A Guarded Love Read online

  Chapter 16

  Landon had noticed the look of complete horror in Kristin’s eyes when he grabbed only one blanket to share. To make sure she didn’t feel any pressure, he had grabbed another one. She’d had a traumatic day and he understood that she needed time and space. Even though he didn’t understand how a smart, talented, and capable woman like her could wind up with a loser like Sam, he was feeling very protective of her.

  It was hard for Landon to focus on the movie because Kristin was such a cute distraction in her flannel pajama bottoms and little black T-shirt. The flowery smell of her shampoo was something he got a whiff of once in a while and he liked it. When the movie finished, he turned to ask Kristin if she liked it, but she was fast asleep. Not wanting to disturb her, he decided to let her stay on the couch. He headed to his room and shut off the lights.

  “Can we leave the lights on?”

  “I didn’t mean to wake you. Do you want to go to your room?”

  “I’m really comfortable here. I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep in the dark.” Kristin pulled the blanket under her chin.

  Landon bent down to talk with her. “Are you still afraid?”

  “When I think about being in the dark, it scares me all over again.”

  “Okay. I’ll dim the lights so it’s not too bright. I’ll sleep in the recliner.”

  “No. You don’t need to do that. I’ll be fine with the light on.” Kristin tried to sit up.

  “I think you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you’re not alone. I think we’ll both sleep better.” Landon took his blanket and settled down in the chair.

  “But you have a comfortable bed in that room.” Kristin pointed.

  “You have a comfortable bed in that room.” Landon pointed. “It’s just for tonight. Let’s get some sleep.”

  “Thanks for staying with me.” Kristin snuggled back down.

  “Sleep well.” This girl was getting under his skin. It had been a long time since a girl had affected him like this. He liked that she was letting down her walls and he could see the true Kristin.

  Landon didn’t sleep well. He woke up often to check on Kristin and then he couldn’t stop thinking about her once he was awake. To make the most of the morning, he decided to get up and head to his office to try and write some music. He had been working for thirty minutes when he felt someone gently rub his shoulders.

  “You’re up early.” Grandma Suzie kissed his cheek.

  “Yeah. I couldn’t sleep.”

  “Were you able to write much?”

  “I wrote the chorus. It came pretty fast. I like it when the lyrics come as a mental download.”

  “Could it be you had someone to inspire you?”

  Landon turned to look at her. She had raised eyebrows and a knowing look.

  He stood and placed a kiss on her forehead. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Grandma Suzie folded her arms. “Uh, huh. Let’s go eat.”

  Landon followed her to the kitchen where Grandpa Scott had already started breakfast. He wasn’t about to let her know that she was right. Was he that obvious?

  “Here, you’re in charge of the eggs.” Grandma Suzie handed him the bowl, whisk, and eggs.

  Landon put everything on the table to begin mixing the eggs and milk. He looked up and found Kristin walking from the family room toward the kitchen. She looked adorable in her blue jeans, pink hoodie, and hair pulled back in a ponytail.

  “Hey, sleepyhead. Are you ready for breakfast?”

  “You should have woken me up.” Kristin watched him as he mixed.

  “Oh, there is plenty to do. We’re just getting started.”

  Grandpa came over with some plates. “Here, you can set the table.”

  Kristin grinned as she took the plates.

  Landon looked at his phone. Rob texted him that he’d be by in a few minutes. He needed to update Landon on Kristin’s security. Landon looked at Kristin. “We’ll need to set another plate. Rob is on his way over.”

  “Oh, can’t we do that later? She just woke up.” Grandma Suzie sounded stern.

  “Grandma, this is what I pay him for. He’s doing his job.”

  Grandma Suzie shook her head. “I wish we didn’t have to deal with anything negative before breakfast.”

  Kristin went over to Grandma Suzie and gave her a side hug. “Thanks for protecting me.”

  The doorbell interrupted their conversation and Landon went to answer the door. Rob followed him into the kitchen.

  Grandma Suzie met Rob. “Here, you can make the waffles.” She handed him the bowl with the batter in it.

  Rob look completely out of his element. Landon wanted to laugh but didn’t. He came to give a report and now he was cooking. He had to give it to Grandma Suzie—she always put everyone to work.

  After the food was prepared, everyone took their place at the table.

  “Go ahead, Rob. Give us your report.” Landon nodded his encouragement and watched all eyes turn to Rob.

  “We’ve spoken to your two professors and your advisor. They were accommodating. Here are some assignments that will be due when you get back.” Rob handed a piece of paper to Kristin. “We are hoping to have you back home in a couple of days. Your music history teacher is doing a live stream so you can watch the class from your computer. And speaking of your computer, Lexi asked me to bring your computer for you. She noticed it was still on the desk when she was packing.”

  Kristin took the computer and held it to her chest.

  Rob cleared his throat. “Are you ready to get a restraining order against Sam?”

  Landon noticed how quiet the room had become.

  Kristin’s eyes looked troubled. “Lexi and I talked about that. Will it work?”

