Page 265 of Caterina
“It’s exactly what it says.”
Her expression sharpens, hurt turning into confusion again, confusion turning quickly into anger. “Your resignation?”
“Yes.”
“As my bodyguard.”
“Yes.”
She stares at me for one long second.
Then she looks down at the paper again, as if it has personally betrayed her.
“Are you out of your mind?”
“Not currently.”
“Not currently?” Her voice rises. “Adrian, I am standing here heavily pregnant with your child, in the garden where you almost died protecting me, and you are handing me resignation paperwork?”
“Yes.”
“That is your answer?”
“It’s the accurate one.”
Her eyes flash. “I swear to God, I will throw you into those roses.”
“You shouldn’t lift anything heavy.”
“I hate you.”
“You love me.”
“I thought I did. I must’ve been out of my mind.” She folds her arms over her chest, the paper still held in one hand. “Adrian, you haven’t been my personal protection detail for months.”
Caterina angry is easier than Caterina hurt, and she is both right now.
Then she waves the paper at me. “Explain.”
“When I came here, I had more than one intention,” I say.
Her face registers confusion again. She was obviously not expecting this.
“I took the job because I wanted an excuse to check on Teresa,” I continue. “She went missing, and I wanted to make sure she was… well, not being held against her will.”
Caterina smiles at that.
“Of course, I intended to protect you. I do not take a job unless I mean to do it properly. But at the start, that’s what it was. Just a job.”
Her eyes search mine.
“That lasted until the moment I saw you.”
Her lips part.
I take a step closer.
“The second you opened your front door and looked at me like I was the enemy, it stopped being simple.”
