Free No One's Hero (Chadwell Hearts) by Kelly Walker

possible on her. Like with the drinks this morning. I brought tea and coffee for her, hoping she’d like one or the other. Granted she didn’t want either, although she didn’t even let me tell her what was in them. But dammit, I tried. What more can I do? Now she’s in her first college class, worried about her missing stuff, and she’s had no breakfast. If I could just get her to relax around me, get her to trust me to take care of her, things would be so much easier on both of us. She’s a smart girl, but sometimes she sure doesn’t show it. Speaking of which, from what I’ve seen of those coming and going so far, I think most of these bimbos have more money than sense. I can’t fathom why Lexi wanted to come here, but it’s not my job to analyze why she’s here, I just have to make here safe for her.
    I glance at my cell phone, willing it to ring. While Lexi was in the shower earlier I took a moment to put in a call to Axel, and I’m waiting for him to call me back. Across the parking lot, a large horse trailer pulls in, loaded with bales of hay. Two men climb out of the truck’s cab, talking loudly about how hot several of the new freshman are. I roll my eyes, tuning out their posturing. As if any girls with class would give them the time of day. Then again, most of the girls I’ve seen so far don’t exactly have much class. Lexi’s miles above most of them.
    Wait—what the hell am I thinking? She’s not only just a job, she hates me. Not that I can blame her. I know damn well I’m running hot and cold around her. The thing is, I honestly want to see her happy here. She looked so miserable yesterday, it awakened some primal need to protect her that goes far beyond the job. But I can’t afford feelings like that, because there may come a time when I have to choose between keeping her happy and keeping her safe. The last time I was faced with a choice like that I made the wrong one, and the girl I loved paid the ultimate price. I will not let that happen to Lexi, and if that means she has to hate me, we’ll probably both be better off for it.
    I reach into my wallet and pull out the only photograph I carry, knowing it will help me focus and get my head in the game more than anything else possibly could. The edges are white and worn from frequent handling, but Nuri’s smile hasn’t dimmed in the slightest. Soon after we met she told me her name meant, ‘my fire,’ and I laughed, realizing just how true it was. I’m sorry, I tell her for the millionth time, wincing at the stabbing pain in my heart that always accompanies thoughts of my failure. I have to do better this time.
    My phone vibrates. I tuck Nuri’s photo back into the hidden fold of my wallet, then swipe the green talk button.
    Axel skips hello. “Good news and bad news.”
    Isn’t there always? “Start with the bad.”
    The two men are back with wheelbarrows, hard at work unloading their hay. The metal ramp clangs noisily each time they go up and down, making it difficult to hear myself think, much less hear Axel through the phone. Cursing inwardly, I take a few strides away from the front of the barn, putting some distance between me and them.
    “The school is adamant that while they appreciate my donations, they will not inconvenience other students for us.”
    Fan-freaking-tastic. “So the roommate from hell is there to stay?” While I can think of a few ways to push her into leaving, and Axel doesn’t mind me leaning heavily on guys, he’ll never go for strong-arming a girl. No matter how much she deserves it. Just thinking about the way Lexi’s face fell last night has my hackles raised.
    “Sent from heaven above, just to make your life miserable, dude.”
    “It’s not my life I’m worried about, bro. She’s a total witch to Lexi.” An understatement, but it’s not worth my time or his to relay every detail of the girl-drama that has become my life.
    “Maybe she just needs a good fucking.” Axel snickers at his own