"I know it's your job but could you stop staring at me so much it's making my feel kinda funny," she whispers to her bodyguard as they walk through the park.
"Considering all of you is my job, no," Klaus says with a smile that has her reeling on the inside not that she'd ever admit it.
She wouldn't delude herself into thinking he liked her even just a little bit, even just for a moment because Caroline was the girl her father sheltered in a big white house.
There were too many strings attached to her for anyone to get close so she shrugged off his smile and focused on his answer before storming off.
He walked quickly after her his hand catching her arm, "Don't take off like that," he says his grip becoming lighter as she slowed down walking next to him.
"I just needed air," she told him, "You didn't need to come with me," she shakes her arm free from his hold but doesn't move to go faster.
He covers his microphone as he looks to her, "I just need to know that you're safe Caroline," he tells her like he always does with that light voice only she can hear.
Her eyes meet his as he walks her back up the old steps of her temporary home, "And I am," she tells him as they make it back inside.
"I'm not gonna be the president's daughter much longer, she murmurs to herself as she watches the decorations of the final ball being set up around her.
"Caroline," her mother calls from the stairs distracting Caroline as she senses Klaus move out of her space into one that's more appropriate.
"Aren't you supposed to be getting ready for tonight?" she asks as Caroline meets her at the foot of the stairs shutting her eyes as her mother squeezes her.
"I just needed a moment," she replied looking from her mom to Klaus, "I'll be heading up to my room now," she said to them both as she walked dutifully up the stairs.
I love that color on you," her mother compliments Klaus as she opens the door for him while Caroline stands in front of her full length mirror.
Her eyes meet his in the reflection as he steps inside seeing her in full garb for the ball this evening, "Thank you," he replies as he steps further inside.
"Come to check up on me," she asks a little out of breath from how tight her blue dress is and the way his eyes take in every inch of her.
She teases him when he looks at her like that often drawing a smile as she tells him it looks like he's taking inventory, cataloging every hair in place and every blush his way.
She's a vision the way only Caroline could be to him, "You look beautiful," he tells her ignoring her mother and their maid in the room.
"Too bad there's no one on her arm to say so," her mother interjects causing him to stiffen as he looks over at Caroline who rolls her eyes.
"Thank you," she says accepting his compliment as she turns around disregarding her mother, "Will you escort me down," she requests surprising him her hand out waiting for his arm.
Surprised he smiles, "It would be my honor," Klaus replies his hand slipping under hers as he bows to kiss the back of her hand his breath lingering over her fingers.
She looks up to see if anyone is paying attention but they've all gone by then, "You're being too nice to me," she tells him as he straightens.
"Not true," he denies with a grin, "You're technically my boss I have to be nicer to you than I am to most people."
"You maim or injure most people," she reminds him with a tilt of her head in his direction catching a whiff of his cologne.
"True," he returns unsure of why she's cold because he feels her shiver, "But I wouldn't hurt you," he says to her not daring to dream her shiver was for him.
They reach her door and Klaus pulls it open quietly not wanting to interrupt the pensive look Caroline had going on her face.
"So when next week is over you won't be so nice to me," she asks him as they turn the corner hearing the ball in full swing below their feet.
"When next week is over I'd like the chance to see you just as often," he replies with a sheepish look, "Maybe under more intimate circumstances."
"What," she says uncouthly in a bit of a daze his sad eyes pulling her back as they began announcing her friends downstairs.
"Companionable, chummy?" he asks offering up other words instead while nudging her down the hallway unsure of why he stepped over that line professionalism.
Though he knew why, since the first day he met Caroline Forbes it hit him like a ton of bricks, each day with her was a new experience.
Each moment created a feeling that grew inside of him, she quickly became his muse though he hid it well enough until this moment.
She heard her name called as they descended the staircase Klaus releasing her hand delicately as she waved to the cameras once before stepping down.
He followed after her but kept a noticeable distance that had Caroline moving slower through the crowd forcing him to move up with her.
She smiled as she turned to look at him, ton anyone else it might have seemed like she was fixing his collar as she whispered, "Meet me outside on the terrace."
He didn't have a chance to tell her that was unsafe and was off limits for the evening as her father had commanded it because she was gone in the next second.
He looked to his right spotting her making her way around the room her eyes drifting from him to whichever person she found herself being caught by.
Klaus steadily followed her feeling a bit paranoid about it but in the end it was his job to be her shadow so he did ignoring the looks the other guards were giving him as he went.
When he arrived she was looking down her hands on the terrace as she sighed, "Were you just teasing me," she asked vulnerability coming off of her in waves.
He approached her cautiously as she turned the sound of her dress rustling was the only thing heard as she waited for his reply.
"No, you know better than anyone I speak honestly," he said feeling her trepidation lessen as he approached her, his hand darting out to touch her.
"That's true," she agrees with him her eyes brimming at the way he looks at her, she admits it to herself, she wanted him to mean it because then she hadn't imagined all of it.
Klaus hears a ballad begin a smile illuminating his face as his hand places hers on his shoulder, "Would you dance with me," he asks softly wishing he could taste her tempting lips but denies himself.
"Yes," she replies holding onto him as he takes the lead, "I can't wait until next week," she tells him as the lights in the courtyard begin to sparkle in the moonlight.