  Rob took a minute to answer. “For some people, all they need is the restraining order and they stay away. If Sam doesn’t stay away from you, we can have him arrested.”

  Landon could feel his heart racing. Sam was a psycho who was making life terrifying for Kristin and he prayed she’d get the order. He couldn’t bear for anything to happen to her. She’d already been through so much.

  “Hopefully this young man will stay away from you, and you can live your life in peace.” Grandma Suzie smiled.

  “This guy will probably do something like this again.” Landon could hear the strain in his voice.

  “Exactly. That’s why we need a restraining order.” Rob looked to Kristin.

  Kristin kept her chin down. “Okay. I’ll get it.”

  “Great. I have an appointment with the judge this afternoon.”

  “Wow. That’s fast.” Kristin’s eyes widened.

  “No time to waste.”

  Landon felt relief. He felt like they were finally getting ahead of Sam. Kristin looked upset, but hopefully Sam would get the message that Kristin was being protected and he needed to stop messing with her.

  Chapter 17

  Kristin couldn’t believe how drastically her life had changed since she met Landon. She never would have never dreamed she would be staying in a stranger’s home, being watched over by a security team. The more she got to know Landon, the more she discovered what a decent and kind person he was. However, she had felt the same way about Sam when she first met him. Was Sam deceitful? Or was Kristin a bad judge of character? Maybe Sam displayed his controlling behavior early on and she missed it. Or maybe he manipulated her, and she didn’t see what was happening until it was so out of control. Whatever the reason, it caused her to be unsure of her feelings. She didn’t trust herself. Until she could find a relationship that was worth putting the effort into, she would live life as normally as possible. Sam was not going to ruin her.

  Grabbing her laptop, she settled into the couch and opened the lesson. It was music theory and it felt good to think about something else besides Sam. After finishing that lesson, she decided to check out Instagram. Scrolling down, she was able to catch up on what her friends had been doing. It was funny how t
heir lives were continuing and she felt like hers had stopped. As she scrolled down, she noticed that she was tagged in a post. The manager of the Serrano Country Club posted that Kristin would be holding a concert in two days. Kristin grabbed her phone to look at her calendar. Sure enough, she did have a concert in two days. How could she forget something that important? The chaos of the paparazzi and the situation with Sam had totally distracted her, enough to make her completely forget about the concert.

  Now that she had a new priority, Kristin jumped into action. She made a schedule of practice times and schoolwork. She couldn’t afford to get far behind. As she read her calendar more closely, it mentioned her black dress. Lexi had previously offered to pick it up from the dry cleaner and put it in her closet. Would it be safe to go back home and get it? That was the only outfit she had to perform in.

  Kristin put her head down on the desk. Willing herself to stay calm, she closed her eyes and took deep breaths with the hope that she would start to relax. Her head popped up when she heard a light rap on the door.

  “Sorry to barge in on you.” He paused to look at her. “Is everything alright?” Landon’s brow was furrowed.

  Kristin tried to straighten her hair. “I’m fine.”

  “Grandma wants to know if you want to eat before we head to Sacramento?”

  Kristin could tell by the look on his face that he wasn’t buying that she was fine.

  “I’m not hungry.” Kristin tried to smile but her lips got stuck to her teeth. It probably looked like a grimace. “To tell you the truth, I’m nervous.”

  “Why?” Landon sat on the couch next to her.

  “I noticed today that I’m performing a concert in two days. With all that’s going on, I completely forgot about it.” Kristin put her face into her hands. “This isn’t like me. I don’t forget my concerts.”

  “You’ve had a lot on your plate. I can understand why you’d forget. Can you practice this afternoon?”

  “I’m going to try.”

  “We’ll be leaving for the courthouse in a half an hour. I’ll let you get some more studying in before we leave.” Landon stood.

  “Do you really want to come with me? I mean this is your down time from work.”

  “If that’s okay.” He stood, waiting for a response.

  Kristin noticed that he was biting his lip and fidgeting. His nervousness was adorable. “I’d like you to be there.” She really meant it.

  “Great! I’ll let you know when it’s time to leave.”

  Kristin thought she’d be able to write music once Landon left, but she was wrong. She found herself unexpectedly excited to take a trip with Landon, so she got ready instead.

  ***

  Kristin, Landon, and Rob piled into the Durango. Rob kept watch to make sure they weren’t being followed. He would generally look around and he kept checking his rear-view mirror. He was definitely in work mode. Not wanting to disturb him and have him break his concentration, Kristin kept quiet. Knowing that he was looking for Sam made her nervous. Kristin watched the mountains and trees. The view was so beautiful; she felt she would never get bored of this.

  Kristin felt a tap on her leg.

  “How are you holding up?”

  Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she looked Landon in the eyes. “I’m doing okay.”

  “We’re you able to write your music and work on your classes?”

  “Yes. I’m almost caught up.”

  “Is it normal for teachers to film their classes?”

  “It’s pretty new. They started doing it for students who have chronic illnesses, and now it’s done regularly. All classrooms are equipped with cameras.”

