“So you’re very excited,” he said as he raised his eyebrow at her.
“Of course I am, and I could do without your judging face,” Leslie said with a sigh as she checked her phone for any messages from Robert. None so far. She wondered what he was doing.
“I’m just saying, you know those types of guys have mental issues being in the army and navy, they see a lot of messed up stuff.”
“Well I would too if I had the pressure of protecting a whole country on my shoulders,” Leslie snapped back. These comments of Max were beginning to get under her skin. Max hadn’t seen a hard day in his life and he was judging someone else.
“Look I’m not trying to offend—”
“That’s exactly what you’re doing Max, why are you so against me having him stay with me?”
Leslie didn’t get it. Ever since she told Max that Robert was coming to visit and how excited she was, his mood had been sour. She couldn’t understand his distaste for a man whom he had never met and knew nothing about it. Meanwhile, Max lowered his eyes feeling bad about his attitude towards the visit. The truth was his feelings for Leslie had gone unnoticed for the 5 years he had known her. He couldn’t help the surge of jealousy that erupted in his body at her excitement about Robert’s visit. She even forgot that Max’s birthday would clash with Robert’s visit.
“I’m sorry,” Max said after the uncomfortable silence between them.
“Apology accepted, now can we please have a nice brunch?”
Leslie dug into her pastry and refused to let Max’s insensitive words get to her. Even so she couldn’t ignore the nagging uneasiness in her heart.
Would Robert be okay?
*****
Leslie sat in her car driving towards the train station to pick up Robert. During the silent ride she had questioned her friendship with Max. Sure she knew he was a judging person but not against her. His attitude had spoiled her mood somewhat. Even so she would have to try not to let his words get to her because in a matter of minutes she would be seeing Robert.
Leslie pulled up to the train station parking lot and looked in the mirror in the sun visor to check her appearance. The nervousness began to rise in her stomach as she sat in the car alone with her thoughts. Would Robert be happy to see her? Would things be awkward? What would they even talk about? All these thoughts were making Leslie nervous for this week long visit.
“Ah, what am I nervous for? I’ve know this man my whole life,” Leslie said to her own reflection, shaking her head. This was clearly normal jitters. She was thinking too much about things.
Leslie stepped out of her car after a few minutes and checked her face and clothes one more time before heading towards the main area of the train station. She joined a few others who were excitedly waiting for the arrival of the train. Leslie stood next to the tracks and followed their path with her eyes. The cool breeze from the large mass of water on the other side of the tracks washed over her. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the salty air before the loud noise of a horn echoed in the air.
Leslie took a deep breath and watched the large, heavy train approach closer. She took a step back from the edge of the platform as it was coming to a stop in front of the station. Leslie could feel the excitement in the air grow as the train came to a complete stop.
Simultaneously, all the doors opened and the train employees exited the train first to usher the passengers out. In a matter of seconds, passengers began to flow out of the doors causing a large crowd to form. Leslie, with her short stature, attempted to look through the sea of people to find her stepbrother.
The amount of bodies within the area grew to be too much and Leslie found her back pressed against the wall.
“Shit,” she said biting her lip as she pulled out her phone and saw that Robert had texted her. Leslie quickly texted Robert back saying that she was at the train station and that he should stay in one spot so she could find him. She then gripped her phone in her hand and began to push through the crowd to go to the center of the station. As she tried to get through the swarm of people chatting and hugging one another, she was accidently pushed. Leslie felt herself stumbling backwards and couldn’t catch herself in time. She prepared for the impact but it never came.
Surprisingly, Leslie felt strong hands at her back catching her as she fell. She blinked a few times trying to figure out why she hadn’t made contact with the ground. Eventually, she looked up to find a familiar face looking down at her with a toothy smile. The 6’1” navy officer helped her to her feet and playfully brushed off her shoulders.
“Robert,” Leslie said slowly as her brain came to the realization that Robert was standing right in front of her. He was finally here and her brain couldn’t formulate proper thoughts.
“Why are you looking so shocked?”
Robert laughed and reached over to pull her into a tight hug. Leslie’s hands went up slowly to grab onto the strong back. Her eyes closed as the scent of his cologne filled her nose. He smelled like fresh water and not at all like he’d been traveling for six hours.
Leslie looked up and met the golden eyes that seem to sparkle in the sun. Her mouth was slightly agape as she felt herself fall into the eyes looking back at her with confusion and a slight hint of concern.
“Leslie, you okay?” said Robert.
Leslie snapped out of her trance embarrassed by her behavior and pulled away from Robert’s tight embrace.
“Yeah, sorry,” she said. She looked into his eyes. “It’s been a while hasn’t it?”
Robert nodded with a smile as he took her hand and led her away from the crowded people. Without hesitation, Leslie followed Robert as he led her to a grassy area near the station. He had come to a stop and faced her once again.
“You don’t know how happy I am to be here, I really needed this,” he said as he adjusted the bag on his shoulder.
