Page 103 of You Found Me

The insecurity in her voice echoed in her eyes. It tugged at his heart to think the woman who commanded millions of fans wanted his approval. “I never hated you.”

“Really? Because it sure seemed like you did.”

“I didn’t.” He stood abruptly and put out a hand to help her up. “We should go.”

“Oh.” She juggled the long flower stalks until they were neatly tucked into the crook of one arm, then accepted his hand.

It felt like coming home. Warm, comfortable, and familiar.

She must have felt it too because her expression shifted into an unspoken invitation and she leaned toward him in clear invitation.

His entire body wanted to say yes.

He wanted to know what her lips tasted like. He wanted her legs wrapped around him right here in this field, ethics and professionalism be damned.

The world around them faded into the background. His grip tightened on hers as he tilted his head down for a kiss.

Logic and reason pounded at his brain to stop. There was bending rules, and then there was breaking them.

He couldn’t do this. Heshould notbe doing this.

She was his client.

His protectee.

And the mission wasn’t over.

He let go of her hand.

Took a step back.

The space between them filled with regret.

“You might not hate me, but you don’t like me.” Her voice cracked a little. “You still see me as the pop princess.”

“It doesn’t matter how I see you, Lucy.” He picked up the flowers she’d missed and handed them to her. “I have a job to do.”

Della searched his face. “That’s all I am? Just a job?”

He kept his gaze steady on hers. “That’s it.”

She pressed her lips together, then looked down at the flowers in her arms. “Well, it’s notmyjob, so I can say this. I didn’t like you when we met either. I thought you were a robot masquerading as a human. You were a jerk who thought I was a selfish, self-centered party girl.”

A rueful smile played on her face. “It’s okay. You were right. But you constantly surprise me. You brought me home and introduced me to your family. You’ve made this entire thing a lot easier for me, even if it was because you had to, and even when I acted like a spoiled brat. I think this place is special, and I’ll always be grateful that I got the chance to know you. So thank you for telling me about your mother, and thank you for bringing me here.”

Della looked out over the fields of gold with the saddest, smallest smile he’d ever seen on her face. “I’m really happy I got to see this. For what it’s worth, I don’t hate you anymore. I like you. A lot.”

His mood lifted at the simple, straightforward declaration. Once again, he fought the urge to take her into his arms and make her forget every mean thing he’d ever said to her.

She glanced at him, then let her gaze drop to the ground somewhere in front of his feet. “Not that it matters.”

His heart twisted.

Hell.

Itdidmatter. It mattered entirely too much.

And this was why he had rule one in the first damn place.