“Are you sure that’s all this is about?”
I nodded and gripped the steering wheel with both hands.
He didn’t say anything more until I parked in our driveway and we climbed out of the car. He waited until we entered the cool interior of the house. Before I climbed up the stairs, he grabbed my arm and pulled me close.
“I just want you to be safe. I’ve invested a lot to make sure it stays that way.”
I nodded, biting my lower lip.
“If you want to be friends with Diana Maliano, I won’t stand in your way. But every time you meet up with her, I want to know. I want to know where you go, when, and how long you’ll stay.”
In short, he wanted to keep me on a tight leash. I wanted to laugh in his face and tell him to fuck off, but the words wouldn’t cross my lips. I wasn’t in the mood for a fight I knew I’d lose. “Fine.”
Later, it occurred to me that I had never told Jude Diana’s name.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“I’ll be right back, Nolan.” I slid out of the Rolls Royce, followed by the skirt of my canary summer dress, which swirled like liquid around my knees. “You don’t have to accompany me inside.”
Nolan opened his own door and towered over the car, gazing at me with his hooded eyes. “I’m sorry, Ma’am, Mr. Macknight instructed me not to let you out of my sight. It’s my job.”
“I need to buy lingerie. Would you like to follow me into the changing rooms too?” After weeks of him tagging along behind me, I’d just had enough of his pin eyes on my back.
I’d tried talking to Jude again several times, but he refused to call off the bodyguard slash chauffeur, claiming my safety was his priority. Did he think I was that stupid? He wanted Nolan to keep track of my every move because he was afraid I’d leave him. And go where exactly? I had nothing and no one in my life apart from him. Just the way he liked it.
“Nolan,” I begged, “I’ll only be a second. Jude doesn’t have to know.” I gave him my sweetest smile.
Nolan gave a small bow and leaned against the car, his arms crossed. He pulled what looked like a folded novella out of his pocket and started reading.
Snatching my chance, I lurched toward the door of the nearest lingerie boutique. I had no intention of buying underwear, but I’d asked Nolan to take me shopping just so I could get out of the stifling house and get a chance to breathe. I’d pick a few pieces and disappear into a changing room, where I’d sit and just close my eyes for a moment.
As I stumbled blindly toward the boutique, I slammed into someone on the pavement.
“Sorry,” I muttered, adjusting my sunglasses on top of my head. I turned to the person ready to give another apology. I froze as I stared into familiar eyes. Last time I saw him, he was just a teenager, but I’d never forget those eyes. I never could, even if I wanted to—rich brown with specks of gold. “Dustin?”
“Haley Bradley,” his voice was deep and smooth. The gold in his eyes glinted, and his face creased into a smile. “My God, how long has it been?” He shook his head. “I never thought I’d see you again.”
“I know … long time.” I glanced behind me. “I … Sorry, I have to go.” As much as I was happy to see Dustin and wanted nothing more than to catch up, I couldn’t let Nolan see me talking to anyone. Especially a man. The news would travel straight to Jude, who was becoming jealous of almost every man who glanced in my direction.
“Haley, wait.” Dustin followed, calling behind me as I disappeared into the store, my heart thumping.
“After all these years,” he said, his voice close behind me. “Not even a hello?”
I inhaled and forced myself to calm down. I was all right. Through the shop window, I saw Nolan outside reading his romance novel. Some of the tension melted from my shoulders and I smiled.
“Hi, Dustin.” I ran my gaze over him. Dustin had been the first boy to catch my eye when I arrived at Falcon High in Serendipity. He was the school nerd with thick glasses. But they hadn’t seen what I saw. I saw beyond his nerdy glasses, his shoulder length hair, and his zits.
The man standing in front of me, wearing a shirt with rolled-up sleeves and a loose tie, was far from the nerdy boy I’d known. His glasses had disappeared and the only thing shading his tanned skin was a dusting of stubble. Under his shirt, I saw a hint of rippling muscles. The boy I used to love was now a man. And my heart still responded to his presence. “Hi.” My cheeks warmed under his gaze. “Nice to see you, Dustin.”
“Nice to see you too, Haley. You haven’t changed much. Except that you’re more beautiful, of course. Scratch that, you’re stunning.” His eyes traveled from my face down the length of my body.