Leslie felt shy then and looked down at the pavement. She was feeling far more nervous than she let on but she wasn’t trying to show that.
“I’m happy too, and I can’t wait to show you a good time,” Leslie said with smile as she reached over and shyly took his warm hand into hers. Leslie led the Navy officer to the parking lot towards her car.
“How was your trip?”
“Well there was a crying baby, the attendant kept trying to get my number, a couple behind me was going through a break up and the meal gave someone food poisoning and they pretty much demolished the toilet.”
Leslie stopped walking and looked back at Robert who had just told her these things in an unbelievably calm manner. After a moment she let out a laugh and found that she couldn’t stop. Robert’s modesty was amazing considering how rich he was, the fact that he took a train instead of a first class flight really said something.
“Yeah it was pretty great,” Robert said as he began to chuckle at the string of bad luck that occurred during his trip. He had a thing for scenery; he wouldn’t have seen the tress, mountains and things of that nature from an airplane.
“That’s pretty hilarious,” Leslie said, calming down finally. She continued their short journey and finally reached her black sleek Mercedes Benz. Robert whistled as he let go of her hand and admired the car.
“Someone is doing well for herself,” he said as he ran his hand through the recently cleaned car. Leslie chuckled and unlocked the car and shook her head; working as a paralegal had its perks.
Robert threw his bag in the back seat before entering in the passenger side of the vehicle. Leslie soon entered into the driver’s side and looked over at Robert who was already messing with the stereo buttons.
She smiled at his curiosity; he sensed this and looked over with questioning eyes.
“What?”
Leslie shook her head as she started the car, ready to depart the train station. She found that the nervousness she felt earlier had completely dissipated.
*****
The sun had begun to set as Leslie drove them to her favorite bar. Robert was all for getting
a drink after his hectic train ride.
After finding a parking spot and stepping out, Leslie found the bar to be bustling with women in tight dresses and men in suits. This was a slightly more upscale bar so the crowd often looked fancier than how they would at a regular bar. Leslie looked over at Robert who was in awe of the bright lights and party people loitering in the front of the bar. She decided that his all-black everything attire would suit this bar nicely; in fact he had a tall, dark and handsome vibe going for him.
In the midst of her lustful thoughts, Leslie felt a large hand plant itself on her shoulder. Startled, she looked up at Robert who had a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“What are we waiting for?”
Leslie wasn’t sure if at that moment she should be worried about the look in his eyes.
“Nothing, let’s go,” Leslie said, hiding her concern with an equally mischievous smile. She made her way to the bar.
Leslie was not surprised by the looks Robert received from the women nearby. He was a handsome, single man and his golden eyes seemed to see into the soul. Leslie would have to make sure not to let her jealousy show.
They got to the front entrance and were let into the bar by the bouncer with no conflict. The booming music and bodies moving got Leslie’s blood pumping. She hadn’t been out to a place like this in a long time and she was ready to have a good time.
Robert tapped her shoulder, drawing her attention to the bar to grab a drink. Leslie nodded and followed his lead to the already packed space where the bartender was serving drinks. Robert had no problem making his way to the bartender despite the crowd. Leslie observed the males giving him cold looks as their female counterparts gazed at Robert’s attractiveness. Leslie laughed to herself as the women surrounding them whispered to each other. Most likely plotting how they would approach such a strong presence, Leslie thought.
Closely behind him, Leslie leaned her back against his as he ordered drinks. She regarded the scene, watching the moving bodies on the dance floor enthralled with the beat of the music. Leslie herself couldn’t help but to sway her hips to the beat.
Leslie felt Robert suddenly turn around causing her to move forward so that she wouldn’t be in his way. Robert had two medium-sized glasses in his hands and pointed his head to the left signaling the empty table for them to sit at. Leslie nodded and quickly led the way to the empty table. He set the glasses down and pulled Leslie’s chair out letting her take a seat before taking his own.
She smiled at him as she watched him settle into his seat bobbing his head to the music.
“What is this,” Leslie said as she leaned in trying to speak over the music.
Robert only replied with a grin and raised the glass to her lips. She looked at him with a raised eyebrow as she wondered if he simply planned to get her drunk. Whatever his plan was, Leslie wasn’t a lightweight and it was Robert whom she planned to get drunk.
“Together,” Leslie mouthed as she raised his own glass to his lips as he did to her. Robert laughed but Leslie couldn’t hear it—she just saw his mouth open and his shoulders move up and down.
Leslie tilted the glass she had in her hand and watched as Robert’s lips parted to intake the clear liquid. He drank it without a single hesitation causing Leslie to conclude the drink was not as strong as she feared. Likewise, Robert tilted the glass on Leslie’s lips urging her to drink as well. While Leslie did so she felt the burning sensation travel down her throat crashing down her initial assumption about the liquid not being that strong. She finished the drink nonetheless but not without a pained look on her face.
