Page 54 of Duplicitous
“This is ridiculous,” I huff. “You have no right to steal my phone.”
He quirks a brow. “And you won’t go to the police to get it back from me, will you? No,” he cuts me off before I can issue another retort. “You won’t even do that to report your stalker. So instead, you have me. That won’t change, Lena. I’m here for you, whether you like it or not. I’ll protect you.”
“I’m protectingyou!” I burst out.
His stern expression softens, but he doesn’t lower my phone. “What do you mean?”
I press my lips together, unwilling to share more vulnerable information. I can’t risk a connection with Rand. It will put him in my stalker’s crosshairs.
“Ah,” he says, reading me far too easily. “You think my proximity to you will put me in danger.”
“I don’t want him to see you with me,” I say quickly. “So give me my phone, and go back to the university. I’m sorry I involved you.”
“I’m not afraid of your stalker.” He spreads his massive arms wide. “Look at me. I can take care of myself.”
“He has a knife.”
My stalker clearly isn’t afraid of using a deadly weapon. He cut Rich’s throat.
“And I have years of experience in MMA,” Rand counters, calm and reasonable. “I know how to disarm someone.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt.”
I can’t bear it if I’m the reason he ends up dead. It’s happened too many times before.
He cocks his head at me, and he seems to peer straight into me. “I’m going to protect you. What you want won’t change that.”
I gape at him. “I didn’t realize white knights could be so rude.”
He chuckles, and the rich, deep sound soothes some of my jittery nerves.
“I’m no white knight,” he counters. “I’ll be as rude as necessary to keep you safe.”
I sigh, most of the fight going out of me. “Fine.”
“Fine?” he repeats.
I gesture at his bulky body. “As you said, you’re very intimidating. I don’t think there’s much I can do to stop you from staying with me if you won’t listen to reason.”
“Good,” he approves. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”
16
KAROLINA
“You don’t have to do this,” I say as Rand opens the door to the café for me. “All I need is a walk home.”
He peers down at me, incisive. “Have you eaten today?”
I wave away his concern. “I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”
He sighs. “You’re pale, and your hands are shaking. You need to eat.”
I clench my fists, and he lifts a brow. It’s far too late to try to hide the fact that I’m trembling slightly.
“It’s weird for me to have lunch with my professor,” I say quietly.
That’s a legitimate concern. I don’t want anyone from the university to see us together and get the wrong impression.
