Guarded: Worth the Risk

Chapter 8

                                                                                        Natalia

            “Good Morning, Sunshine. Time to get a move on.” Dimitri sing songs as he prances into my bedroom.

            He’s wearing a pair of workout shorts and a t shirt with the sleeves cut off as if he’s going to be working out. If I know any better, I’d say he’s just trying to put on a show for Nico.

            I sit up in my bed, taking a good look at him. My brows furrow a bit before I let out a chuckle.

            “What are you wearing?” I ask amused.

            “Aren’t we going to work out this morning? I saw your hot new bodyguard heading that way when I came in. I think he likes me.” He smiles widely showing off his pearly whites.

            The conversation from last night plays back in my mind. Nico is not into Dimitri, or me or anyone for that matter. He’s emotionally unavailable from what I assume. I’m almost tempted to tell Dimitri about our discussion but stop myself. He’ll only assume that more then just talking happened.

            “I don’t think he’s your type.” I say suddenly feeling a little jealous that Dimitri is trying to hit on him.

            He plops down on the bed next to me with a s**t eating grin on his face. “So, you two have talked. Did he tell you he wasn’t into guys or is that just you speculating?”

            “OK!” I shout out. “We talked… last night- when I nearly killed him with my tea bag tin.”

            “Oh, I gotta hear this.” He grins. “Why were you both up so late? Little late night business meeting?”

            “We’re not discussing this.” I get up from the bed annoyed by his questions.

            “Oh, come on. I’m just saying that maybe he can help relieve the stress and tension your under.”

            “I am not crossing that line again Dimitri. You know what happened the last time I mixed business and pleasure together. I gave up my position within the company and someone died because of it.”

            Dimitri’s face falls and a sadness appears. “I’m sorry, but I just want to see you happy. One of these day’s I’m going to find you a man who won’t break you like the last one did.”

            I let out a loud dramatic sigh. “My love life is perfectly fine the way it is. So, please just stay out of it. I’m fine the way I am.” At least that’s what I tell myself.

            Dimitri likes to think of himself as a hopeless romantic, the match maker of the group. But sometimes he just doesn’t know when to give up. He was there for me and supported me when my heart was shattered in more ways than one. He knows the risks of me entering into another committed relationship, but that won’t ever stop him from trying to fix me up. Maybe if he took his own advice, he wouldn’t be meddling in my love life so much.

            “Well, maybe try to find someone before you turn into Bridget Jones and get eaten by rabid dogs or even worse… turn into Glenn Close from fatal attraction.”

            “At least I’ll have a bottle of wine to keep me company.” I joke back but knowing Dimitri he’s being serious.

            He scoffs, jumps off my bed taking my hands in his pulling me from the comfort of my covers. “Yoga, then we have a Gala to get ready for. Speaking of which, did you invite Mr. Hottie as your date tonight?”

            “Date? No, you know I’m supposed to attend with Mr. O’Brady’s son.”

            “Why did you agree to that again?”

            “Long story.” I sigh walking to my closet to get dressed in workout attire.

            Nico is still in the gym when we arrive. He’s wearing workout shorts and a t-shirt with cut off sleeves this time which is a little disappointing since I won’t be getting another show of those perfectly chiseled abs and chest. But he’s lifting a set up dumbbells and his biceps are bulging as sweat drips down his body. It’s such a turn on. If I were a nurse, I’d be turned on just by the way his veins are popping out as flex’s.

            After our encounter last night, I had the hardest time falling asleep. The thought of Nico in his cops’ uniform, cuffing me from behind while naked kept popping into my mind. God I got to get a grip on the situation. I am not the type of girl he should be with. People who get close to me in intimate ways just end up getting hurt, and I refuse to let that happen to Nico.

            “Good Morning, Dimitri, Natalia.” He finally huffs out when he notices us. “Sleep well?”

            “Fine.” I rush out. In an attempt to not make eye contact, I walk over the treadmill turning it on low at first before increasing the speed.

            I can see Nico laugh and smile when I glance in the mirror back at him. God his laugh is like music to my ears. Deep and Raspy like its coming from deep within.

            He sets down his weights and walks towards me with a flirtatious smile. “Disappointed you didn’t show up in your nighty, but this looks good on you as well.”

            Is he attempting to flirt with me?

            I knew he was checking me out last night.

            It’s just harmless flirting Natalia. It means nothing. Keep it together.

            Our eyes meet, his darkened with lust as I’m sure mine are the same. His lips curve into a bigger smirk. I feel my cheeks heating up at his comment. I swear if he wasn’t my employee, I would totally go for him.

            “Shame I won’t get to see your p***y’s again anytime soon.” I say back in attempt to flirt. Did I just say p***y’s? Oh god, just stop while your ahead Natalia. “That didn’t come out right.” I blurt out in an attempt to stop the embarrassment from consuming me. Now I know my cheeks are red.

            “Sorry, but am I interrupting something?” Dimitri intervenes and for the first time in my life I have never been more grateful. “Are you two flirting? You were, weren’t you?” He waggles his eyebrows looking between Nico and me.

            I quickly break eye contact with Nico, throwing my air pods in my ears in attempt to drown out what just happened between the two of us. “Nope.” I shout out as I increase the speed on the treadmill.

            Nico goes back to doing whatever he does at the gym, and once I’m finished my cardio, Dimitri and I start our yoga. “I know you’re going to tell me it’s none of my business, but you two are totally into one another.”

            “Stop, nothing is going to happen between us.” I breath out as I struggle to stay in downward dog.

            “Could have fooled me. That was a lot of flirting going on back there.” Dimitri fires back.

            “Dimitri.” I warn. “It’s not happening. Nothing is happening between us, so stop wishing something would.”

            “Jeez, don’t get your panties in a bunch. I was just-“he counters before I cut him off.

            “Well stop. I told you that line is to not be crossed. I’m serious this time.”

            “He’s not Orlando.”

            The sound of his name firing off Dimitris tongue has me fuming. “Don’t you ever mention that monsters name in my house ever again. Do you hear me? Best friend or not, you will be fired and cut from my life.”

            I don’t even give him a chance to respond before I storm out of the gym and lock myself in my office. Dimitri always manages to push my boundaries. I know it’s not his fault but bringing the memories of that monster and what he did to me, and my family infuriates me. I wish I could say my threats to fire him were empty ones, but when it comes to that part of my life I won’t hesitate.

            I spent two years of my life in hell, and I finally felt like I was getting back to some normalcy this year. I refuse to let myself retort back to that time. My wall has been built back up and this time its heavily guarded.

            The headlines. The scandal. The manipulation. I refuse to let that back into my life.

            I lived in fear of retaliation after the incident. Dimitri and Kara were by myside through it all. So, he knows what hell I went through, so that fact that he keeps pushing this subject has me fuming.

            There’s a slight knock on my door. “Natalia.” I unlock the door and let Dimitri in. “I’m sorry. I just want you to be happy and I truly think Nico is into you.”

            I let out a sigh and take a seat on the couch lining the wall of me at home office. “It’s fine. Just stop. One day I’ll be ready to let love back in, but that when love unexpectantly finds me.” I smile slightly.

            “Well then, lets get you ready for tonight. I hope you groomed your kitty for some unexpectant fun. I hear your date Mr. O’Brady is a hottie who likes hookups.”

            “Dimitri” I warn.

            “Sorry, couldn’t resist.”