I was an Idiot. How could I have let this happen? I'd always been so careful, why did I stuff up now?

I'd been with Bliss for a while and she was a nice girl but that's it. I loved her but she didn't really give me anything other than a good reputation. So I'd shopped around and man was stock good. It was easy, make Bliss happy by doing whatever the fuck she asked and she would remain oblivious.

I'd only met Angel a couple weeks back and she had rocked my world. Seriously, the things that girl could do.

My life had been perfect, I spent my days with Bliss doing romantic shit and my nights with Angel doing the very opposite of romantic shit. Life was good, until I'd gone and fucked it up.

Normally Angel was a night-time activity, but that day I had her come over early. We didn't make it to the bedroom. Usually that wouldn't be a problem, except Bliss walked in; all prettied up with a picnic basket in her hand.

I really regret giving her that key.

So now I stand here, in her front yard like a creep, trying to figure out what sappy words will have her forgive me.

Angel is gone, she said she doesn't do drama. Hopefully I can at least get Bliss back.

Fuck it, let's do this.

I walk across Bliss's perfectly manicured lawn; Mrs. Holly is as much of a perfectionist as B.

I knock three times and wait, and wait. Until the gorgeous Bliss Holly opens the door - dressed to the nines as per usual and...

... With a guy behind her.

What the fuck!

-

"Who the hell is that?" I rage, my anger getting the best of me before I can think anything through.

Bliss looks shocked to see me, to say the least. Her eyes are red and her cheeks swollen. She's been crying. After her shock passes, she, in true Bliss style, straightens, pulls her hair in front of her ears and narrows her eyes.

"A better question would be: What in the world do you think you're doing here?"

"I came to explain, and apologise. Bliss, please let me speak with you," I looked up at the guy, "... alone."

Before she could respond, the guy behind her stepped in front. "Not gonna happen, mate."

I was already in a very bad mood today and he was doing nothing but making it ten times worse. I needed to get B back without having to deal with this bloke's attitude.

"Listen here, mate," I spoke through gritted teeth, rolling the sleeves of my shirt. He did the same.

No one threw a punch, however, because Bliss jumped right in the middle of us, and it seems neither of us wished to harm her.

Without looking at Bliss, I spoke to her, "Bliss, baby, you need to move."

With one hand on her hip and the other pointed in my face, her anger levels seems to rise from 1 to 9 in a maximum of eight seconds.

"Nuh uh Mister! I don't know who you think you are but you are definitely not my Christian! How in the world your twisted brain seems to think that after everything you've done that you can waltz on onto my property, call me baby, and threaten to beat someone up I will never understand. But this is something your dumbass mind needs to comprehend so I am going to say if very, very slowly. Understood? You stay away from me. You stay away from my house and you certainly stay away from my boyfriend. Because trust me, next time, he will pound you into next week."

Her very angry speech came to an end and the tree of us stood in her doorway, mouths partly open in shock.

New boyfriend?

Fuck no.

-

I was so mad that I wasn't thinking. I was just trying my very best to hurt Christian as much as I could.

Oh God. I just told my ex-boyfriend that Nathaniel Martin is his replacement.

Fudge.

-

It was a long drive from Remington to my home town. Admittedly, I was going at least 15kms over the speed limit. Riley would be so disappointed.

My volunteering to care for Sabine's best friend was an on-the-spot decision, and I am now uncertain if it was a right one. I have no idea how to comfort a broken-hearted teenager.

But me going was certainly better than the alternative of Sabbie going, getting discovered and killed by the most evil man I have ever heard of.

That damn girl had grown on me. And my brother too, apparently.

I had Nickleback blaring through the speakers as I sped along the highway. It was empty, bar two Hondas and a Toyota Hilux so it was just me and Chad Kroeger.

What the hell am I going to say to her? "Hey, sorry your boyfriend's a douche. I'm just here to follow you everywhere you go."

Definitely not. I could call mum? She would know what to do.

No, I can't stress her with my problems - she has too many of her own.

It's another 3 hour drive ahead of me. Chad and I'll figure something out.

-

"Um, hi. I'm Protector Guy..." That is so not what Chad and I decided.

When the door opens, after I knock upon it, I find what I assume is a girl under the birds nest of dark blonde hair. Machine Guns, Fighter jets and tanks I can handle... Crying women, I certainly cannot. Now, I don't want to be a complete cliché of a male, in fact I try hard against it, but what the fuck am I meant to do with her? Women's emotions scare the crap out of me.

