HER BODYGUARD

Phoebe stared at Katherine in disbelief. Then she came and put her hands around her. “What exactly is happening here?” she asked. “I thought this was what you wanted”

Kimberly replied by shedding more tears and shaking her head.

Phoebe held Kimberly’s face in her hands and lifted her head. “What is the problem, Kim?” she asked again. “Didn’t you want it to be negative?”

Kimberly shook her head. “I don’t know.” she said. “I mean, I know that I was scared about the result being positive. You know, being a mom isn’t really an easy job, and I have never really thought about having a baby. But these past few days, I think that despite the fear, maybe a part of me fell in love with the idea. I know it sounds stupid Pheebs. I know because It sounds stupid to me too. How can I be so worried and sad about losing something that I didn’t even have in the first place?”

Phoebe smiled, trying to comfort her.”I don’t think it’s stupid Kim” she said.

Kimberly sniffed. “You don’t?” she said.

“Yeah I don’t” Kimberly replied. “I think somehow, a part of you wanted to be pregnant. To have a baby. And I know you, you love kids. And there is nothing wrong with falling in love with the idea of having one of your own. In a way this is kind of a good thing, because now you know exactly how you feel about this, so next time if something like this happens, you will know what to do ”

Kimberly smiled.” Thanks Pheebs “she said.”Maybe there is a reason why it happened this way. You know me. I want a family, a husband…. And I don’t think anything like that is ever going to happen with a guy like Asher. He’s just here for his job, and maybe that night he just wanted me because you know… It was cold, we were alone, I seduced him and the moment was just right. But I highly doubt he wants me for anything long term.. And I don’t think I want a guy like that ” She breathed deeply.”I’m sure he will be very relieved when I tell him that I’m not pregnant”

“It’s okay” Phoebe said. “Whatever happens, all you need to know is that I’m going to be here for you. To help you in anyway that I can. And when you become a mom, I’m sure that you will do a great job of it. It’s who you are. You do every thing right”

Kimberly smiled and gave her a big hug. “Thank you Phoebe,” she said. “You are amazing”

———————–

The kitchen door creaked softly behind him. Asher turned to see Kimberly, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly opened. They stared at each other for a few seconds before he finally asked.

“Are you alright?”

She nodded. “I tried to sleep but I couldn’t,” she said, “so I decided to come get a glass of water?”

“You’ve been through a lot.” he said.

Understatement of the year, but he’d leave it at that. He waited for her to say more, but she didn’t. She just stood there, watching him. “Is something wrong?” he asked.

What had woken her? “Did I make some noise that woke you up again? I’m sorry, I tried to be careful this time”

Kimberly shook her head as she walked deeper into the kitchen. “No. No. You didn’t wake me “she said.” I just had a nightmare. Actually, I have been having it a lot”

Asher sat up and stared at her. “A recurring nightmare? How long have you been having those?” he asked.

“Since I moved back here from my dad’s” she said. “It always starts the same way.”

She gradually moved to the seat next to him at the table, and Asher fought his body’s typical response to a half-clothed female, and its unique response to Kimberly. Everything about this woman did more to him, made him feel more, sense more, want more.

But she wasn’t ready for that. She’d been through too much, and he wanted her to continue trusting him and let him protect her. There was no way he’d stop protecting her, ever. And that was why he knew that what happened in his SUV could never happen again. No matter how much he wanted it to.

“Starts that way?” he asked, that protective nature kicking in, thankfully, and overpowering his baser needs.

“Yes. I am always back in my living room and running from him, from Alex, trying to escape him, but-” She stopped and tilted her head as though remembering the nightmare.

“But?” Asher prompted.

“He seems to always get me.” She said. “And there is no one around to help me. I usually wake up feeling scared and alone and I have this bad feeling. Like the one I used to have before I was kidnapped. Like someone was after me. It all started when I came back here so I don’t know if it’s just some kind of trauma from what I went through. But it just feels so real when I wake up ” she paused, and when he didn’t say anything she added.” Look I know it sounds stupid, okay? I just-”

“No, Kim,” Asher said. “I don’t think it sounds stupid at all”

“You don’t?” she asked.

He shook his head. “I don’t. It’s perfectly okay and normal to feel scared sometimes. But I don’t want you to be, because I’m here for you. I’m here to protect you and I will not let any harm come to you”

Kimberly smiled at him. “Thanks,” she said. “I know that I haven’t really said it, but I’m glad that you are here and that I don’t have to be alone right now. I know it’s your job but… Thanks”

He nodded. “You are welcome,” she said.RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

She stared at his laptop. “So what are you doing up by this time?” she asked.

“Working” he said, then added. “Another case”

“Don’t you get tired sometimes?” She asked. “It’s almost like you don’t rest”

He stared at her. “Beginning to care about me?” he asked teasingly and Kimberly smiled back.

“Won’t be such a bad thing if I did,” she said. She stared at his laptop when the screen saver pictures changed to an elderly woman. “Who is that?” she asked.

“My mother,” he said simply after a few seconds.