I Thought It Was You
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From Chapter 9
She closed his hands into fists and held them firmly.
"Don't ever be sorry to me for what you are feeling. As long as it's because you love."
"God," John whispered. "Natalie, I belong to you."
"And I will take good care of you." Natalie sealed her promise with kiss on each fist.
"And I will protect you with my dying breath."
"I hope that won't be necessary." Natalie let John's hands go and cupped his face.
"Me too." John smiled. "So, you know, what else do you love about me?"
Natalie giggled and buried her face in his neck.
"No, really. I want to know." John bounced her around and cuddled her up against him.
"That, Sir, will require you taking me out on a real date."
"Yes, Ma'am."
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Chapter 10 - Plans
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"Wherever you want, after this case is closed." John stroked her hair.
"I figured I'd have to wait." Natalie sighed and put her chin on John's shoulder.
"That's not all."
"Tell me." Natalie pulled back and looked at John.
"I want you to stay at Llanfair under guard and to not come to work until this is done."
"John!" Natalie squirmed out of his hold and onto the bed to kneel in front of him.
"Don't argue with me." John put his hands on her arms.
"Yeah right." Natalie rolled her eyes. "John, you don't even know if I was poisoned and that it didn't happen at Llanfair. Wouldn't I be safer in a building full of cops? Besides, I want to help."
"I know you do, but I don't want you in danger. And you have an incredible knack for being in danger."
"Which means you should keep your eye on me." Natalie smiled and tilted her head at him.
"Llanfair was a compromise. I'd rather send you out of town completely. But you do have a point about keeping my eye on you." John sighed and pulled her back onto his lap.
"I don't want to stop living my life, John. I can't."
"I'm going to ask your mother to put a bodyguard on you. I'm not going to take any chances with your safety."
"How about a royal food taster?" Natalie put her arms around John's neck.
"That doesn't make me feel better." John put his hand on her head.
"Sorry. You're going to catch this guy. No one is better."
John smiled slightly in acknowledgement of her support.
"Speaking of protecting me bodily, I was wondering when we might be doing something more bodily." Natalie slid her lips over John's cheek and began to nibble his ear.
"Aren't you supposed to be resting?" His smile contradicted his question.
"Perhaps we should lie down?"
"You are a bad girl." John laughed as she tried to pull him down.
"Don't you love that about me?"
"Yeah, I do. But sometimes you give me a heart attack. We are not going to do this here. Proper date first, remember."
Natalie pouted but let John settle her back into a proper position under the sheets while he sat chastely at her side.
"I feel fine."
"And I plan to make sure you stay that way. It's up to Bo when you can come back to work, but you're going to have protection."
Natalie nodded.
John was pacing his hotel room when there was a knock at the door. With a frustrated sigh he went to answer it only to find Antonio on the other side.
"Aren't you supposed to be getting sleep?" Antonio didn't wait for an invite before walking around John into the apartment.
"Now, how do you know I wasn't before you knocked?" John asked.
Antonio just shot John a dubious looked and continued prowling the apartment.
"What are you looking for?" John crossed his arms and stood in front of the closed door.
"Signs of a guy who was just dumped by his girlfriend of a year."
John shrugged and walked over to the pool table and began to bang the balls together with his hands.
"I'm not going to find that, am I?" Antonio's face turned grim.
"Do you have a problem with that?"
"Actually, I don't. When Evangeline told me the news she made a play for me."
John looked at Antonio, an unreadable expression on his face.
"I'd fire her, but the hearing is in two days. I'm meeting with the dean of the law school later to see what I can do."
"Are you going to report her to the ethics board?"
"I may have to. I'm sorry, man."
"I'm not sure that during the time we were together I ever really knew Evangeline." John dropped the pool ball he was toying with and walked over to his little refrigerator. He took out two beers and handed one to Antonio.
"So, you and Natalie." Antonio took a swig of his beer.
John looked at Antonio, measuring. "Do you have a problem with that?"
"If you mess with her again I'm going to have to play big brother and kick your ass."
"You could try." John snorted.
"I will."
"You don't have to worry about that. I love her, man." John shrugged.
"About time you admitted it. Bo told me he sent you home to sleep, but you're still gnawing at the case, aren't you."
John nodded and put his beer down.
"Mind if I take a look?"
"Go right ahead. I think I'm too close to it right now."
"We'll make sure she's safe."
John sent him a silent look of thanks.
End...for now