Rugged Guard - Jason Collins Page 0,43
a stovetop that’d been left on for a little too long, a busy man’s forgetful moment as he went about with the rest of his day. I was thankful for it, since I had Derek’s words rattling around in my brain, his admission that he’d be willing to follow me into another fire.
What the hell was that about, anyway?
Was that just Derek’s way of keeping me from acting too rash? He had to know that telling me that would make me second-guess myself, a pit in my stomach forming just at the thought of putting Derek in danger if I happened to put myself in danger, too.
And as we headed back toward the Bed & Breakfast, walking from the parking lot to the main building, I couldn’t keep myself from asking him about it for even one second more.
“What was that?”
“What was what?”
“Back when we were in the car, before the fire…” I started. “When you told me that you would’ve followed me into another fire… why’d you say that?”
“What do you mean?”
“Were you just trying to get me not to do it?” I suggested. “Was that a psychological trick? Something they teach you at bodyguard school?”
“Bodyguard school?” Derek chuckled at the phrase. “No, I wasn’t playing a mind trick on you or anything, Parker. I was just telling you the truth.”
“But I’m not… you don’t…” I stammered over my response.
Just as I failed to come up with something to say, I felt Derek’s lips pressing against my own, his kiss warm and welcoming.
“Don’t act so surprised when people care about you,” he murmured, his mouth still so close to mine. “You’re incredibly easy to care about, Parker Williams.”
“Derek—”
“There you are!” Iris shouted at us both, a wooden spoon firmly in her grip. “Are you two coming to dinner or what? I’ve been slaving over a pot of stew all afternoon.”
“Wait. What?” I quirked an eyebrow in her direction. “But we were in the main house this afternoon, and I don’t remember seeing you doing any cooking—”
“Fine! You caught me!” Iris went on. “I ordered the food from a restaurant down the street. But don’t tell Eddie that. Or Austin. I want to watch them compliment me on a delicious, home-cooked meal before I hit them with the big reveal.”
“Austin is still here?” Derek asked.
“You say that like you’re aware that he has somewhere else he needs to be?” Iris aimed her reply at Derek. “The boy is lost, Mr. Lavine. Although, I’m sure when he finds himself, he’ll be out of Park City, first thing that morning, whenever it comes.”
“Huh.” Derek hummed and glanced away from the conversation, almost like his mind had wandered somewhere else.
I wanted to ask him what was on his mind, but before I had a chance to voice the question, Iris was nudging me toward the front door of the B&B, my footsteps following along with her unspoken instruction.
Derek had been watching Austin all night.
I’d tried to pretend like I didn’t notice the first glance or two, but by the third time, Derek’s focus clearly trained on Austin, I felt something twist my stomach into a knot.
Did they know each other?
Why did Derek care about Austin still staying at the Bed & Breakfast? And why, when Austin casually asked about extending his stay even further, did Derek seem to flinch at the mere suggestion?
I somehow managed to keep my thoughts to myself during dinner, forcing myself to stay quiet through spoonful after spoonful of Iris’ “homemade” take-out chicken and sausage stew. But as soon as everyone had disappeared from the table, leaving me and Derek on our own, I couldn’t hold back the words, no matter how hard I tried to.
“Derek?” I quietly asked, looking over at him on the other side of the dining room table.
“Yeah?” Derek still seemed so distracted, his dinner half-eaten and his response sounding only half-present. “Did you need something, Parker?”
“Did you… and Austin…” I mumbled out the question. “Before we started…”
“What?” Derek snapped back into the moment. “Did you just ask me if I ever slept with Austin?”
“You were staring at him a lot, during dinner,” I continued. “I just thought—”
“How long has Austin been staying here? At the Bed & Breakfast?”
“A few weeks now. Why?”
“Before or after your dad passed away?”
“After.” My stomach twisted into knots all over again. “Derek, why do you care so much about Austin—”
“What does he do for work?”
“I don’t know.”
“How is he paying for this stay then? Personal card? Business card?”
“Personal, I