Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 166103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 831(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 166103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 831(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
Was he serious?
“Do you have a hearing issue?” he asked.
“Hearing issue?” What was he talking about now?
“You keep repeating what I say.”
Because maybe if she repeated it then he’d hear what an absolute dickhead he sounded like.
“I’m just having a little trouble understanding what you’re saying.”
“Really? I thought I was being very clear. I’m in charge of your safety while you’re here.”
“I think there’s been a mistake. You’re in charge of Lord Fothersam’s safety, not mine.”
“There’s no mistake. You’re a visitor to Escana. You don’t have a guardian and you’re a guest of the Princes of Escana. I’ve been assigned to watch you just as much as Lord Fothersam. More, because you’re female.”
She shook her head. “Don’t you think that’s sexist?”
“No. We take care of our women here.”
“I’m not yours.”
“Damn straight you’re not. Or you’d know that running alone is out of the question.”
“No. Listen. This is my fault.”
“Is it? How is that?”
“You’re obviously under the mistaken impression that I’m more important than I am. I’m not. I’m literally no one.”
He eyed her for a long moment. She gulped. Why did she feel like a bug under a microscope?
“Do you often call yourself no one?”
She sighed. Why wasn’t he getting this?
“I don’t often call myself no one, but I am. I don’t require any security because no one would be interested in harming me. Thanks for trying to protect me. But it’s really not necessary. Just concentrate on Lord Fothersam. He’s the important one. I’m just background noise.” She smiled at him, certain that he was going to agree with her. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll head out.”
“Background noise?” he repeated slowly. “Interesting.”
It wasn’t.
“No, not interesting. That’s the whole point.”
Easy. Chill.
She had dealt with bigger assholes than this guy. He wasn’t going to break her control.
“Have you been out here all night?” she asked suddenly. “There’s hardly any crime here so I don’t think that’s necessary.”
“Doesn’t matter how much crime there is. My job is to keep you safe and that’s what I’m going to do. And I will not allow you to stop me.”
She barely bit back a sigh.
“I’m not trying to stop you from doing your job.” There, that was civil, right? Sure, her voice might have been a bit tight, but he was so damn stubborn it was infuriating.
He raised an eyebrow, looking like he didn’t believe a word coming from her mouth.
“I’m simply telling you that you’re doing your job wrong.”
She had to bite back a smile at the shocked look that filled his face.
“I’m not the person you’re meant to be keeping safe. And I’m sure Prince Kassim will agree if we ask him. I’m going on a run now. And you can stay here and do your job as much as you like.”
There. Now, he would let her go on her way.
She stepped forward. He didn’t budge.
Honest to God . . . this guy would test the patience of a saint.
“You can’t go running alone. It’s not safe.”
“Well, staying here with you isn’t safe, either.”
“Why not? I will look after you.” He looked totally offended.
Men.
“I mean for you.”
Their gazes clashed, and for a moment, she let the mask drop, glaring at him hotly. His mouth parted slightly.
“Is everything okay here?”
She jumped with a small cry as someone spoke from behind Grumpzilla. The stubborn butt didn’t move at all. He just kept staring at her, waiting.
It was enough to shock her back into pulling the mask over her face. She couldn’t let Grumpzilla get to her.
“No, everything is not okay,” she replied, even though she couldn’t see the other man. “This guy won’t let me leave.”
“Uh, Judd? There a reason you’re blocking Ms. Reed from leaving?” the other guy asked quietly, sounding confused.
“She wants to go for a run,” Judd replied.
“It’s not against the laws of Escana, is it?” she asked, working hard to keep the sarcasm from her voice since she knew that it wasn’t. She’d studied the laws.
“Um, nope, it’s not,” the other guy said slowly. “Judd, you want to move so I can see her, man?”
Judd grunted but shifted to the side, staring between her and the man behind him. What was his name? Brick? No, Beck. Shoot. She must be tired. She never forgot names. It was her job to know who everyone was.
Beck was even more muscular than Judd. Which was saying something since Grumpzilla was well-built.
“Ma’am, good morning. You’re up early,” Beck said in an uber-polite voice.
Urgh, ma’am. Just great. Here she was checking him out and he thought she was a ma’am.
“Please, call me Chloe.” She gave him a tight smile. “And no, I couldn’t sleep any longer. Time difference.”
“Isn’t it like two in the morning where you live?” Grumpzilla asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
“Uh, yes, I guess.” She managed not to glare at him.
Just.
Beck shot Judd a look. “Guess your body doesn’t know what timezone it’s in.”