*Nate*

One thing I have learned to do over the years is lie. Fake it. Act. Pretend. Lie on camera, off camera. Lie for interviews. Lie to others. Lie to myself. I'm like a pro now. And I'm going to lie right now. I'm going to pretend I don't see what's going on. I'm going to pretend I don't feel what I feel in the room when I walk through the door.

I'm going to pretend Paul is Julia's bodyguard and only her bodyguard.

Did I make a mistake? All this time I thought Paul had a thing for Trisha, and I'm sure he did at one time. Maybe he still does. But does he have a thing for Julia? Because seeing them on the couch with his arm around her makes my stomach turn.

I'm also going to lie and pretend Julia's front door wasn't locked for a reason. I'm going to pretend Jeremy doesn't have some ulterior motive. Maybe he just forgot to lock the door. Maybe Julia unlocked it and forgot to lock it.

An honest mistake.

After dropping off a very drunk James home, I headed to The Avalon with some clothes for Julia. I've decided not to tell her how James went to Sullivan's and got wasted. She has enough on her plate.

 I knocked on her apartment door twice with no answer. I waited outside for a good minute before I turned the knob. The door opened easily. But the sight I saw was hard to swallow.

Paul and Julia on the couch. No big deal. But his arm is draped around her. She's curled up against him and his fucking arm is around her. They are both sleeping. Why the hell would Julia curl up to PAUL of all people? Why the hell would he have is ARM around her? Was this going on right under my nose for a while? Am I overthinking this scene?

"Hey." I say in a normal voice to see if either wake up. Julia opens her eyes slowly and turns her head to see me.

The second our eyes meet her whole face lights up and she disregards sleeping Paul completely. She hops off the couch and runs to me, throwing her arms around me. Ok maybe I WAS overthinking because Julia shows no signs of interest towards the bodyguard right now. As a matter of fact, she jumps into my arms with excitement. I lift her up and she wraps her legs around me before smacking her lips against mine.

"Hey, doll." I break our kiss and smile.

"I missed you so much." Julia kisses me again before I put her down so her feet can touch the ground. She feels so good in my arms.

"You're not trembling as much." I notice and wheel her suitcase in further.

"Jeremy thinks I'm nearing the end of my detox. That's why he let me move in here today." She smiles brightly at me and wheels her suitcase down the hall and into her room. I follow behind and glance at Paul who is out like a light.

"Is he staying the night?" I cock a brow at my fiancé.

"I asked him too. I didn't know what your plans were. I've never been alone before. Not since the Marriott."

I think about that for a second. Julia's right. She has always been surrounded by people. It's been months since she has been alone and even then, it was in a hotel room with James working downstairs. Here she is, in this big apartment......with Jeremy down the hall. Now I get why she would want her bodyguard to stay. But why were they so close like that??

I sit on the corner of the bed and watch Julia unpack.

"You and Paul looked pretty cozy on that couch, doll. Do I need to worry?"

******

*Julia*

I stop folding my clothes and turn to Nate, thinking about how that must have looked to someone just walking in.

"About Paul??" I cock my head to the side. "Nate, no. Not at all. You're kidding right?"

"I don't know. He had his arm around you. Paul is not the most affectionate of people out there. But you are. Jules you're easy to fall in love with." Nate shifts on the corner of the bed.

"We're talking about the same Paul, right? He is not in love with me. God, not at all. I'm like his annoying little sister, Nate. You know that. We just fell asleep. Today was a long day. I didn't even notice he had his arm around me." I lie. Yes, I noticed. I didn't care. It was comforting to me. So sue me. Paul doesn't look at me like that. Even IF I had a sex dream about him that one time. That was just me being me.

"He's sleeping. Probably thinking about Trisha or something." I snort and roll my eyes; convincing Nate he has nothing to worry about and then continue putting my clothes away.

"Your front door was unlocked. Did you know that??"

I stiffen up hearing this. "It was??"

"It was. Did Jeremy leave it unlocked? Did you do it on accident? Doll, I'm always going to worry about you with that prick around."

I sit on my bed and think about that for a second. I hope Jeremy didn't do that on purpose. Maybe he forgot when he was bringing in groceries. Maybe it was an honest mistake but now I feel uneasy thinking about it.

