Page 58 of Loving Her Enemy

“She’s feeling a little better, but it’ll be a few days before she recovers and almost two weeks before the stitches come out,” Halayna heard Sloane say as he strolled into the bedroom. “And stop sending my woman flowers and candy. That shit’s not cool.”

Halayna smiled. He must’ve been talking to Reece because Reece had sent her the most gorgeous get-well flower arrangement. He had also had a pound of Belgium chocolate delivered. That had actually come from Belgium.

But what really made her day was the way he had signed the card. Hurry and get well! From: Your big brother.

Halayna loved her new life. She finally had a family who she wouldn’t trade in for the world.

“Man, I don’t have time for your nonsense. I’m sure she’ll call you soon. Later.”

When Sloane came into view, Halayna smiled at him. He returned her smile while setting down the tray he was carrying.

“Hey, beautiful,” he said and leaned in and kissed her. “It’s good to see you up. Does your head still hurt?”

“Yes, but not bad enough for me to take any more pain pills.”

She didn’t like taking them because though they helped, they made her feel loopy before they knocked her out.

“Okay, come on,” Sloane said, and Halayna gasped when he lifted her out of the chair.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m putting you back to bed because I want to serve you dinner in bed, and before you tell me you’re not hungry, don’t.”

Halayna chuckled and leaned into him as he took her back to the bedroom and gently set her on the bed, her back against the velvet headboard. He’d been treating her like fine china from the moment they left the hospital, and though she normally didn’t like a lot of attention, Halayna loved how well he took care of her.

She still couldn’t believe he had professed his love to her. That they had professed their love for each other. How it would affect their marriage agreement, she wasn’t sure, but for her, all that mattered was that their feelings were mutual.

Now she knew what it was like to be loved by a good man. Owen kicking her to the curb was the best thing he ever could’ve done for her, and if she ever saw him again, she might thank him. Actually, she didn’t care if she never saw him again. If she was lucky, he was rotting in hell.

“Let’s eat,” Sloane said, positioning the oversize tray between them on the bed.

It was loaded with food, and the aroma coming from the dishes did their job. She was suddenly hungry.

“We have Philly cheesesteak sliders, shrimp with shrimp cocktail, baked caprese bites, stuffed mushrooms, and raw vegetables. For dessert, we have chocolate-covered strawberries,” he said pointing to the glass covered dish on his nightstand.

“Hmm… finger foods,” she said, liking the idea as she picked up a slider.

“Exactly. A picnic in bed,” Sloane said, sounding proud of himself, and Halayna grinned at him.

They ate in silence until Sloane spoke again. “Do you want a female for your security detail or a male?”

And just like that her appetite was gone.

Halayna had known the conversation was coming, but she wasn’t ready. She wasn’t ready to admit that, though her life had changed for the good in most ways, having a security detail reminded her how she was losing some of her privacy, as well as her independence. For now on, once she stepped out of the house, she wouldn’t even be able to go to the bathroom alone.

Could she really live like that?

“I promise it won’t be as bad as you might think,” Sloane said as if reading her mind. “But I have to know you’re safe. It would kill me if anything like what happened yesterday happened again.”

Halayna didn’t respond. So, he continued.

“I should’ve prepared you better for this part of my life. Though I hate you were ambushed by the press yesterday, it could’ve been worse. You could’ve been kidnapped.”

Halayna swallowed hard and laid her head back against the headboard. “If you’re trying to scare me more, it’s working. I already don’t want to ever leave home again, and the thought of someone snatching me off the street is terrifying.”

He brushed the back of his fingers down her cheek. “I know, baby, but now you’re married to me, and people can use you to try to get to me. Or take you and demand a ransom. That stuff doesn’t just happen on TV or in books, it’s real, and hell yeah, it’s scary.”

Halayna thought about the wealthy and famous people, as well as entertainers she often saw online or on TV. This was what they had to endure. They couldn’t walk around alone, always having to have security with them, and God help those who had children.