Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 28021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
My eyes widen. "Holy crap. Did my grandma or aunt talk you into this?"
"No."
"Did you talk them into it? Because I swear to God, I will strangle you if you've got them thinking I'm in danger!"
It took two months to convince Gran to give up the expired bear spray she's been carrying in her purse for the last decade. God only knows what she'll do if she thinks I'm in danger. And Bets wasn't exactly on the side of rationality yesterday when it came to Bonnie and Clyde. Who knows what she's capable of doing?
"I've never even spoken to your grandmother or aunt, baby girl," he says quietly.
So he's making it up then.
Why?
I don't understand why this man is willing to go to such lengths to spend time with me. He doesn't even know me. And yet…and yet he's telling his family about me. And yet he still shows up here with excuses as to why he needs to see Camila even though he rarely even makes it to her office. And yet, he hasn't given up.
"What does having a bodyguard entail, exactly?" I ask, not entirely sure what I'm thinking. Not entirely sure I haven't lost my mind, too. But I'm tired of trying to resist this man when every cell in my body screams for something different. So maybe it's time to switch tactics.
If he wants to invade my life…maybe it's time I let him. Once he sees exactly what he's up against, he'll leave me alone, or he won't. One way or another, I'll know, right?
God, why is that such a terrifying prospect to me?
"A bodyguard makes sure you have everything you need to ensure your safety. He deals with any threats and handles anything or anyone that needs handling. Most importantly," he says, his eyes roaming down my chest, "a bodyguard guards your body."
Oh, really?
"Then I just have one question." I wait until he meets my gaze again to ask it, making sure he knows that I know he's full of it, and I'm willing to fight just as dirty as he is. "Which of your brothers is it going to be?"
The dark growl that erupts from his throat is as menacing as it is hot. "If either of my brothers even thinks about guarding your body, Ma won't ever find theirs, lamb."
Well, okay then.
He rises from his chair, circling around the desk to me. I spin in my chair, trying to keep two eyes on him just in case he tries to kiss me again. But this time, he simply leans down over me, putting his mouth next to my ear.
"Keep fucking with me about other men, and I'll tie you to the bed and turn your curvy ass red," he growls. "Right before I wipe the memory of every name you could even think to suggest from every inch of your mind. You're mine, and I don't share."
Did he just threaten to tie me up and spank me? Better question. Did I like it?!
Crap. I did. I really, really did.
His lips brush my cheek before he snatches the press release off my desk. "I'll take this to Camila while you finish up for the day."
Chapter Six
Zayne
"Maybe you can start tomorrow," Emma says for the fifth time since we left the office half an hour ago. It took some convincing—a lot of convincing—but she finally agreed to let me drive her home. I didn't really leave her much of a choice when I stole her car keys out of her purse and refused to give them back. As of now, I'm on duty. Guarding her body. Best assignment ever. "There's no reason to rush into this."
"There's every reason," I disagree. "You need a bodyguard."
If hell is real, I'm going there for lying to her. I've accepted this. But Gideon suggested I cut off her escape route and force her to deal with me. What better way than by appointing myself as her bodyguard? Actually, I didn't appoint me. That wasn't technically a lie.
Gideon hired me to protect her. She doesn't need to know that he used my money—quite happily, I might add.
And she is in danger. She's in danger of breaking my fucking heart. She's in danger of running herself ragged. She's in danger of getting herself fucked through the mattress if she doesn't stop being so goddamn cute. But she didn't ask what kind of danger she was in, so I didn't technically lie about any of that either.
It's ice thin enough to count as frost. But desperate times call for desperate measures. She's been running for long enough. It's time for her to realize that whatever the fuck she's so afraid of isn't going to happen.
"You can start tomorrow."
I pull up alongside the curb outside her house and kill the engine. "Okay, so, we need to get a few things straight, lamb."