"Sorry, I meant: Nathaniel Martin, at your service. Sabine sent me... Are you okay?" What I assume are her eyes roll as she turns and walks into the house, leaving the door open for me.

Yes, this is definitely Sabine's best friend.

With a quick gesture to the couch, Bliss Walks up the stairs and into a room. Unsure of what to do but unwilling to stand idly by the front door, I made myself at home on the black leather lounge.

The house was nice, predictable and clean. Quiet. I can almost hear my own heartbeat. On a war front, when it is this quiet - something has gone terribly, terribly wrong.

I must have become lost in my thoughts because what seems like mere seconds after the hunk of mess left, a drop-dead gorgeous girl descends from the staircase. Bliss.

Her hair is brushed and possibly straightened, make-up on. I'm not sure what clothing she was wearing before but she definitely changed it.

I need to stop staring. Nate, stop staring. Stop!

"So Sabbie sent you?" She asks, pulling me from my internal battle.

"Yes-"

"I'm surprised she didn't come on her own - permission or no."

I laugh, "God help us if she didn't try, but my brother stopped her and here I am instead." Okay, Nathaniel, lets crank the flirt dial up to 11. "Although I'm sure you won't be complaining."

Wink.

"And why is that?" She asks, her tone half sarcastic and half inquisitive.

"Because who wouldn't wanna stare and/or hang around me all day? I'm freaking fantastic!"

She tries very hard not to laugh, and she is good at it but I see the tiniest of smirks break through. Mission accomplished.

She takes a seat in the arm chair to the side of the coach I'm sitting on.

"You said something about your brother - her guard? Is that how you know Sabine?"

Before I can answer three precise knocks sound at the front door. Bliss stands, groaning at the effort.

"Why am I so goddamn popular today/"

I stand alongside her, seeing as it is now my job to protect her. When the door opens, I have absolutely no clue who the dude is... Bur Bliss certainly does.

She physically stiffens beside me, her fists clench and her weight leans back - away from him. Had I not been standing close I wouldn't have noticed it but she is scared of him.

The guy looks from Bliss to me and back again before jumping to the immediate reaction of: "Who the hell is this?"

Bliss recovers from the shock of seeing him and fires an answer back as I start to piece together the 'who' in this situation.

Christian. The cheating ex-boyfriend I came here for. Dumbass. Who the fuck would want something other than Bliss?

"- let me speak with you... alone." Okay, I don't know where the hell this dude thinks he is at but that is so not happening.

While before I was beside Bliss, I step in front of her, "Not gonna happen, mate."

The kid rolls up his sleeved like he is ready for a fight. What's he kidding? I'm an Australian Army General with 5 years of defence training. I'm also six years older than him and a hell of a lot bigger - but if he wanted a fight then who was I to stop him?

Nothing happened, however, because Bliss - seeing what was happening - jumped between us, halting and possible fists thrown.

Christian tried to get out a sentence but Bliss tore into him. I couldn't hold back my smile as she raved about all the wrongs he had done. Good on her.

My smile very quickly dropped however when I heard her use the words "my new boyfriend" in conjunction with a gesture toward me.

Nope. Nuh uh. I don't do relationships. And I certainly don't do relationships with broken-hearted girls, 7 years my junior.

Christian didn't seem to see it that way though because his eyes turned red. I wasn't into his ex-girl (yes, I flirted but it didn't mean anything) but I was shocked by the gall of him.

The dumbass cheated. Why would he now have any right to be jealous over Bliss?

I didn't want to confront Bliss' claims, but I did want to get rid of the wanna-be kid on her front veranda. I figure the most effective way is to scare the living daylights out of him.

Very calmly, and very slowly, I ease around Bliss and toward Christian. His head has to tilt slightly to look at me and I can see that tiny speck of fear in his eyes already. Perfect.

Whispering and making small movements so Bliss can't see, I lift the hem of my shirt to reveal a long, jagged scar.

"You see this, kid? I got it fighting in Afghanistan - rescuing a child from an Afghani man twice your size. I have served in the Australian defence force for five years and been shot twice. I've killed so many men I couldn't count. I really hope you come to your senses right now and walk off the property."

Christian's eyes got wider and wider as I spoke. Her was ready to run as soon as I said 'fighting In Afghanistan'. He looked to Bliss one last time before turning and walking away.

Wise choice.

I spun to look at Bliss, standing rigid in the doorway. I'm certain she didn't hear what I said to him.

One problem solved - now I just have to sort out this 'boyfriend' problem with Bliss and live with her for the next couple weeks.

It should be fun...