Contingency Plan (Blackbridge Security #3) - Marie James Page 0,23

is the right feeling to have. I trust him with my safety of course, but at the end of the day, he works for my parents. They have their best interests at heart, not mine.

“I just couldn’t stay in the house any longer,” I confess, and he nods as if he understands I’m talking about my parents and not the party we just left. “Do you get along with your parents?”

“I do.” Another smile plays on his perfect lips, and as much as I like seeing it, the action also makes me jealous.

I’ve never been happy with the mention of my parents, not even when it was just Mom and me before Charles popped into our lives. The people I associate with don’t really interact much with their parents either, all of them being raised by nannies as well.

“Brothers or sisters?”

“One of each,” he discloses, the gentle smile growing wider.

“Do you boss them around as much as you boss me around?”

“Hardly.” A laugh bubbles out of his throat. “I’m the youngest, so I’m usually the one getting bossed.”

“So you’re projecting that irritation on me?” The question is asked with humor, but his smile fades away.

“I’ve been hired to keep you safe.”

“To keep my parents’ reputation safe,” I clarify.

“You,” he repeats, turning his head to face me as he slows at a red light. “I’m not here for them, Remington. I’m here for you.”

“Me,” I muse, breaking eye contact because looking at him while he’s so serious makes my head spin.

“If you want to leave the house in the middle of the night, just wake me up and I’ll go with you. If you want to run around New York, just tell me and I’ll make arrangements for you to do so safely. If you want a little danger, I know a company that will abduct you all the while keeping you safe. There are ways to get your thrills without putting yourself in harm’s way.”

My jaw drops. “Things like that exist?”

“Safe adrenaline rushes?” He scoffs. “Of course it does.”

I don’t know how to explain that it’s attention I’m after. I don’t want to pay someone to give me thrills. I want someone in my life that wants to be there, someone that shows me attention because they need the same from me. Someone who is around by choice, not because they’re being paid to be there. Just feeling this way makes me feel desperate and pitiful.

Conversation dries up as I get lost in thoughts of what it would feel like to be wanted by anyone with sincerity. Not particularly in a sexual way, but just a friend who doesn’t expect anything from me. Someone who smiles when they hear my name and wants to call me the minute something exciting happens in their life.

“Interested?”

I jolt from my thoughts at the sound of his voice. “What?”

He points to the building in front of my parked car. “Think you can handle it?”

The marque on the side of the old building touts a horror movie marathon, and a slow smile spreads across my face.

“I love scary movies.”

I hate scary movies. Since I’m always alone, lost in my own head, watching things that traumatize people are no fun for me, but I’d never admit it out loud. I’ve spent the last couple of days pretending to be brave and unstoppable around this man, and now isn’t the time to stop.

“If you’re too scared, I’ll understand.”

“Scared?” I scoff. “I’m not scared.”

“Let’s go then.”

I climb out of the car before he can make it around to my side, ignoring the frown on his pretty lips.

He pays for our tickets at the counter, adding two large drinks and a bucket of popcorn without even asking, placing it on the armrest between us when we settle into our seats. The theater is nearly empty but I wouldn’t expect any less this late in the evening on a Wednesday night, especially in a dated theater showing decades-old movies back-to-back.

The first movie isn’t so bad, and I’m having enough fun that when I excuse myself to use the restroom, I find myself actually returning to the theater and sitting down beside him.

The second movie on the other hand hits a little closer to home, and I’m tense from the opening scene. The woman running for her life through the darkness is enough to prevent me from pulling another stunt like last night.

I screech when the killer jumps out and tackles her to the ground. Flynn doesn’t laugh at me or