A moment later, I feel a heated presence right behind me before big, muscular arms brace themselves on either side of me on the balcony railing.
My breath catches, already knowing who it is.
I turn to find myself caged in between the balcony railing and Rocky's huge body. I feel the heat emanating off of him, warming me despite winter’s chill. His body really is like a furnace. He could warm me better than any fireplace. I feel a flush of warmth course through me right now at his nearness.
“Why didn't you tell me?” his voice rumbles.
I look down. “I didn't want you to think any differently of me.”
He tips my chin up with a knuckle under it, forcing me to meet his eyes. His brow is furrowed in confusion. “Why would I think differently of you?”
I let out an exasperated breath. “Because I'm the senator's daughter. My life is micromanaged by my father. He'll never let me be with you. I can’t be with anyoneIchoose. He's going to pick whomever I'm with.”
A muscle ticks in Rocky’s jaw. His eyes glint with anger as he growls stubbornly, “I’d like to see someone try to take you away from me, sweetheart.”
My heart thrills at the fierce look in his eyes. He looks like a warrior willing to go to battle for me.
My breath catches even as my stomach drops at his next question. “If you thought we couldn't be together, why did you stay and talk to me last night?”
I lick my lips and answer him honestly. He deserves that much at least. “Because I wanted something for just me, and I can't explain it, but when you came over to me, it was like…there was this pulsing energy between us. I wantedyoujust forme. If only for a little while.”
It's selfish of me. I don’t want him to be a dirty little secret, but Ineedsomething just for me. Ineeda moment with him. Just one moment. Then, I'll always have the memory of the one man that I had picked.
The one who had picked me.
Rocky’s nostrils flare, and I think I've angered him until he speaks and I find out that he's angry but notatme.Forme.
I don't know that anyone has ever been angry on my behalf, and it fills me with something I can't identify, but it’s something that makes my blood rush hot.
Rocky’s big hand cups my cheek tenderly. “What have they done to you, sweetheart?” His eyes search mine before he vows, his jaw hardening, “I'm going to get you out of here.”
My heart leaps, but then it crashes just as suddenly. I can't allow Rocky to make a scene.
He wraps his arm around my shoulders and tucks me into him as if he plans on striding me back out to the dining room like this to announce that I'm his and he's taking me.
As much as my heart thrills at the thought of that, I know I can't allow that to happen. I may be young and sheltered, but I'm not naïve. I know that my father has dangerous connections. I know that he can be a dangerous man himself. I know that he didn't get to where he is today without breaking the rules, and I don't want to see anything happen to Rocky because of me.
So, I pull away from him. He frowns as he turns to gently take my wrist.
“No,” I shake my head at him.
Rocky's brow furrows as his gruff voice rumbles, “You want to be with me, Holly. I want to be with you. Let me take you away from here.”
I shake my head again. “I can't. Not like this. Can't we just get to know one another a little bit more?”
Rocky’s eyes soften at my plea. “So, you do still want to see me?”
I bite my lip and nod. I know I shouldn’t, but god help me, I do. “I do, but no one can know.”
It breaks my heart to ask him to stay a secret, and I don’t want him to think I’m ashamed of him or anything, but Rocky obviously doesn’t take it that way because his lips tip up into a breathtaking smile. “So, you want to sneak around?”
My cheeks flame. It sounds so juvenile when he puts it that way. “I don't know. I want to see you some more. Can we keep meeting up at the pub where no one will see us?”
“Where no one important will see us,” he clarifies.
Guilt gnaws at my stomach, but Rocky doesn't look upset with me. In fact, the look on his face is one of understanding.
He sighs and wraps his arms around the small of my back, pulling me close to him. “If that's what you want, sweetheart, then that's what we'll do. For now.”