Roman found Blair at her desk, her fingers moving rapidly over her keyboard, eyes focused on the screen. She barely looked up as he leaned against the edge of her desk, watching her. She was so beautiful and so graceful.
“Are you ready to leave?” His voice was calm, but there was an underlying authority that always accompanied his words. He wanted to take her home. He wondered if she realized he had taken her that last time without protection. Just the thought of it made his sex jump, and he wanted to do it again. The thought of her round with his child was a huge turn–on.
Blair glanced up briefly before looking back at her screen. “I need a few more minutes. You don’t have to wait. I’ll meet you at the bus stop.”
Roman’s jaw tightened. This argument again. “Blair, we’ve been over this. I don’t like you walking to the bus stop when you can just come with me.”
She sighed, sitting back in her chair. “Roman, I’m not ready for people to know yet. I just got out of a relationship with Dan, and jumping straight to you makes me look-”
“Like what?” he cut in, his voice sharp. “Like a woman who realized she deserves better? Like someone who made the right choice? We are getting married, remember?”
“Like I’m flaky,” she muttered. “Like I don’t know what I want. We don’t need to let everyone know straight away that we are getting married. It’s only if Jessica creates problems.”
Roman exhaled slowly, forcing himself to be patient. “You do know what you want, Blair. And it’s not your fault people will talk no matter what.”
She shook her head. “I just need a little more time. Please.”
Roman clenched his jaw but ultimately relented. “Fine. But I don’t like it.”
“Thank you.” She gave him a small smile, trying to ease the tension.
“I’ll give you a few minutes head start,” Roman said, standing upright. “But only a few minutes.”
Blair nodded and returned to her work. She had no idea Roman had already ensured her safety. The moment she walked out of the building, her personal security, someone she didn’t even know existed, would be following her. So it should give him some reassurance, but he still didn’t like it.
Blair pulled her coat tighter around her as she stepped onto the sidewalk, making her way toward the bus stop. The air was crisp, the streets buzzing with people finishing their workday. She didn’t know why Roman was so worried. It wasn’t like it was the middle of the night and no one was around. She kept her pace steady, her mind occupied with thoughts of Roman and everything that had changed so quickly. She hadn’t even asked when he wanted them to get married.
She didn’t notice the car with a dark figure inside that was watching her from across the street.
As she approached the intersection, something felt… off. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She glanced around, but everything seemed normal. She still hesitated from stepping into the street. Then, out of nowhere, a car sped toward
her.
Time slowed, Screech of tires as the car turned towards her too fast. The flash of headlights. The sheer force of something coming straight at her. She looked towards the windscreen, thinking the driver might have lost control, but she couldn’t see anything as the high beam headlights blinded her.
Before she could react, someone slammed into her, knocking her hard onto the pavement just as the car sped past, missing her by inches as it jumped the curb. Her breath left her in a sharp gasp as she hit the ground, disoriented.
“Are you alright?” a deep voice asked urgently.
1/3
16:13 Wed, 18
Chapter 44
O
Blair looked up, dazed, into the face of a man she didn’t recognize. He was built like a wall, his expression tense as he crouched beside her.
“Who-” she started, still trying to catch her breath.
“Your personal security,” he said, helping her sit up. “Stay still for a second.”
Blair blinked at him, the words barely registering. Personal security? What the hell?
94%
“Blair!” Roman’s voice cut through the pounding in her head. He was there within seconds, his expression thunderous as he crouched beside her, his hands running over her, checking for injuries. “Are you hurt?”
“I… I don’t think so,” she stammered, still trying to make sense of what had just happened. “The car-”
Roman’s gaze snapped to the man who had saved her. “Report.”
“Came out of nowhere,” the security guard said. “No plates, no hesitation. This wasn’t an accident. The driver aimed for Miss Warner. It jumped the curb when she didn’t step into the street.”
Blair’s stomach twisted. “You don’t know that. I thought they just lost control.”
Roman’s expression darkened.
She looked between them, her pulse still racing. “And who the hell are you?” she demanded, turning to the man who had tackled her. Then she glared at Roman, telling him with her eyes she was pissed.
“Ethan Cole,” he said, his tone calm but firm. “I’m your personal security. I followed you as soon as you left the building.”
Blair’s eyes widened, her shock turning to something sharper. “You put a bodyguard on me?”
Roman met her glare head–on. “Yes. And considering what just happened, I’d say it was a damn good idea.”
Blair opened her mouth, but the words caught. As much as she wanted to be furious with Roman for making that decision without telling her…. he wasn’t wrong. If Ethan hadn’t been there, she wouldn’t be standing right now.
She exhaled shakily. “So what now?”
“Did you see who was driving the car?”
Ethan shook his head before saying, “My aim was to get Miss Warner out of harm’s way, and I was at the wrong angle when I realized the car was heading straight for her.”
“They had high beams on. I couldn’t see past them,” Blair said.
Roman’s jaw tightened, his protective instincts flaring. “Now, we find out who did this.”
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