"Do you think he did it on purpose?" I ask nervously now, and Nate can tell. He changes his tune quickly.

"Probably not, love." He says calmly.

"This is why I didn't want to be here alone. Now I'm going to wonder what Jeremy's intentions are." My anxiety begins to creep in.

"That's why you have Paul, ok? Did he tell you he put in an application to be your full-time bodyguard here?"

"He did."

"Good. I will pay him well. Your safety is my main concern. Just don't go making Rossi fall in love with you, got it?" He smirks and I roll my eyes.

"He's not going to fall in love with me. Believe me. I drive him nuts. You have nothing to worry about." I pause for a moment. "How is James??"

I watch Nate's demeanor change and his face drops into a more serious expression.

"Not great. He wouldn't get out of bed today." Nate slouches a little.

"He wouldn't? That's not like James." My eyes tear up thinking about what James must be feeling right now. I can't even wrap my brain around this. "Someone should have brought him here. I could have tried to cheer him up."

"We tried. It didn't work." 

I frown. James didn't even want to get out of bed to come see me?

"Don't take it personally, Jule. This is a lot for him to digest. Between the upcoming trial and what Dr. Giovanni said-"

"What did Dr. Giovanni say??"

Nate then tells me about James's appointment and how the doctor told him to be prepared if this is as far as his recovery takes him. James never told me. I feel so out of the loop. I'm no longer part of the core group. They are all there and I am.... here.

"I'm sorry, doll. I didn't mean to upset you." He kisses my cheek, and I lean my head on his chest.

"I feel so bad for James. And I can't even be there for him."

"Wait, you're in your apartment now. Aren't you allowed to do what you want?" Nate sits up straighter now.

"God no. There are so many rules. Jeremy rattled off a handful but will give me the paperwork tomorrow. For a while I will still have to eat in the cafeteria for someone to document my food intake and once I'm settled into the routine, I'm required to go to all three sessions every day like Cara does. Not only that, but I also can't just leave when I want. I have to check in and out at the front desk and tell them exactly where I'm going. It's a little ridiculous. But I'm in here and not out there so I can't be complaining about the little shit." I remind myself of the locks I have here in comparison to taking a shower down the hall where the door barely closes all the way.

"True. So long as you're comfortable here." He tucks my hair behind my ear.

"I am with Paul here. If I were alone, I'd probably be freaking out right now." I admit and look at my suitcase. "Thanks for packing some of my stuff."

I stand up and continue unpacking then roll my eyes. I lift up my red lacy lingerie with the garter belt and raise a brow at Nate.

"Had to be done, dollface. The black thigh highs are in there too. I request you wear that for me sometime."

"Mr. Hollan. Are you saying you want to have sex with me in the Avalon??" I say seductively, laying out the lingerie on the bed.

"That's exactly what I'm saying." Nate lays back on my bed with his hands behind his head casually. I crawl onto the bed and lean down close to his face.

"And if I say no?" I whisper, letting my lips brush against his. "Hmmm? Then what?"

I bite his lip and his breath hitches. He doesn't answer me. Instead, he lifts his hands from behind his head and pulls me in to kiss me. I get lost in his kiss. Nate knows he is a phenomenal kisser, I'm sure the thousands of women he has slept with have told him. He has this charisma about him that draws you in, no matter how hard you try to fight it, you always give in.

And he's mine. He's all mine and I don't fight it.

*****

*Nate*

Julia draws me in with her perfect lips. Her perfect kiss. Her hands are in my hair and her kiss becomes more passionate.

"Jule. The door. You should lock your bedroom door. Paul is here, remember?" I sit up and she nods, getting off the bed. I watch her close her door and try to lock it. She presses the button in, but the door doesn't lock. She does it a few more times before she stands up straight and takes a step back.

"It's not locking." Her voice quivers as she stares at her bedroom door.

"What do you mean? Try again." I get up off the bed now. Julia presses the button on the doorknob but pulls it and the door swings open. I scramble to my feet and try it for myself. Then I look at the door. "There's no latch bolt. Was there one the last time you stayed here?"

"I don't remember." Julia backs away, her eyes fixated on the broken doorknob that won't lock. "Nate..."

