Her Guardians: Her Guardians Trilogy Book 1 (7 page)

“You really are going to get me into so much trouble
, Twinkles.”

I open
ed my eyes, about to question what he meant, but he was so close now. Our lips were inches away from touching and the thought of that seemed to override any rational thinking.

I s
tood still and waited. It was a strange feeling to actually want to have someone kiss me. I have kissed guys before, but I already knew what they were thinking beforehand so it was so off-putting that I never enjoyed it. With Stephen, it was different. I was in sweet, ignorant bliss. Sweet, heavenly, torturous, ignorant bliss. With him, I could let my walls down, have him kiss me with the need to kiss him back.

He was my game changer.

Some sort of electric pulse ran through me as he tilted my head slightly to meet his lips. I waited in agony for that first feel of his mouth on mine. Time seemed to stand still and all noise was drowned out. That is, until the door slammed open.

Jumping out of my skin
, I quickly remembered where I was. Any thoughts of kissing were now replaced with a certain amount of fear at being caught. Stephen turned toward the door and, with his hand behind his back, hands me a mint. Thank goodness he thought of everything.

“What are you doing in here?”
Michael huffed in our direction, looking every bit the predatory male he most probably was.

“Just showing Cassie the breathalyser machine
. That’s all. She’s on her break. We’re not doing anything wrong.”

Quickly popping
the mint in my mouth, I used Stephen as a shield to hide me. Michael didn’t look impressed at all. In fact, he looked really pissed off.

“You shouldn’t be in here.
Cassie, maybe it’s time you got back to work.”

I nod
ded, feeling a little guilty about being here now that we were caught.

W
alking around Stephen, I headed for the door. “Twinkles!” Stephen shouted. I looked around and found him smiling. “I’ll catch up with you tomorrow, okay?”

Another feeling quickly hit me the moment I
stared back at him. It was the feeling of excitement. I was actually looking forward to seeing him again.

I waved my goodbye and
, as I walked out of the door, I heard Stephen’s voice. “You know, you really need to loosen up a little, man. It’s like you have a constant broom stuck up your arse.”

As I
walked down the hall, I couldn’t help but laugh. At least I wasn’t the only one who noticed how moody he was.

Once at my desk,
Kali looked up at me expectantly. “So,” she began, “how did it go?”

I felt a little embarrassed all of a sudden.
What could I possibly say to her? She fancied him only yesterday. “It was good, thanks. Just had a couple of drinks with the guys, that’s all. Nothing major.”

She smirked
, but said nothing.

I
n an effort to look nonchalant, I sat down at my desk and tried to go through some of the cases I had stashed in my IN tray. It was hard, though, as my head was still a little fuzzy from the alcohol. It didn’t help that I kept thinking about Stephen and the emotions I didn’t know how to handle. It was strange. Despite Michael hating my guts, I still had this strange obsession with him. Stephen, on the other hand, made me feel special and wanted. I never thought I would ever be caught in the middle of two very different, very hot men. Michael was moody, arrogant, sexy, but very unobtainable. Stephen, on the other hand, was sweet, gentle, and seemed to be there for me. He seemed to
want
to be there for me. In fact, since we met, he was making all the effort to do so.

That
sounded bad. I only met him yesterday. I didn’t know anything about him, but I was going to let him kiss me in the breathalyser room only a few minutes ago. This was really not the Cassie Johnson I knew for the last twenty-five years.

**********

The remainder of the day, I kept my head down and worked until it was time to go home. I felt guilty for letting myself feel this way. I shouldn’t be having these problems at all. I was so used to being Cassie, the quiet one without a relationship. Cassie, the girl who seemed to be a loner, but liked to have close friends. I never knew I would be the girl who lusted after two men at the same time. Oh, god. Now I was saying “two men” and “lusted” in the same sentence. I think I needed to get a grip.

In my haze
, I very nearly missed Michael opening the door for me as I was walking out. I thanked him, but all he did was huff at me.

Feeling a little brave all of a sudden
, I decided to go for the kill. “Hey, what’s your problem, Michael?”

He turned around and faced me with a slight glare.
“Excuse me?”

“You always look so pissed at me all the time.
I’ve never given you any reason not to be nice to me.”

Tapping his foot, he shook his head.
“Oh, I do apologise, Princess Cassie. I didn’t realise I was hurting your feelings. Just because every other man bows down to your feet, you think I should, too. Is that it?”

That hurt—a
lot. I didn’t will it, but the tears were brimming. Michael noticed it straight away and the minute he did, his expression changed. He was about to say something when Ms. Summers walked by.

“Cassie, dear, you look upset. Is everything okay?” I could see the concern in her eyes and I didn’t want her to worry about me.

“Yes
, Ms. Summers. Everything is fine, thank you.”

She relaxed a little and came closer
, smiling. “I just wanted to thank you so much for getting that extra chocolate item that wasn’t on my list. It really was very nice.” She turned to Michael and smiled. “Cassie is such a wonderful, sweet girl. She knows how bad my arthritis gets at times and often brings me some groceries.”

