Her Guardians: Her Guardians Trilogy Book 1 (10 page)

He
thought for a moment, his shoulders sagging. “Yes.” And that was all he offered.

I
gripped onto my bag for dear life. The news somehow seemed a lot harder hearing it from him.

U
nzipping my bag, I pulled out his shirt, handing it over. I could feel the panic start. “Thank you for doing that yesterday. You didn’t have to.” I turned around to head up the stairs to my office.

“Cassie
?” he called.

I turn
my head. “Yes?”

“It was my pleasure.”

He smiled, but my heart just ached. If only I didn’t ask him that question. I would still be in ignorant bliss right now.

With a quick
nod, I head up the stairs. On my way up, I look at Michael between the cracks of the staircase. I watch as he inhales his shirt and closes his eyes. That sight had me almost to my knees. Did he smell me?
Could
he smell me? Although I was upset, the prospect made me feel a little giddy.

As I was about to head into my office
, I heard Stephen calling my name. “Hey, Twinkles. How are you feeling today? I felt a little guilty that I spiked your drinks a little stronger than they should have been.”

“And you should be.
” I was scolding him, but failing miserably. “You know you could get arrested for that, don’t you? Taking a girl to a pub and taking advantage of her. How could you, Stephen?” I started laughing, but all he did was wink at me.

Oh boy, carry on with that and I
will be in trouble.

“Are y
ou still going tonight?”

“Yep, been planning it for ages
. Bought a dress and everything.”

“Great
. I’m really looking forward to seeing you there. I might have to work late, but I will be over as soon as I’m done. I have overtime today so I probably won’t finish until ten, which is a bummer. I wanted you all to myself tonight.”

He winked
again and my heart fluttered a little. I couldn’t believe how quickly my feelings changed from one man to the next. I should be worried that Stephen said he wanted me all to himself, but now that Michael seemed to be out of the picture, why shouldn’t I let my feelings turn toward Stephen?

“Okay, well, no matter what time you
show up, I’ll be there.” Winking right back at him this time, I turned and walked away. I was watching him the whole time I was walking, though. He had his arm leaning against the wall and his eyes were trailing over every part of my body. I could see the lust in them and it excited me a little. Michael was in the past now and I have to move on. That’s what I will have to keep telling myself.

I notice
d that Kali wasn’t at her desk when I walked in. I placed my coat over my chair and set my bag down underneath my desk. I figured I could just get on with some files in my tray, check that the documents are in order, that sort of thing. I was only at it for ten minutes when Kali sauntered in.

“Hey
, girl. What’s up?” Kali was looking rather regal today with her hair in a bun and a very fancy blouse.

“Nothing
, really. Actually, you know that girl who I saw on the train?”

“Oh
, yes?” She perked up a little, waiting for my answer.

“She turned up at my door last night
, wanting to thank me for saving her life.”

“Wow
. I bet that felt strange.”

It did feel strange but
, at the same time, I was glad that she did. At least now I know she is safe. “Just a little, but she’s a nice girl. She only lives a couple streets away from me so I’m sure we’ll see each other again.”

“Did she say anything else?”

I could tell Kali was interested as she leaned over her desk towards me. “Well, she did point out a couple of interesting things. Because I had saved her, she was afraid that death would eventually find her, that she was meant to die that day.”

“Hmm, very clever
.” Kali sat back and nodded her head as if she agreed somewhat.

“But I said that maybe she was meant to turn up when she did at the precise time I slipped on the ice.
Maybe I was sent to save her.”

She pondered
my statement for a while, the wheels turning in her head. “Well, yes,” she answered. “It could be that, as well.”

With the conversation finished
, I started flicking through my post. After a couple minutes, I found a couple more witness statements. Upon looking further, I realised one of them was for the case involving the Nissan and nine-year-old boy on a bike. Once I dug the file out, I read both statements.

I was shocked
at what I found. It would seem that the man driving the Nissan deliberately targeted this boy on the bike. Instead of slowing down when he saw him, he sped up. This was definitely a strange one.

I
n my daze, I started thinking about Michael. I thought he would want to see this, so I rang the Station Officer on duty and asked him to put a call out for Michael.

When he
didn’t turn up, I realized he must have been out.

After about
a half-hour of waiting, I decided to use the photocopying room. I stand there for a few minutes, doing what I needed to do. I was blissfully off in my own little fantasy world, dreaming about Michael, hating Michael, wanting Michael. It was hard to keep away from him, despite the fact that I knew he couldn’t be mine.

With a shake of my head
, I start thinking about Stephen. He was completely different from Michael in every way. Stephen made me laugh, made me feel special and wanted. There was something about him that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. He brought out the cheeky side of me that I didn’t even know I had. For some reason, I always found myself flirting with him, even when I didn’t really mean to. His grin and “I can get away with anything” attitude worked for him. He laid his cards on the table, told it how it was. I believe I knew how he felt about me. Now Michael? Well, he was dark, brooding, and a complete mystery that needed solving. Of course, Stephen was, too, but only because I couldn’t read him, couldn’t see his past or future. It still miffed me a little.

“Hmm, your hair smells fantastic.”

The sound of Stephen’s voice behind me made me jump out of my skin. Turning my head, I found he was right behind me. In fact, he was
intimately
right behind me.