I can tell Julia's mind is racing now. First the unlocked front door and now her bedroom door is broken and won't lock? This has Jeremy written all over it.

"Nate." She says again and I turn around. "If you weren't here to notice that. If Paul wasn't here...." Her words fall and her body begins to tremble.

 Shit.

I need to calm her down before she has a full-blown panic attack thinking about this. But internally I'm having one too. Jeremy probably has no fucking clue Paul and I are here right now. He probably thinks Julia is alone in her apartment. He could easily walk right in. He could easily rape her. Again.

"Ok. Let's not jump to conclusions or overthink this, ok? Maybe it was already broken."

"And the front door??" Her eyes are big and filled with fear. I scratch the stubble on my jaw and take a deep inhale.

"First thing in the morning we will address this. I will make sure your door gets fixed right away. If maintenance can't do it right away, I will hire out and not fucking tell Donovan, ok?"

"Paul told me he wanted me to get the locks changed too. And not tell Jeremy. To go straight to maintenance and ask them to change it."

"What about Paul?" The bodyguard groggily walks into the hallway, hair a mess and still somewhat asleep.

"Look at this." I turn the knob of her door. I press the lock button in. I show Paul how it doesn't lock. I watch his whole demeanor change.

"That's no fucking coincidence, Nate." Heat of anger rises to the bodyguard's face instantly as he examines the door and then the doorframe.

"And my front door was unlocked. Nate walked right in earlier!" Julia stands in the middle of her room, wide eyed, shaking and now crying. "If... if you guys weren't here...."

Paul immediately bypasses me, puts his hands on Julia's shoulders and sits her on the bed. He bends over so his eyes are level with hers.

"Hey. Look at me, Moretti. I would never let anything happen to you. That's why I am here."

"But you were sleeping! You didn't hear Nate come in. I didn't hear him come in. Neither of us did!!" She bursts. Paul stares at her for a moment, letting her words sink in. She's right. They were both exhausted and fell asleep on the couch. Paul didn't budge when I walked in.

"I fucking pay you to protect her!" I seethe, now losing my cool, catching both Paul and Julia off guard. Paul stands up straight and swallows hard.

"Yes, sir." He says lowly.

"So do your fucking job." I glare at him full of disappointment. "God damn it Paul! This is unacceptable!"

"Yes, sir." Paul walks out of the room.

Julia glares at me as I sit on her bed and run my fingers through my hair in frustration.

"Really, Nate?" She crosses her arms and taps her foot on the ground.

"What Julia?" I know exactly what. I never reprimand Paul. I never talk to him like that. I've never needed to. He is always on top of things. But tonight, he wasn't.

"You know what." She walks out of the room, slamming the door behind her which just opens right back up.

Fuck.

******

*Julia*

I storm out of the room and into the living room to see Paul on his phone, pacing.

"Thanks man. I appreciate it." He hangs up and looks over to see me in the room. "Evan Scofield will be here soon. He's right up the road. He will spend the night to be your bodyguard."

My eyes widen.

"WHAT?! No Paul, c'mon. I don't even know that guy. Don't leave."

"Nate's right. I fell asleep and didn't protect you. I got too comfortable. I think I need a little time away to get my head back in the game." He mumbles right as Nate walks out of my room.

"Nate. Tell him. Tell him not to leave. I don't want that other guy here. I don't even know who he is! C'mon Paul. Don't leave me here. You fell asleep. It was no big deal. Nate's being a baby about it. Tell him Nate. Nate TELL HIM!" I plead.

"Paul, did you scope out the place like you usually do before you let Julia in?" Nate asks. My stomach drops because I know the answer.

"No sir. I did not." The bodyguard's eyes lower to fixate on me. "Evan is good. He's professionally trained just like I am. He'll make sure you're fine."

"Paul, no. Please. Don't do this!" My eyes dart from his to Nate's. Nate is just watching him fucking put on his jacket. He's not stopping him. This is PAUL. He's not just some bodyguard. They are close friends. "Seriously, Nate??"

"Jule."

"Get out." I walk up to Nate and push him, but he doesn't budge. "Go home, Nate."

"Julia..."