  “That’s lucky for you, because now you won’t get behind. Man, it seems like I’ve been out of school a long time.” Landon gave a chuckle.

  As Kristin sat there with Landon, she noticed again how gorgeous he was. His eyelashes were thick and long. She could see his muscles through his plaid shirt. But more important, he was sweet. He was taking care of her, and she loved Landon being her protector. There were clearly warning signs with Sam, but sitting here with Landon, there didn’t seem to be a single one.

  “That concert that you have in two days, is that part of a class?”

  “Yes. It’s required.”

  “I’d like to go with you.”

  She turned abruptly to face him. “No. You’re just saying that.”

  “No. I’m not. I’m serious.”

  “It won’t be a country concert and there won’t be a guitar,” Kristin teased.

  “I don’t know if you noticed, but I have a piano in my house.”

  Kristin grinned. “I know you do. Remember, I played it.”

  “Yes, I remember. But I also play the piano. It’s not for decoration.”

  “You’ll make me too nervous. I’ll probably mess up.”

  Landon raised both eyebrows and tilted his head. “I’ve already heard you play, and you’re amazing. I’d love to go to your concert.”

  Kristin was honored that he would ask. The thought of Landon Ross attending her concert was too much. However, the feeling of warmth that coursed through her body as she thought of him made her reconsider.

  “Okay, you can come. But if you die of boredom, it’s your own fault.”

  “I won’t be bored.”

  Kristin reflected on how Landon had gone out of his way to make sure she was okay. This was supposed to be his break from work and here he was going to court with her. He never came across as resentful, which she appreciated. Kristin wondered why Landon gave her so much time and attention when he could easily delegate this to Rob. Her thoughts went back to the time he held her hand. Internal butterflies interrupted the memory; Kristin loved holding his hand.

  Now Landon had taken out his phone and started taking pictures of Kristin. Embarrassed by this, she tried to grab the phone to get a picture of him, but his arms were too long, so she decided to make Landon part of the pictures. She grabbed his head and pulled him next to her. He took several selfies of the two of them. Kristin decided to continue with the fun and grabbed her phone and took a few pictures of the two of them. It started out with simple smiles and ended up with silly faces. The last one, Landon planted a kiss on her cheek. It was unexpected but she liked it. But she didn’t want him to know. Kristin watched Landon take her phone and start pressing buttons. “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “I put my phone number on speed dial.” Landon handed back her phone.

  “How often do you expect me to use that number?”

  “Whenever you need to.”

  “How do you know that I won’t give your number to the gossip magazines?” Kristin tilted her head.

  “I trust you.”

  Kristin was taken back by his admission. It seemed so easy for him to trust. She wished it would come easier for her. She wanted Landon to always trust her. It was an important part of any relationship. Kristin didn’t know if she would see Landon once this Sam situation was resolved, but she always wanted him to remember her as someone who overcame challenges and had integrity.

  “I trust you too.” Kristin was surprised by her response. When it came down to it, she did trust Landon. He was not controlling, and he kept his temper in check. She almost wondered if he had a temper. The more she was around him, the more his positive characteristics shined through.

  Rob interrupted their conversation by announcing that they had arrived at the courthouse. Kristin’s stomach started to hurt. She had almost forgotten where they were going. Being with Landon made this trip more fun. Landon helped Kristin out of the car. Rob walked on one side of her and Landon on the other. She noticed how serious Rob was as he scanned the surroundings.

  The courthouse was built in the early 1900s and the red brick and columns made it feel regal, stately, and serious. She had never been in court before and had no idea what to expect. The lobby was made of marble floors, a grand staircase, and marble statues of famous members—p
ast and present—of the city. It would have been fun to admire the architecture, but the reason they were there put a damper on the sightseeing.

  They met the lawyer in the front of the judge’s chamber. He went over what would be happening during the proceedings. It didn’t seem daunting. The lawyer would talk with the judge about a “Temporary Order of Protection” that lasted twenty days and then Kristin would sign some papers. Hearing that information put Kristin’s mind to rest. She hoped a restraining order would keep Sam away. The lawyer took his time explaining everything to her and showed her where to sign. He set a court appointment for three weeks for the order of protection and explained that Sam would receive the restraining order and appearance notice. The order could remain in effect for three to five years.

  Kristin was grateful that today’s court appearance was over, but she wondered how Sam would act once he was served with papers explaining the restrictions. Today was a victory and she needed to focus on that and not worry about seeing him in three weeks. On the way out, Rob walked on one side of her and Landon on the other. They seemed much more at ease.

  “I’m starved. Why don’t we go out to eat?” Landon put his hand over his stomach.

  “I could eat.” Rob smiled. “There’s a park a few miles from here. We could pick up some burgers and eat there.”

  “Burgers work for me. Kristin, do you want that?”

  “Sure.”

  Kristin was fascinated with Rob’s details for safety. After he purchased the burgers, he drove to the park. Rob drove around until he found a secluded area. Luckily, it was a weekday and not a lot of people were there. Only after he walked around to ensure their privacy did he let them out of the SUV. It was a sunny, beautiful day and Kristin felt safe.