She let out a shriek just as Richard reached out to catch her, keeping her from hitting the earth. He pulled her against him and held her there while her arms snaked around his waist instinctively.
She was pressed up to his chest, still dazed from the fall as her heart beat frantically under her rib cage. Tired from the hike, she nuzzled into his broad and firm chest, then closed her eyes as she relished the break in the exercise.
He did not push her away but merely watched as she closed her eyes and lay there. Her cheeks were flushed, and there were beads of sweat on her forehead that sparkled under the sun. He softened at that moment and let her lean into him, holding her.
Upon sensing his relaxed stance, she smiled.
Around them, the mountain breeze whistled through the trees, and the sun was beaming down on the mountain, coating everything in its gentle, golden rays. For a moment, everything came to an idyllic standstill.
Angela could hear Richard’s strong and steady heartbeat. Inexplicably, her own heartbeat quickened as well, as if trying to match up to his.
“Captain Lloyd, are you always this dedicated to every target you are assigned to protect? I guess what I’m trying to say is, if I were any other girl, would you be this kind to her as well?” she asked slowly as she looked up at him.
He met her eyes, his gaze smoldering and dark.
Angela blinked, looking into his eyes as she asked, “Would you let her use your bathroom and let her go in and out of your bedroom as she likes?
Piggyback her when she gets hurt? Leap to protect her and shield her from every harm at any given moment? If she were the one holding onto you now, would you hold her even tighter?”
Angela wasn’t sure why, but her eyes grew misty as she spoke. Flustered, she looked down and broke away from his intense gaze.
Richard was speechless, floundered by all the questions she threw at him. He wasn’t. sure where to begin.
She waited for his response, but when he didn’t give her one, a bitter smile curled on her lips as she asked challengingly, “It’s not rocket science. All you have to do is answer yes or no.”
“I don’t want to answer,” he said monotonously as he let her go and turned to walk ahead.
It was at that moment that Angela was sure she was nothing more than a job and that he would have shown the same level of dedication even if she were any other girl. She was not special at all.
In that case, she did not have to torture: herself and delude herself into thinking she was different, that she meant something to him.
Fortunately, the trail got easier as they neared the foot of the mountain. When she took the final step to dismount from the hike, Angela thought her legs would give up on her.
She quickly found a large and flat rock to sit on, then called out to the man ahead of her, “Hey, you go ahead! I’m going to stay here and catch my breath for a bit.”
Richard glanced at her for a while and left without another word.
The base entrance was just nearby anyway. There was no point in him dawdling here to take care of her. That was what she told herself as she watched his retreating figure, but for some reason, tears sprang up to her eyes once more.
She sniffed to ease the prickling sensation in her nose. Crap, what’s wrong with me? Pull yourself together, Angela. You were the one who asked him to leave, and now that he did, you’re crying about it like some kid abandoned in a playground? Snap out of it! You’re just a job to him. Just someone he has to protect. You’re not his girlfriend. Remember that.
