I Just Need You - J. Nathan Page 0,62
were unfounded. He had reason to worry. “I wanna take you home,” he said, breaking the silence.
“Where do you live?” I asked.
I could hear the smile in his words. “Not to my home. To yours. To see your parents.”
“Oh.”
He pulled back so he could look at me. “Don’t you want to see them?”
“Of course. I’m just scared they won’t let me leave.”
His eyes riveted between mine. “Does that mean you plan on staying here?” he asked.
“I think it’s my only option.”
He rolled me onto my back and settled between my legs, his face hovering over mine. “I am so incredibly proud of you.”
“Why?”
“Yesterday was a shit show. And you could’ve crawled into a ball and lost it. But, look at you. You bounced back like a champ.”
I lowered my gaze, embarrassed by his compliment.
“Kresley, you’re one of the bravest people I know.”
I looked to him and rolled my eyes. “You work with a slew of meat heads packin’ heat. They’re brave.”
“Did you really just say packin’ heat?”
I nodded. “And I called them meat heads.”
“Yeah, I caught that.”
I stared into his eyes, scared of all the feelings rushing through me. Though my heart broke for his losses, I knew him now. And I wanted him in so many ways. “Are you going to let me tell my parents about us?”
His head dropped back. “Fuuuuuck.”
I laughed, not realizing how much I needed to laugh until it was taking over my entire body.
Tristan looked back down at me, smiling at my uncontrollable laughter. “What’s so funny?”
“You.”
His brows shot up. “Oh, yeah?”
I nodded. “And good looking.”
He laughed. “Is that all you like about me?”
My laughter subsided, and I shook my head. “I like that you make me feel.”
“Feel what?”
“Everything.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Tristan
Kresley’s parents had come to the office to meet and interview Marco and me before they hired us, so I hadn’t been to their home before. But when we pulled up to the elaborate gate and a security guard came out of a security booth, it hit me how freaking rich Kresley was.
She leaned across me to look out my open window to speak to the guard. “Hey, Murphy!”
His face lit up. “Hello, Miss Hastings. So good to have you home.”
“It’s nice to be home. Just so you know, the car behind us is with us.”
“I’m still going to need to check it,” he said with an apologetic smile.
She nodded. “Of course.”
He returned to his booth and opened the gate for us. As I drove through, I glanced in the rearview mirror and noticed Murphy standing in front of the gate so Briggs couldn’t pass until he’d checked him. They weren’t taking any risks on the property when it came to security.
A stretch of trees concealed Kresley’s house which couldn’t be seen from the security booth. We drove up the winding driveway bordered by impeccable landscaping. “This is…”
“Obnoxious?” Kresley asked.
“Safe.”
She glanced to me. I hoped that sympathy she’d been showing me since I spewed all my shit earlier would soon disappear from her pretty eyes. I didn’t need her pity. I just needed her.
The driveway soon opened up to a circular brick expanse with a huge fountain in the center. Beyond the fountain was a massive Mediterranean style villa. I took it all in, trying to visualize Kresley growing up there. Did she stubbornly jump in the fountain because she was told not to? Did she weave in and out of the arched walkways while being chased by a nanny?
Her parents rushed out the front door as soon as I pulled to a stop, hurrying over to Kresley’s door.
“Here goes nothing,” she said, before pushing open her door and getting out.
I stepped out but stayed on my side of the car, not really sure what I was supposed to do. I wasn’t exactly her guest.
Her parents sandwiched her in a hug. It was understandable, given she was their little girl. And, less than twenty-four hours before, she’d almost been attacked.
“You’re crushing me,” she said.
They laughed as they released her, stepping back and taking her in, visibly relieved she was standing in front of them in one piece.
Mr. Hastings noticed me standing there. An intimidating glint flashed in his eyes.
Oh, fuck.
He rounded the car and stalked toward me.
I swallowed my nerves, knowing I wanted to be with Kresley, so I’d take whatever he planned to say or do.
He reached out his hand. “Thank you for protecting our daughter.”
I shook his hand. “I swore I’d keep her safe.”
Kresley’s mom hurried over to me and wrapped her arms