Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 141165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 706(@200wpm)___ 565(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 706(@200wpm)___ 565(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Farrow counts off his fingers, beginning with his thumb. “One, Thatcher made an ‘oath’ with you.” He also uses air quotes.
“Just to stay on your detail,” Maximoff adds.
“Correct.” I straighten up a little.
When I told them about the oath, they asked for details but never gave much of an opinion. Not until now, it seems.
“Two.” Farrow raises his pointer finger. “Back in Greece, you weren’t even on speaking terms. It would’ve been easier for that motherfucker to ask for a transfer and just protect someone else. Instead of doing that, he committed to you.”
A smile tugs at my lips, remembering the bonfire. How we took a short walk. How I shivered and he gave me his button-down without a single hesitation.
Maximoff homes in on Farrow’s inked fingers. “Pretty sure your second point is still the oath.”
“Pretty sure I couldn’t care less,” Farrow says easily while taking in all of Maximoff.
He feigns surprise. “I totally forgot you can’t count. I’m sorry, man.”
Farrow rolls his eyes into a short laugh. “Okay, smartass.” They eye each other a little longer, and I’m about to stand to reheat my coffee.
As soon as the rocking chair creaks, their heads swerve to me.
“This is about you, ” Maximoff emphasizes. “You time, not us time.” He gestures from his chest to Farrow. “Alright, we’re here for you.”
Farrow rubs his strong jawline, his muscles tensed.
I freeze.
Farrow and I have been deeply concerned about Maximoff feeling guilty about splitting his attention between us. He overthinks about the wrong and right timing and whether he’s being unfair.
In actuality, he’s beyond fair, beyond present for both of us, and Farrow and I just want him to relax and breathe.
I nod confidently and stay seated on the rocking chair. “Let’s hear it then, old chap.” I slide a furtive glance to Farrow, and we share a look of understanding. Protect and love Maximoff Hale.
Maximoff sets down his Batman mug. “By staying on your detail, Thatcher chose the harder path.”
“Right,” I say softly. My cheeks hurt as I try to subdue another smile.
I’m more than appreciative that Thatcher stayed. It shows how much he wanted to be here for me, and I haven’t had that devoted feeling from a bodyguard ever. My first, now-retired, bodyguard never really gave me any hints that he enjoyed my company.
Quinn Oliveira, my second bodyguard, was incredibly kind-hearted, but I was his first client, and so when he was transferred to Luna, he seemed more excited for the new possibilities. Ready to leave.
I love that Thatcher wanted to stay with me, despite all the risks and hardships. Plus, working through a new bodyguard relationship while dealing with the Cinderella ad would’ve been so stressful.
“Three.” Farrow lifts his middle finger. “Bodyguard transfers happen all the time. Guys may have their preferences on who they want to protect, but we all love your family enough to not really give a shit at the end of the day. We’re just happy to be on-duty. You don’t do what Moretti did without liking a client, and I’d know because I’d do whatever it took to stay on Maximoff’s detail.”
I hear what he’s telling me.
So they believe, through the oath, that Thatcher finally showed his cards, and now they know that he must like me on some personal level.
My pulse is on an ascent.
Beating and beating, and I’m not sure why I’m so nervous. “So he likes me on a personal level. I’m attracted to him. It’s not like anything can happen.”
Maximoff pops his knuckles, a bad habit.
Farrow lifts his brows. “Okay, here’s the thing.” He places his oatmeal bowl on the coffee table. “Whatever personal and professional shit that I have going on with Thatcher, that’s between me and him. We’re both twenty-eight, not eighteen. We’d put protecting you two above every fucking thing.”
It’s why Farrow has been okay with Thatcher staying on security, even after the dreaded punch , and why Maximoff was fine with Thatcher remaining on my detail during that time.
They see Thatcher as an experienced, expertly-skilled bodyguard, and they know he’ll keep me safe. Regardless of any bad blood.
So they still trust him, but they don’t like him.
Farrow splays his earpiece cord over his shoulder. “Putting all that shit aside, I’m going to be honest here: Thatcher won’t do what I did. He won’t break the rules for you like I broke them for Maximoff. I can’t even see him breaking a rule for his own twin brother.”
Maximoff brushes a hand through his thick hair. “If he’s unwilling to break those rules, then it’s just going to end badly. Whatever feelings you have for him, Janie, he’s going to crush them.”
I arch my shoulders, inhaling and not exhaling very well. “The only feeling I have is attraction. And I know you want to protect me from heartache, Moffy, but my heart isn’t involved.” I swig a bigger gulp of room temp coffee and lick my lips. “No hearts. No body parts. It’s solely faraway attraction. Love is a two-way street that neither of us are driving down.”