Free Please Remember Me by Wendi Zwaduk

into Marlon. Although the fur on Sparky’s back no longer stood on end, he continued to growl. She squared her shoulders and her fear ebbed a bit. Yes, maybe she needed the backup, and Marlon definitely made great backup, but what the hell? Was he following her, too?
    “Who the fuck are you?” the blond man spat. “Her lapdog?”
    With a sneer, Marlon’s lips curled. If it was possible, she’d swear he became larger and more imposing. “That’s Deputy to you, asshole.”
    Ducking behind him, Jaden rolled her eyes. What movie did he get that line from? Sparky, apparently not interested in the fray any longer, tugged her back down the sidewalk.
    Marlon’s voice, strong and sure, echoed on the lonely sidewalk. “Leave her alone. Jade Weir wouldn’t be caught dead in Crawford, Ohio.”
    Tears pricked her eyes as she allowed Sparky to pull her away. Maybe his words were meant to send the jerk away, but they still pricked her ego. He saw her as worthless. Marlon knew about her party-hearty past and believed she still lived it. She stared straight ahead. The hunter green car rolled down the street before her. Well, swell. Another reoccurring annoyance. She caught sight of black hair and a pointy nose. Mirrored glasses hid the rest of the driver’s face. Where the hell was Bobby at a time like this? Instinct dictated she get far away from the cretin in the car—protection or not.
    Thankfully, Sparky found his second wind. Shocked that the Basset could walk at such a quick clip, she headed home.
     
    Marlon clenched his fists as the man walked away. He committed the jerk’s image to memory. If he wanted to pick at Jaden, then he’d have to go through hell first. The virtue of protecting and serving ran in his blood. “You’re safe.” Willing his heart rate to slow, Marlon turned. “Jaden Marie?”
    No matter where he looked, she wasn’t there. How had she got down the sidewalk so fast with the low-rider dog leading the way? He didn’t recall hearing a car, so she hadn’t been picked up. Damn.
    Breaking into a sprint, he headed towards the square. His heart pounded in his chest, and not from the brisk run. He worried that another zany, one with more moxie, would find her. What if another crazed fan decided to get violent? No, he couldn’t keep an eye on her twenty-four seven, but he would work like a dog to keep her safe anyway.
    One block from the Pennywood house, he saw her. Sparky’s quick pace must’ve petered out and Marlon thanked God. If he could talk to her for a few minutes before she ran inside, maybe he could do some damage control. Throwing caution and his pride to the wind, he called to her. “Jaden!”
    Although she didn’t turn around, she stopped. Sparky sat at her feet, panting. Her shoulders trembled. Was she crying? His heart squeezed within his chest. No one had the right to make her cry—not even him.
    “Jaden? Honey? Are you okay? You shouldn’t be alone.”
    Her voice came out shaky and just above a whisper. “I can’t hide and I can’t outrun him.”
    Placing his hands on her shoulders, he rested his forehead against the back of her head. “What can’t you outrun? Who can’t you hide from?” He had an inkling, but if she’d just tell him, he’d help her. “Tell me, Jaden.”
    Shrugging out of his grasp, she turned and wiped the tears from her eyes with her sleeve. “I’ll be okay. You don’t need to clean up after me.”
    No, he wasn’t going to let her dismiss him. It didn’t matter that he’d more or less shoved her away the weekend before. Right now, she needed a friend and he insisted on being a rock for her. “The bastard got under your skin. You don’t deserve to hurt and I won’t let him treat you like shit. I’m not about to let any jerk who wants to exploit some socialite run my town, especially when that socialite doesn’t live here.”
    She shook her head. “No. I am not leaving because you don’t want me around. I’m happy here. I