She grabbed my arm,
squeezing it gently. I couldn’t believe the look on Michael’s face when I turned to look back at him. Did he actually feel ashamed?

“That
is
very kind. Cassie is one special lady.”

I stared
, my eyes bulging out of my head. I couldn’t believe he just said that. I wondered if he was still being this obnoxious, sarcastic, self-opinionated prick, still playing a game. I hoped not, as that really would be cruel.

“Good
. Well, I must go, dear, as I have errands to run. I shall see you soon, Cassie.”

Snapping my head away from Michael
, I faced Ms. Summers again with a bright smile. “Sure thing, Ms. Summers. Are you sure you’re okay to be out today? I can do some errands for you, if you’d like?”

She vehemently
shook her head. “No, dear. You do enough for me as it is. I’m having a good day today and good days mean a nice gentle stroll. You know what I’m like.”

She gave
me a mischievous smile and I couldn’t help but laugh. Waving goodbye to us both, she walked off, and I was left standing—once again—opposite an arsehole.

“I’m going home,” I stated.

“Listen.” He sprinted after me. “I’m sorry about what I said. It was cruel of me. I’ve obviously judged you completely wrong and I’m an idiot. I realise I haven’t been the kindest person towards you and I deeply regret it. Can we start over?”

He offer
ed me his hand and I inwardly gasped. This was my opportunity to find out about the all-important Michael Andrews, the man who had been my obsession for the last six months. It was finally my time and my heart was suddenly doing the can-can.

For some really strang
e reason, though, my hands gripped the insides of my coat pocket. It was almost like my subconscious didn’t want to know. What if I was really disappointed with what I found? Then again, what if I wasn’t?

I smile
d at him and he returned it, before relaxing his hand by his side. The moment was lost, and I mentally kicked myself for it. I’m not sure when I would be able to get an opportunity like that again.

“Do you mind if I walk with you for a while?”

I was shocked again. He really was trying to make an effort. “You know you don’t have to.”

“I know,” he said
, smiling. “I want to.”

Oh dear
. That familiar ache I had with Stephen was back.
Cassie Johnson, you really are in big trouble!

“So,” Michael began as we walk
ed towards the place I call home. “How long have you lived in Fulham?”

“How do you know I live in Fulham
?” I didn’t realise he knew that much about me.

“I’ve just heard you mention it in
The Canteen once or twice, that’s all.”

I smile
d, wondering if that was a purposeful thing or not. “I’ve lived here nearly my whole life.”

“What about family?
Do you live on your own, or with your parents?”

“I live on my own.
My parents died when I was a little girl. My uncle raised me.”

He looked
off into space, thinking for a moment. “I’m sorry to hear that, Cassie.” His kind gesture seemed sincere so I smiled at him, a little lost in his beautiful face.

“Cassie!
” shouts my uncle from afar.

My head snapped
up to find him running towards us. My uncle was always on the smallish size, but had a little potbelly which looked kind of endearing on him. He was bald, but he liked it that way.

“Hi
, Uncle Billy. How are you? Michael, this is Uncle Billy. Billy, this is Michael. He’s a police officer.”

“Wow,” he
said unashamedly. “Are you two—?”

“No!
” I snapped a little too quickly. That was another thing about my uncle. He was a little too up front with what he was thinking. I still loved him to bits, though. I always have.

“Cassie, I have some excitin
g news. I have this agency who wants to take a look at my portfolio, and I wanted to speak to you about doing something new. It looks like it may be my lucky day.” He poured his eyes over Michael.

I roll
ed my own. “No, Billy, that isn’t happening.” I couldn’t believe he was doing this.

“Oh
, come on, Cassie. This could be my big break. You two would look amazing together on camera.”

“Excuse me—
what?” Michael sputtered a little, almost making me laugh.

“My uncle wants you and
me to get in front of the camera so he can take some shots for his portfolio.” I felt really embarrassed for us both.

“Can I speak with y
ou for a second?” Turning to me, Michael gently placed his hand on my elbow.

I nod
, looking confused, as Michael pulled me to one side and out of earshot of Billy.

Once he
knew my uncle couldn’t hear anything, he leaned in. “Is this something you’re happy to do normally?”

“Yes
. He’s my uncle and I love him. I owe him a lot for all the years he has put in raising me like a daughter. I’m only too happy to do it for him.”

“Well then
, that’s settled.” He turned his head toward Billy. “These photographs will not go public, will they?”

“No, of course not.
They are for my portfolio only. I would never do such a thing unless I had Cassie’s blessing.” My uncle winked at me and I couldn’t help but smile. I was wondering why on earth Michael was going along with this. Did he feel like he owed me? I hoped not.

“I really don’t want to waste any
more time. Can you both come with me?”

I was flabbergasted.
I couldn’t believe he was asking this. “What? You want to do this now?”

“No time like the present
, dear Cassie.”

I turn
ed to Michael, but he just shrugged. “I finished a couple of hours ago, so I’m good if you are.”

I couldn’t believe this day.
It really was a roller coaster ride. “Okay,” I said, shrugging my shoulders. “Let’s get going then.”