Page 7 of Charmed by You

She whirled on him. “You insufferable prick. Don’t youdare—”

“Frannie. Calm down.” Damien’s voice was low. Reasonable.And Simon was absolutely positive that was the wrong approach to take.

“Are you fucking kidding me, Stark? The man just called me aliar to my face. I have no idea—zero theories—as to what’s going on,and he’s accusing me of…well, fuck him. Fuck all of you. Dammit.”

She blinked, her lips pressed tight together as she spunaway, giving all of them her back. And for a moment—a very, very fleetingmoment—Simon had the urge to put his hands on her shoulders and tell her that itwould all work out.

“Frannie,” Damien said softly, “we’re going to get to thebottom of this.”

Her shoulders shook, and as much as she grated on him, healso knew that she was truly afraid. And because he was a damned idiot, hisheart softened a little. At least until she spoke again.

“I don’t want him here.” The words were low. Barely audible.“He’s an arrogant prick, and I don’t want him in my home. For that matter,” sheadded, turning to look at Damien and Ryan in turn, “I don’t want anyone here. Igot some stupid note, and I freaked, okay? But I shouldn’t have, becausethere’s nothing for me to tell. Nothing. Which means it’s a prank. Ajoke. I’m safe. So go. All of you.” She shifted, eyeing everyone in the room.“Go on,” she snapped, her voice rising. “Get out of my house.”

Nobody moved.

“Dammit, go.” A stray tear snaked down her cheek.Damian started to stand, but Simon stepped forward, cutting his boss off. He’dtriggered this with his typically brash bullshit. Yeah, dealing with Hollywoodtypes was as much fun as dragging his fingernails down a chalkboard, but therewas no denying the woman was legitimately scared.

“Oh, come on,” she said as he approached her.“Won’t you please just go?”

He pulled a chair out for her, then gestured for her to sit,surprised when she actually complied. He squatted down, one hand holding thetable for balance, so that she didn’t have to look up at him. Across the table,in his peripheral vision, he saw Stark and Ryan exchange a glance. Matthew Holtand Aaron were as still as stone. He remembered that Francesca was rumored tohave a fiery temper on set; presumably, they were preparing for the explosion.As for the rest of the team, they’d long ago slipped out of the room. Good.

“Hear me out,” Simon said, his attention now entirely onher. “Then, if you still want us to leave, we will.”

He paused, giving her time to answer, and was relieved byher small nod of consent.

“You say you don’t know what the note is referring to andthat it must be a bad joke. A prank.”

“That’s the only thing that makes sense,” she whispered, solow he had to strain to hear her.

“And you may be right. But the flip side is that you’rewrong.” He lifted a hand, halting her before she spoke. “Just hear me out. Ifyou don’t know what the note is referring to, that makes it moredangerous, not less. Presume it’s legit. By not answering—by doingnothing—you’re basically flipping the guy off. And an angry stalker is adangerous stalker.”

“That’s all conjecture. It’s bullshit. Why am I the only onewho sees that?”

Simon drew a breath. She was fighting back and pissing himoff, and as much as he wanted to tell himself it was because she was a spoiledlittle Hollywood starlet, that wasn’t the case. It was because she’d beenthreatened, and she was scared.

“I get that you wish all this would go away. I get thatyou’re scared. But even if you really don’t know what this thing is you’resupposed to know, someone thinks you do. You’re not safe. You can’t control thescenario, and you need help. If you don’t want me, that’s fine. You take thatup with these nice gentlemen here. I promise you I don’t like the situation anymore than you do.”

“Barré.” That from Ryan.

“He’s signaling that I’m being unprofessional, and maybehe’s right. But right now, I’m not interested in doing my job. I’m interestedin making sure you feel comfortable and safe in your own house and attomorrow’s event. That means you need someone here for the safe part, and youneed someone you trust for the comfortable part. Right now, both those rolesare mine. But you say the word, and they’ll find someone else.”

He turned to look at the two men who’d recruited him. Whosigned his extremely nice paycheck. Who’d told him he was assigned to this jobeven though he’d rather eat glass than work with an actress, much less thebiggest actress on screen today. And he wondered just how much he’d pissed themoff.

Maybe in the end, it didn’t matter. Neither he nor Francescawanted him here. She said the word, and he was history.

He drew a breath. “That’s it. That’s my speech. There’sevidence that you’re in danger, and you say you don’t know why. All the morereason for someone to be with you.”

“You said I’ll be safe tomorrow.”

“And I believe that. But I might be wrong. More important,I’m not just talking about tomorrow. I’m talking about the day after, and theday after that. All the way until we figure out who’s harassing you. And rightnow, all those days—and all those nights—are on me. If you want someone else,now’s the time to say so.”

“Then I want Leah,” she said, and he was shocked by thedisappointment that slammed against him. “Have Leah move in.”

Simon pulled out another chair and sat opposite her, thenturned his attention to Ryan. She’d really rather have Leah than him? Leah wasa solid agent, no doubt. But she was a small woman. Hardly the forbiddingpresence that could deter a hostile attack.

Still, if he was off the case, that would be a good thing.And this Hollywood princess would no longer be his problem.

“It makes sense,” she continued, making her case to Ryan andDamien. “I know you think having a guy is better, but I know her socially. Wecan say she’s staying at my place because she’s remodeling. That she’sshadowing me because she’s writing a screenplay. Anything.”