Paul heads towards the front door.

"I trust Paul. I don't trust that other kid and you know it. If you let Paul walk out that door then you might as well fucking follow him."

There's a knock on the door and Paul is the one to open it. Evan Scofield gives Paul a nod and pat on the shoulder before walking past him and into my apartment.

"Nate.." I plead again as the other bodyguard comes in and takes his coat off, not saying one word to me.

"I'm sorry, Jules. He let his guard down. I can't risk that. Not with you. Not here."

"Get out."

******

*Nate*

"She's a lovely girl, Mr. Hollan." Evan sighs over the phone when I call for an update. I laugh at that phrase thinking of one of Paul's first encounters with Julia. He pretty much said the same sarcastic comment about Julia. She's pissed and she's letting Scofield know.

Meanwhile, I had no choice but to get a ride home from Paul since I don't have my license activated and the drive was awkwardly silent. It wasn't until we pulled into the parking garage did either of us speak. Surprisingly it was me to break the silence. Because Paul is my friend. My good friend.

"You get why I was pissed right, Paul?"

"Yes sir." Paul stares ahead while the car is in park, neither of us getting out yet.

"Stop with the yes sir, no sir shit, Rossi. I'm still just Nate."

"You're right. I fucked up. I didn't check the inside of the apartment. I made a mistake. And I don't make mistakes." Paul finally looks over at me now. "You have to understand I would never let anything happen to her, though right? Especially because it's Moretti."

"I know." I sigh but the read into his words a little. "What do you mean especially because it's Moretti? Paul, be honest. Are you getting too close to Julia?"

"What?! No." He doesn't miss a beat which puts my mind at ease. "Not at all. What I mean is... It's Julia. She's too trusting. She can be naïve. She may be 40 but she's not. She wants to believe in people. She wants to see the good in everyone. Even the monsters."

I sigh again because Paul is 100% correct. He knows Julia inside and out now. 

"Evan will do just fine." He mutters and stares ahead again.

"I need more than just fine. Take the next few days off. Get some rest. Hang out with Trisha or something. Sleep. Then go back to the Avalon clearheaded, ok? I need you to be the one to watch over Julia. She's right.  Evan isn't you. She trusts you. You've been there for her through a lot of shit. Evan hasn't."

"He's going to have his work cut out for him, boss. You remember how Julia was towards me in the beginning."

"It'll be good for him. Break him in a little. I will call and check in once we're upstairs. Take a few days. Then go back." I repeat and get out of the car.

Things aren't any better once we get up to my apartment though. James is on the couch watching TV and petting Maggie but his eyes are puffy from crying. When we walk in, Casey and Jonah both look exhausted and Trisha eyes me, wondering why the hell Paul is behind me.

"You all look happy. What's going on?" I ask. Paul makes his way to his room without saying a word.

"What the hell did you do, Nate?" Trisha's eyes follow Paul has he passes by her and then she glares at me.

"Evan's with Julia for now." I answer dryly.

All eyes are on me now. Including James.

"You LEFT her there with Evan and not PAUL?" James stands up and the look in his eyes makes me want to run for the hills before I get injured.

"With JEREMY there?" Trisha is not helping here.

"Evan is good. Paul called him. Rossi needs a break. Just for a few days." I plop down on the couch and Maggie makes her way to me now.

"Paul said he needs a break? Paul would never say he-"

"I say it, ok Trisha? He made a mistake." I begin to pet the dog, trying to end this conversation but Trisha is relentless.

"Paul doesn't MAKE mistakes, Nate." She crosses her arms.

"Exactly. Which is why he needs a few days to rest and recharge. Refocus and then get his head back in the game." I explain.

"What kind of mistakes??" James asks now wanting to know details.

"He didn't check the apartment before Julia went in. So he didn't notice the front door was unlocked. I walked right into the fucking apartment, and they were both asleep on the couch. Paul would normally bolt up out of a dead sleep the second he sensed someone in the room. He didn't. He's exhausted. And because he didn't check the apartment first, he didn't know her bedroom door was fucked with and doesn't lock.

"What the hell do you mean fucked with and doesn't lock?" James's chest begins heaving a little harder as the anger rises to his face just like it did Paul's less than an hour ago.

