Page 185 of The Heart You Kept

“I never said that.”

“It’s the place with the sandstone on the right.”

“Yes, I know.”

I push the remote and the garage door slowly goes up, we pull into the driveway and it’s then I see the car of guards pull in behind us. Damn it, I thought I had him to myself for a while.

“Are they coming?” I frown.

His eyes flick over to me as if surprised. “No. They just….” He gives an embarrassed shrug. “Have to check the place and then I’ll tell them to go.”

“Check for what?”

“Just the safety of things.”

It’s all I can do not to roll my eyes. “Do they think I have someone in here waiting to take you out?”

“Do you?”

“Do I count?” I clench a fist. “I reckon I could beat you in a fight.”

“I have no doubt.” He smiles as he drives into my garage, suddenly the sound of the engine echoes loudly off the walls. It’s like a low and rumbling jet plane.

“Are you serious?” I laugh. “What even is this car?”

“Don’t you love it?” He puts his foot on the pedal and it roars loudly.

“Stop.” I laugh. “The neighbors will call the police.” He turns the engine off and the garage falls silent. Philippe and Stefan and one other man are in the car, I have seen him before but I don’t know his name. He must be Edward’s personal guard, he’s so huge he looks like the Terminator. They walk up the driveway and into the garage. “Hello,” I say awkwardly.

Edward must sense my agitation at them being here. “Just come in and look around and then I’ll be fine, you can go.”

“I—” They exchange glances.

“I’ll be fine.” Edward cuts him off. “Nobody knows I’m here and we weren’t followed.”

They still don’t seem mollified.

“We won’t leave the house,” I tell them as I hold the remote up to close the garage door. “This way.” I open the internal door and secretly want to die.

“This is Aleki.” He introduces me to the other man, he’s Polynesian or maybe Hawaiian, very handsome, and very scary.

“Hello.” I smile.

He nods but doesn’t say anything, how many women has he met in the past?

Insecurity screams through my bloodstream, they are used to rich women in palaces and here I am…my house is anything but rich.

We walk in and my eyes flick to Edward in a silent plea. Get them out of my house.

“You have two minutes,” he tells them.

They walk past us and begin to look around, they open the cupboard doors and peel the curtains back to check the window locks before disappearing upstairs. I stand on the spot, feeling violated.

“They’ll be gone in a minute,” Edward says softly.

I nod, I know this isn’t his fault but damn it, I hate this invasion of privacy. While he’s out and about is one thing, but damn it.

This is my home.