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Sage sat in a single lounge chair, in her dressing gown, her arms crossed, staring at her lap, pouting…clearly unimpressed.
“Aren’t you going to say hello to Alex?” Chase used his brotherly taunting tone as though daring her to push past her apprehension, her annoyance, and participate.
“Hello.” She didn’t move, didn’t look up, her tone less than friendly, as he’d expected.
Chase slapped his hand onto Alexander’s shoulder, his eyes full of remorse. “Sorry to leave you with Miss Sooky. I’ve got to get home and pack. I need to be at the airport before midday.”
“It’s fine, man. Do what you gotta do.” He aimed to do the same.
“Bye, Sage. See you in a few days, and don’t forget…”
“Forget what?” she snapped, giving her brother the death glare.
“To behave.” He flashed his signature, older brother, smart-ass smile.
She flipped him off, and Chase laughed. “I’ll miss you too, Sis.” And with that, he closed the door behind him and drove off, leaving Alexander to deal with Miss Grumpy-Bum.
“Have you eaten?”
She went right back into sulking mode. “What’s it to you?”
“I’m here to make sure you’re okay.”
“Well, there’s no need. I can look after myself.”
“Really? What’s your plan?”
“Go to work, see my clients, come home.” She still refused to make eye contact. Always defiant, tenacious, yet adorable.
He dropped his bag, kneeled in front of her and angled his head, forcing her to look at him. “How’s that a plan? If you’re here alone, what’s to stop the person from breaking in again, assaulting you when you step outside, waiting for you in your car, attacking you when you’re alone at work?”
A shudder rolled through her body, and she hugged herself tighter. “I can manage. I’m cautious, careful. After last night, even more so.”
“You don’t have to take on this burden by yourself. Do you understand that? Let me help you. It’s my specialty.”
She speared him with a scowl. “How are you going to help me when you’re still recovering yourself?”
Fair point but… “This is different. This allows me to focus on something else, something meaningful.” Like he’d done for years. His protection work had become a part of him, utilizing his natural instincts, especially where Sage was concerned.
“So, I’m a pleasant distraction.”
“Something like that.” And so much more.
She rolled her eyes. “Great.”
Sage shifted away from him and stood. “Seeing I have no choice about you being here, about who’s in my own home, hopefully I still have some control of my schedule.”
He went to reassure her that he’d keep out of her way, even though he didn’t want to, but she stuck up her hand and did a zipper-closing gesture across her lips.
Right. No more grilling, no more well-meaning suggestions…for now. As per the lady’s request, he would shut the fuck up and give her some space. The woman had had her place violated by a stranger last night and by an unwanted guest this morning.
“There’s a spare bedroom upstairs. Go make yourself at home. I need a shower.”
Fuck. Now all he could think about was her naked, the warm water sluicing over her bare skin. And how fucking wrong and inappropriate? He needed to focus on the task at hand and get his over-eager mind out of the grimy gutter.
Before he could respond, she ascended the internal stairs and disappeared. Not even a couple of minutes later, the jolty sound of water pressure in the pipes had his thoughts detouring down that pervy forbidden path again.
Alexander scrubbed his face with his hands to try to re-center himself, slung his bag over his shoulder and headed upstairs. A door clunked into place close by, followed by what sounded like a moan of pleasure. His imagination went wild.