"I don't fucking trust Donovan. The door was tampered with. If Paul and I weren't there with Julia tonight..." I drop my head in my hands for a moment before lifting my eyes to James. "Jeremy could have walked right in. And then right into her bedroom."

"And you fucking left her with the new guy..." James looks at me with disappointment.

"I'm going to call him in a minute for an update." 

"You left her there..." He glares at me in disbelief.

"What choice do I have Gallo?! Jesus." I shake my head and walk out of the room and into mine to make the phone call.

"She's a lovely girl, Mr. Hollan." Evan sighs over the phone. I kick my shoes off and begin undressing while talking to Scofield. I should be undressed and naked in Julia's bed right now, but that plan went to hell, didn't it?!

"That's funny. Paul said those exact words the first time he had to deal with Julia. What is she doing?" I hold the phone between my ear and my shoulder and unbutton my pants.

"She's telling me she's going to hang out with some "better" bodyguard. Mike? Who apparently has a room here? She also said the doctor told her unless I am cleared by the Avalon, by law, I cannot go into that part of the facility after visiting hours. I looked it up. She's correct."

"So you let her leave?!"

"Not yet, no. She's still in her room fuming, boss. But if she does go through those doors..."

Oh Jules.

"Shit. Ok, I'll handle it." I hang up on the bodyguard, zip my pants back up and tiredly walk out of my room. 

Once again, with my tail between my legs, I need to make amends and start all over with Paul. I knock on his door before opening it. He's sitting at the edge of the bed with his hands folded and head hung low. When he looks up at me there's a pained look in his eyes.

"I never make mistakes, Nate." Paul shakes his head in disappointment.

I drop my shoulders. "I know. Get your ass back there. She's gonna make a run to Mike Maloney if you're not there and there's nothing Scofield can do about it. He's not cleared to go into the main part of the Avalon. Are you up for it or do you want a few days off?"

"What do you think, Nate?" Paul stands up.

"Good. Go." I leave the room and head back to the living room. Everyone watches Paul jet out of the apartment. I glance at James who looks confused. Tired and confused.

"There. Happy?" I raise my brows. "He's going back."

******

*Julia*

I pace the bathroom, still fuming. I can't believe Nate sent Paul home. Now I have to start all over with this new guy? Not happening. I'm not going to sleep a wink tonight now.  Especially with the thoughts running through my mind right now. Did Jeremy leave the front door unlocked? Did he tamper with the lock on my bedroom door? 

"Miss Moretti..." Evan has been trying to get me to open the bathroom door for a good fifteen minutes now. At least this door locks. Maybe I'll just sleep in the bathroom where it's safe. Or go see Mike.

"Can you please come out?" Evan asks for the five hundred millionth time now.

"Bite me."

I hear the bodyguard let out a sigh.

"Nate just called to check in on you..."

"Good. Tell him to go to hell." I swing the door open and see Evan sitting on the floor with his back leaned up against the hall texting on his phone.

"Do you even know why I need a bodyguard??" I watch Evan's light brown eyebrows scrunch together and feel a twinge of a headache starting. I'm still detoxing but not nearly as bad as a week ago. Even still, the headaches still come and haunt me.

"Well. You're a famous person's fiancé for one." He doesn't know why he is even here protecting me, does he? There's a knock at my front door and Evan is standing before my brain can even process it. He goes straight into bodyguard mode.

"Stay here, Ma'am." He orders me.

 God this guy is creepy. 

Then again... so wasn't Paul to me at one time. I disregard the order and walk down the hall to see who would be knocking at night. By the time I make down the hall the person is already in the apartment shaking hands with Evan and seeing him out.

I don't think I've ever been so happy to see Paul in my life. The second Evan leaves and Paul closes and locks the door, my tense shoulders relax, and I exhale. Paul says nothing to me at first. In fact, he doesn't attempt to make eye contact with me at all. It's like I'm not even in the room. I watch him check the lock on the door. Not once. Twice. Then he checks the locks on all the windows as well as the slider to the back yard. He walks right by me to head to the bedroom, checking the lock on the window in there as well. Paul is doing all the bodyguard things he forgot to do when we first walked in. Neither of us thought to check any of this stuff. I mean, we're still in The Avalon. A gated facility with security guards all over the place.

