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“She’s not just a guest, is she?” She smiled again.

“She’s the target I was supposed to kill,” I explained, deadpan.

She lost her smile and her shoulders sagged. “I figured as much.”

I leaned my forearms on the island counter. “What else have you figured?”

“Oh, lots.” She crossed her arms and leaned her hip against the counter opposite me. “He loves waffles. She’s curious what a certain Mrs. Richards will do now⁠—”

“She’ll have to find a new babysitter to mooch off or give up her affair partner,” I quipped wryly. I’d sent a guard to speak with the manager at the building to say that the Emersons were visiting family out of state. The advance of her rent for two months appeased that loser, anyway.

Thinking about anything long-term wasn’t on my radar. I needed answers. And I wanted to see why I was so hung up on this woman.

“Hmm. So that’s why Brady seemed to imply the other boys were a nuisance.” Paloma nodded slowly. “He’s also thrilled to have a shower and a bathtub. He thinks your driveway is ideal to practice riding a bike on. She’s nervous to even dirty up a hand towel. And she’s very aware of when a guard is patrolling. She’s also wondering about how she’ll get Brady home for someone named Carly to babysit. For when her work shift starts.” She raised her brows, silently showing how curious she was.

“That won’t be an issue.” I stood up and set my hands on the edge of the counter. “You’re well on your way to befriending her already then, huh?”

She smiled and clasped her hands together under her chin. “Oh, she’s just so sweet.”

I sighed.

“And Brady isn’t nervous around you?”

“Oh!” She snapped her fingers. “That reminds me. I need to check that we’ve got ingredients to bake cookies this afternoon!”

“Maybe you can bake with him while I talk to her.” I glanced back at Alexei and Viktor entering the front door behind me, right on time. “Preoccupy him.”

She nodded. “But she’s not really a target anymore, is she?”

I opened and closed my mouth.

Once more, she smiled slyly. “Aha.”

“No aha anything,” I warned her. I couldn’t have her making me doubt my judgment any more than she already was. I saw the point of keeping her alive because someone else wanted her dead. But past that? I had to watch it and rein in this instant desire that she fanned to life when she looked at me like she wished she could lean on me.

“Where is she?” Alexei asked bluntly.

Viktor rolled his eyes, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Don’t mind him. He’s in a mood this morning.”

“When isn’t he?” I replied, leading them toward the back. Paloma went ahead of us to ask Brady to come see if they had the ingredients to bake cookies.

He was thrilled, tossing out a “Hello, Mr. Volkov” to me as he ran toward Paloma. “Can my mama bake with us?” He looked back at her and frowned. “She’s got to go to work soon.”

“She can bake all afternoon with you,” I told him.

Louisa frowned at me. Alexei gave me a skeptical look.

“Really?” Brady ran back to hug his mom, nearly bowling her over, she was so short.

“Let’s check what we have in the kitchen,” Paloma told him, beckoning him to come. “We’ll let Mr. Volkov and your mama have an adult talk.”

The boy went with her and I studied Louisa. Paloma must have found some clothes for her overnight because the petite raven-haired beauty looked casual. Comfortable. In a skirt and simple blouse, she looked good. All that curly hair was down and loose. Her face was refreshed after a solid night of sleep.

Dammit.

I had to rein in how good it felt to provide for her. To know that I was giving her all this comfort.

“I’m not going in to work?” she asked cautiously, as if she needed to check her hearing. As she glanced at my brother and cousin, her frown intensified.