This time Leslie could hear Robert’s laughter as she felt the skin in her throat being burned off by the liquid she just consumed. She immediately flagged down a waitress and asked for some cranberry juice to soothe her throat. Robert also took the opportunity to order another round of drinks. Leslie leaned back in her chair and fanned her flushed face. The alcohol was hitting her system quicker than she would have liked.
“Enjoying yourself I hope,” Leslie said over the music before she downed the cranberry juice set before her.
Robert placed the new round of drinks in front of them and nodded.
“Only if you are beautiful,” he said with a smirk before taking another shot of the liquid. Leslie deciphered the liquid to be some sort of flavored vodka; not her favorite but it would do.
“I want to dance,” Leslie said as she stood up and inhaled a breath before taking the shot.
Robert nodded and watched Leslie’s hips as they swayed all the way to the dance floor catching a few lustful eyes in the place. Upon reaching the dance floor and joining some other inebriated souls, Leslie’s whole body began to move with the rhythm of the music. Robert watched Leslie’s movements almost in a trance. He thought he wouldn’t have minded help seeing those writhing movements under him, in bed.
As Leslie danced, enjoying herself, she felt hands snake around her waist. Automatically she had assumed it was Robert and eased into the hands continuing her hip swaying.
“What are you doing?”
Leslie immediately turned upon hearing Robert’s voice and realized it was not Robert who was grinding his pelvis into her butt but some random man. The man was not bad looking in the least, but still the look Robert had on his face was not a pleased one.
“Robert.”
In a flash, Robert had grabbed the man by the collar and pulled him into his fist. The impact seemed to be so loud that it overpowered the booming music.
Leslie’s mouth dropped immediately to floor in shock as Robert began to pound on the guy. Screams began to echo throughout the bar and it took Leslie a moment to realize this realty was happening and it wasn’t some out of body experience.
She immediately went to Robert and attempted to pull him away from the man whose blood was flying from the Navy officer’s fist. Leslie pleaded and pleaded but Robert could neither hear nor feel her grabbing at him. As she looked into his face, Leslie wasn’t sure but his eyes seemed to have turned black.
Leslie found that her current tactics were not working, or saving the man Robert was beating, who was probably unconscious at this point. Without thinking another thought, Leslie clutched her fist, threw it back and brought it forward making contact with Robert’s hard jaw.
While the impact didn’t particularly hurt him, it shocked him back to reality and caused Robert’s normal golden eyes to return. He looked up at Leslie like he wasn’t quite sure where he was. Leslie heard the door burst open and saw the giant bouncer coming their way. She looked back at the dazed Robert.
“Robert, please let’s go!”
Leslie grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the horrified onlookers and the bouncer coming their way. Leslie immediately spotted the emergency exit and ran towards it with Robert at her heel.
The cold night air hit her like a block of cement as they burst through the door and ran towards Leslie’s car.
They got in quickly. Leslie started the car, hearing the distance of police sirens draw closer. She put the car in drive and sped away from the scene before looking over at Robert whose eyes were widened. Had it finally sunk in?
“Robert?”
He said nothing, didn’t even flinch.
“Robert what the hell was that?!”
Robert looked over at her as her voice yelled at him in the small space of the car. Leslie looked into his eyes and right there and then she knew: Robert himself didn’t even know what happened.
*****
They had finally reached Leslie’s apartment after the long and tension-filled car ride. Robert immediately went to the couch and dropped his bag on the floor. His hands went to his face and rubbed the soreness from his eyes.
Leslie stood near the kitchen table feeling too many emotions. She wasn’t sure which one to address first. She decided that first and foremost she was confused as hell. Robert out of nowhere had gone into a rage that was baffling.
“Are you scared of me?” he asked.
She avoided the question and said, “What happened back there Robert?”
Robert looked at her and sighed deeply before his eyes became obsessed with the floor.
“I don’t know,” he said as if he was trying to figure that out himself.
“I just saw that guy on you and I snapped, I don’t know. I just blanked out.”
Leslie found herself slowly approaching the hunched over Navy officer placing her hand on his soft hair then running her fingers through it. He looked up at her and she looked into his eyes. She was sure that his eyes had turned black that moment back there at the bar.
“You never answered my question,” Robert said slowly as his hand went to take hers.
Leslie took her hand away from his and sat beside him with a sigh.
“At the time I was scared, yes. I’m not right now. But I just don’t understand what happened back there,” she said truthfully, but avoiding his eyes.
“I understand,” he replied placing his hand on her knee. “You know I’d never hurt you though, right?”
Leslie gave him a small smile and nodded.
“I know.”
Leslie stood up and took his bag walking over to the guest bedroom.
“I think you just need some sleep,” Leslie said from the bedroom. “It was a long day for you, and those drinks were pretty strong—”
Leslie suddenly felt strong arms wrapped around her. They pulled her into his strong chest. She suddenly felt his lips press against her bare shoulder putting her in a frozen state. The feeling of his soft lips sent electric shocks up and down her spine.
“Robert? What’s going on?”
“I’m sorry,” he said to her shoulder as his arms tightened around her.
The Crime of Protection Page 18