arms. “I’d consider that a bonus.”
“I’m not playing some game with you just so you can piss off your mother.”
“It’s not a game. Really. I…” Bianca stood up. While she kept her distance, she ached to wrap her arms around Sam and find solace in her body. “I like you. More than I’ve ever liked anyone.”
“You don’t even know me. Not really.”
“I know more about you than you think. I know how much you care. About your job. About those you protect. About me. I know how important it is for you to be able to look after people and keep them safe. And… I know how much you need to be in control.”