Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
“Quentin murdering my sister, niece and nephew. Shooting me three times, attempting to kill me.”
His eyes lost the blaze of anger. “You were still a kid.”
She decided to act as if she was powering through. She allowed her eyes to shimmer with tears before she dropped her gaze from his, as if hiding her shame. “I don’t feel safe when anyone’s in my personal space.” That was true, and she hoped he believed her. Everything she’d told him was the strict truth.
She caught at the drawstrings on her hoodie and twirled them nervously around her finger. “I don’t even invite women friends to my apartment. I’m not ready yet.” She wasn’t certain she would ever be.
She hadn’t invited Andrii, but once he was there with her, she hadn’t been afraid for her life, more for her heart. Fortunately, Billows dropped the idea of thinking someone was in her apartment.
“That makes sense, Azelie.” He seemed much more relaxed, the harshness and cruelty fading from his expression. “You aren’t going to get over something like that quickly.”
“It didn’t stop when I was in the hospital. There were so many reporters and cops forcing me to relive it over and over. I have nightmares. If someone came up to my apartment and could see where I keep everything, I would never be able to fall asleep.” That was true as well—with the exception of Andrii. She didn’t know why he was the exception when danger emanated from him. She felt physically safe, just not her heart. She desperately needed to guard her heart from him, but she knew it was impossible.
“You realize, working for me in the position that you do, adding someone else into the mix would be seriously dangerous for them.”
Billows stated it casually, as if it was a foregone conclusion that she would never date anyone.
She forced herself to meet his gaze. Again, he had a strange look in his eyes. This time he looked possessive. She had no idea what that was all about, but she didn’t like it.
“I’m far too busy to add anyone into my life.” She was. That was the truth as well.
Studying Billows’ hard expression, she suddenly was terrified for Andrii. She would have to convince him she was too busy or not interested. But she wanted at least one night with him. Just one. It would have to last her a long, long time. She wasn’t going to take chances with his life. Billows was a criminal, and by his own admission, he was willing to kill people.
That made her think of the woman who had screamed. Billows could say he was watching a movie all he wanted, but she didn’t believe it. She hadn’t believed his explanation then, and she didn’t believe it now. If anything, she was more certain than ever that he had hurt someone while she was working in her office.
She refused to put Andrii in danger, not even if he was her one chance for a perfect relationship, or as perfect as one could get with both people having issues. She wasn’t going to take all the blame. She knew she was screwed up after what Quentin had done. Her parents had started her down a road of mistrust and her brother-in-law pushed her over the edge. But she saw things in Andrii’s eyes when he wasn’t guarding himself. Bad things. He definitely had issues, so no, she wasn’t going to shoulder all the blame for being the only one screwed up.
“It’s good you don’t want to put anyone else in danger, but I think it’s time you had someone looking after you.”
Her heart jumped, began to race. She worked at breathing normally, at settling her pulse. She had to handle this just right. “I’m quite capable of looking after myself, Alan. I’ve been doing it since Quentin took my entire family from me.”
“That’s not quite true,” Billows disagreed. “I’ve been looking after you, making sure you’re safe when you go running around that park in the evening. I’m going to put a stop to some of the things you do that are dangerous. You don’t seem to have any real concept of self-preservation.”
Her brows drew together. “You’re my boss, Alan. You’re not my partner. No one tells me what I can or can’t do.”
“That’s about to change.” He made it a statement.
She didn’t pretend to misunderstand his meaning. “Getting into a relationship with your boss is always a bad idea. When things go south, and they always do, you no longer have a job.” She used her primmest, snippiest voice.
Billows burst out laughing. His reaction was totally unexpected, and for the first time, she could see why so many women were attracted to him.
“Right there is why we’re going to have a relationship.”
She’d forgotten he liked attitude. Mostly, she was amenable and preferred pleasing those she cared about, but she had no trouble expressing her opinion when she didn’t like something or thought the other person was wrong. Being in a relationship with Alan Billows was so wrong.