“I’m sorry I scared you
, Twinkles. You were off in a world of your own there. Thinking about me, were you?”

I immediately blush
ed and a wide, cheeky smile spread across his face. “Ah, you were, weren’t you?”

“No.
” My answer was a bit too abrupt. I obviously sucked at hiding my feelings.

“Oh
, come on, Twinkles. Don’t be shy. You can tell me.”

Pulling my hair away from my neck
, Stephen traced a finger into the crevice. I didn’t will my body to do it, but I quivered.

“Do I really have that much of an effect on you
, Twinkles?”

He smiled
his impish grin and I couldn’t help but return it. I was a little pissed at my body, though. I certainly didn’t think it would give me away so easily.

“No, of course not
. There must be a chill in the room or something.”

Who am I kidding?

He looked around the room and smiled. “All the windows are shut, and I
believe
the heat is on. Do you want to try and think of a better excuse?”

T
urning around to face him, I found us inches apart. My heart rate kicked up a notch, thumping against my chest. My breathing became laboured as I stared into those penetrating eyes. “You’re not very fair, Stephen,” I mumbled, feeling the familiar tingles rising throughout my body.

“You know
, you are the most beautiful, fascinating creature I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. You have this tough shell that makes me want to crack every piece of it off you until there is none of it left.”

My
god, he had a way with words. What did he think he was trying to do to me? If he wanted me all flustered and practically at his feet in submission, it was working.

We stare
d at each other for a few seconds…until I heard the sound of someone clearing his throat. Peeking over Stephen’s shoulder, I found Michael glaring at us both. He looked angry—very angry.

“Oh
, it’s you again.” Stephen stepped back, but didn’t look impressed.

“I jus
t heard you were looking for me.” Michael stood rigid at the door, trying to smile.

I s
miled back as Stephen moved away. The loss of contact almost felt like too much to take.

“Well, I better be off.
I shall see you later, Twinkles.”

He winked
at me and I smiled again—this time a little nervously. I had two men that I couldn’t stop thinking about in the same room. It all seemed a little too surreal.

Pretty s
oon, Stephen was out the door and it was just Michael and I left to stare at each other in awkward silence. “I have another witness statement for you to read.” I wanted to get straight down to business.

I thou
ght he was going to huff and puff, demanding to see it. Instead, what he said next shocked me.

“What does Stephen want with you?
” he asked, yet again.

“Excuse me?”
This was getting weird. He shouldn’t even care.

“He keeps hanging around you and it looks like you’re enjoying it.”

Snapping the photocopier lid down a little more forcefully than I should have, I gathered my papers. “What is it to you, Michael? Why should you care who I talk to and who talks to me? So what if he likes me and I like him? I seem to remember a little something you revealed to me only this morning, or have you forgotten?”

He
knew I was upset and angry. It was written all over my face. I couldn’t understand why he was having such a hard time figuring it out.

“You’ve seen me talk to men before
. Why are you questioning me about him?”

“
He’s different.”

“Different how
, Michael? Please explain because I’m having a really hard time trying to figure you out.”

His expression was almost painful to watch.
I wasn’t quite sure, but it seemed as though he was struggling with something.
Well, that makes two of us, buddy!

“It looks like you like him
, too.” His face fell as he hung his head.

“Why should you care?”

Snapping his head back up, he almost snarled, “I don’t like it.”

I very nearly gasped. Did I just hear him correctly?

Deciding I didn’t want to hear any more
, I stomped towards the door and growled at him, “You have a girlfriend!”

Grabbing
my arm, he pulled me towards him, forcing his lips on mine. All the papers I held immediately fell to the floor as I felt his hot mouth crush my own.

I reach
ed my hands up to his neck and pulled his head in deeper to our kiss. He moaned and the sound made me whimper. My stomach felt like it was on fire. I never knew just kissing someone like this would have me feeling so alive, so full of desire.

His lips were warm and
inviting. At first, the kiss was ferocious, but it soon turned to gentler, more seductive.

Placing his
hand on my lower back, he pulled me to him. I felt how hard he was and the ache I felt burned hotter than ever. If we weren’t where we were, who knew what kind of trouble I would be getting myself into. I’ve never wanted someone as much as I wanted Michael right now. His sweet, tender kiss was an absolute joy to feel, and my emotions were running high. How easily it could be to fall in love with this mysterious, dark stranger. I knew nothing about him other than the fact that he was a complete twat who had a girlfriend.

That thought snapped me out of it
. Pulling away, I slapped him across the face. He looked at me in complete shock as I bent down to collect my papers.

“You have a girlfriend!
” was all I could shout. What more could I say?

He looked
at me, frustration etched on his face. I didn’t want to stick around any longer. I felt ashamed of myself. I’m not one of those girls who steals other people’s boyfriends, and I never would be.

S
torming back into the office, Michael following, I plonked myself in my seat. He was just standing there, hovering over me and rubbing his cheek.

“There.
” I handed him the statement. He looked at me sadly and I very nearly melted. I didn’t know why I was suddenly feeling guilty. How dare he kiss me when he knew he was attached to someone else.

As
I watched him, though, his expression fell when he read what it said. “Why was he targeting that poor kid?” I had to ask.