Page 43 of Bodyguard My Heart

“Demetrius’s mother couldn’t cook either when my son first brought her home,” she shared. “You American women are just pretty without a lick of skill.”

My hand flew to my mouth as I tried my best not to laugh. I would have been offended had anyone else said something like that, but it was Gran, she didn’t mean any harm. Being direct was just a part of her culture.

“Not all American women, Gran. Some can really cook. Plus, I’d like to think of my skill as healing people. Not everybody can stomach blood.”

“Touché.” She grinned. “You got to be some kind of special. My grandboy loves you.”

“And that’s scary,” I admitted. Gran stopped chopping the cucumbers and stared at me.

“And what’s so scary about it?”

“What’s not scary about it? Being in love is terrifying.”

“Do you love Demetrius, Samara?”

“I do, and that scares me too. Demetrius is a good man but too much like my father, which scares me.”

“Hmm. I take it you don’t have a good relationship with your father.”

I shook my head in response. A little part of me wished I had a different response.

“Chile, it’s not love you fear. It’s being hurt. You’re so afraid of being hurt that you’ve closed yourself off to being loved. Afraid of the heartbreak that your father caused you. Your father was the first person to break your heart.”

I stared at her, contemplating what she’d said. I guess I never really thought about it like that.

“Unfortunately, baby, you were always going to fall in love with someone like your father. It’s inevitable. Our subconscious just does that. Ask yourself, is Demetrius like your father in all the good or bad ways?”

The door opened, and the sound of laughter and Demetrius’s crutches hitting the floor alerted us that the men were coming in. Gran turned and went back to chopping up vegetables like she hadn’t just put so many things on my mind. Maybe I was only seeing one side of him and not him in his entirety. Maybe I was only looking for the bad in him and blocking out everything good.

I was speechless as Demetrius, Claude, and Grandpapa entered the kitchen. Grandpapa wasted no time walking up to his wife. He immediately wrapped his arms around her and sprinkled her with kisses. Gran giggled like a schoolgirl, and it made me smile. Their love was so beautiful. I’d witnessed nothing so pure. My parents already hated each other by the time I was old enough to understand what was going on.

“Go to your room,” Claude demanded.

“Boy, hush!” Gran fanned him off as she gave her husband a kiss.

“I’m ain’t gon’ never stop loving my queen,” Grandpa mumbled.

“That’s right, Grandpa. Me neither,” Demetrius replied before quietly pulling me aside and leading me to the back room.

“Is everything all right? I was helping Gran cook.” I was concerned by the serious look he had on his face. He didn’t say anything as he led me deeper into the room and sat on the bed, pulling me down on his lap. The way he squeezed me close let me know everything I needed to know. He was anxious about tomorrow. Paying his final respects to Fabian was taking a toll on his mental. I could see it in his eyes. We were having a private viewing for him since we were technically still laying low. There was no telling who Fabian’s funeral would attract.

“You’re anxious.” I noticed the dazed look in his eyes.

“Just pissed. We still haven’t pinpointed these motherfuckers.”

“You will.” I pulled him into my chest. “It’s just taking a little longer than we expected.” I kissed his forehead. My lips barely grazed his skin.

“Shit like this don’t take me this long, Samara. What the fuck is going on?”

“You’re human. You’re not perfect. You’re not invincible. This is just that part in the superhero film when it looks like you will be defeated.”

Demetrius stared up at me and I could see the anxiousness disappear from his face.

“Am I the superhero or the villain in this movie?” He shot back.

“You’re definitely the superhero.” I pulled him in deeper into my chest. In one swift movement, his eyes lowered, and he popped my right nipple out of my shirt.

“What are you doing?” I tried swatting his hand away, but he was already inhaling a mouth full of titty.