But we let our guard down. We were tired and we let our guard down. Nate must have really laid in to Paul. But then, why would he have him come back and relieve Evan Scofield from his job?

"Paul."

He turns around with a defeated look in his eyes as I stand in my bedroom doorway.

"I fucked up." He says, checking my bedroom window again. It's like the man is internally beating himself up because of a stupid mistake. I watch him try and lift the window to make sure it won't open. He's going to drive himself crazy.

I walk into the bedroom as he checks the lock AGAIN and put my hand on his.

"Paul stop." I clutch his hand. "Look at me."

The man's dark smoldering eyes soften when he looks down at me. 

"I'm fine. You keep me safe. Regardless of whether we check fucking locks on windows a million times, ok?" My hand is still on his. "It was a dumb mistake we BOTH made. Nate is just being a baby about it.  You know how he gets."

"I don't MAKE mistakes, Moretti."

 He really IS beating himself up over this.

"Oh so what.... your perfect? You're this big robot that doesn't glitch or ever fuck up? C'mon, Paulie. We were both tired. I'm pretty sure if someone were to come in and try to strangle me, you'd take care of em. If not, I'd probably go all bipolar on em and rip their eyes out anyway, right?" I let go of Paul's hand. "You're human. Not a robot. And I'm glad you came back. That guy Evan creeps me out." I hear a slight chuckle come out of Paul.

Without thinking I wrap my arms around the big bodyguard's waist and hug him. And even though it doesn't happen often, Paul's usually stiff and emotionless body softens, and he wraps his arms around me, resting his chin on the top of my head.

"You know I'd never let anything happen to you." Paul says softly.

"That's why I want YOU here and not any other bodyguard." I reply, still holding on to him tight with my head down against his body. "I've trained you well. I'd have to start all over with that new guy." I tease. "He would bolt outta here so quickly at the first sign of bathroom renovations."

I get a hearty laugh out of Paul from that joke.

"First thing tomorrow we're fixing your bedroom door though. And I'm gonna find someone to come in and change the locks. If Donovan says anything about it, then we will know we have a problem." Paul drops his arms and takes a step back.

"Do you think he did it? Tampered with my door.... unlocked the front door?" My nerves get the best of me and you can hear it in my voice.

"What did I tell you? You NEVER let your guard down. No matter what." Paul huffs and walks out of my bedroom. 

Once in the hall he turns around, noticing the lingerie laid out on my bed from earlier. Heat of embarrassment rushes to my cheeks now knowing both him and Evan have probably seen my sexy little night set.

 "Want me to call Hollan to have him come back over?" 

"Nope. I'm still mad at him." I pick up the set, crumbling it in my hands and throwing it back in the suitcase. I walk out of the bedroom and slam the door, watching it pop back open behind me. A chill runs through my body just thinking of how this door doesn't shut properly. You'd think I would have noticed it before if it was broken. It would have been one of the first things I'd notice.

It wasn't broken before today, though, was it?

*******

*Nate*

"Thanks again, Scofield. I'll have Trisha get money to you this week." I hang up my phone, now exhausted from this whirlwind of a day. 

I toss my phone on the counter and lower myself into the scorching hot bath water, sinking down past my shoulders. I close my eyes, feeling my muscles begin to relax and the stress lifting from my body.  Also wishing Jules was here with me right now. But that will probably never happen, will it? Not here at least. Not since she signed herself into the Avalon permanently. She could get a day pass here and there probably but overnight? I don't think that's a possibility. Maybe if we were married, she'd change her mind. Hell, I'd live there with her if that meant I could wake up every morning with her by my side. Again, probably not a possibility at the Avalon.

And tonight, she is pissed at me.  What else is new? Oil and Water. Tornado and Hurricane. But that's what I love about Julia. It's why I want to protect her and keep her safe at all times. It's why I was hard on Paul for the first time ever in over ten years of working for me.

But Paul is right. He NEVER makes mistakes. He NEVER lets his guard down. He lost his focus and got too comfortable. That's just not Paul.

I can't help but think something more is brewing between Paul and Julia.

******