Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 68102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
A hand landed on her shoulder, and she jumped with a scream.
Turning, she came face-to-face with Colm. Her heart was racing, threatening to beat out of her chest.
What was he doing?
Didn’t he know better than to sneak up on someone?
To sneak up on her . . . because God knew she was jumping at shadows at the moment.
“In your office. Now.”
“You can’t be back here,” she told him.
He just gave her a sharp look, one eyebrow raised. Yeah. He didn’t give a shit where he was supposed or not supposed to be.
That much was clear.
“What about Miller?” she asked desperately. “You’re supposed to be her bodyguard.”
“Finn has her.”
She’d noticed another man had come in with him tonight, but she’d never met him before. “Finn?”
“Rogan wants him trained up to watch her. Office. Now.”
Sofia swallowed heavily. “I don’t think that’s wise.”
“Why? Is the detective meeting you back here?” he demanded.
What?
Why would he ask that? And was that a hint of jealousy in his voice?
Nope. That was dumb.
“Of course not.”
“Two of you looked chummy back there. Your cousin wouldn’t like that.”
“Was that . . . are you threatening me?” she asked, feeling ill.
He took a step back, staring down at her in shock. “What? No. Of course not.” He let out a deep sigh. “Fuck. I’m worried about you.”
“Worried? This seems a strange way to show that you’re worried.”
“Inside,” he growled.
Yikes.
Even though she knew she should probably tell him to get lost, there was no way she was doing that. So she walked into her office.
A large Scottish lion walked in on her heels. Or was that a werewolf?
Nope. She had it.
Dragon.
Breathing fire and possession.
There went that imagination again.
Good God. She was losing it.
Moving behind her desk, she put it between them as a barrier of safety. It was the best she could manage.
His lips twitched as though he knew what she was doing and thought it was ridiculous.
That’s because it was. If he wanted to get to her, then this desk wouldn’t help her.
Likely, nothing would.
“You broke your word, Sofia.”
Uh. What the heck was he talking about? She reached up to brush her blonde hair off her face. Then she felt how much her fingers were trembling and quickly lowered her hand, hiding it behind the desk.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said coolly.
Wow. She’d just managed to say that without her voice breaking.
Go, her!
“Are you sure about that?” he replied, crossing his arms over his chest.
Damn it.
Why did he have to be built so spectacularly? She stared at his biceps, at his firm chest. He had rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, revealing the tattoos on his forearms that wrapped down over his hands.
She licked her lips, unable to look away.
“Like what you see?” he murmured.
Sofia jumped, working up a glare. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but this is my office and it’s inappropriate for you to be in here.”
Dear Lord.
She sounded ridiculous.
“Inappropriate? I thought we were friends.”
She narrowed her gaze at him, feeling her temper stir. “I thought we were acquaintances.”
“Hmm. Acquaintances don’t text each other in the middle of the night when they’re upset and needing support.”
“We don’t do that!”
He suddenly smacked his hands down on the desk, making her jump again.
Jesus. She’d nearly peed herself. What the fuck did he think he was doing?
“No. But you’re supposed to, aren’t you, Sofia? You’re supposed to fucking well text me when you’re upset or scared or angry or whatever it is you’re feeling that’s making it impossible for you to sleep.”
“I can sleep.”
He drew himself back, pulling all that anger under a cool mask.
All right, now she wanted the anger back. At least, that was real and honest.
This Colm was one she didn’t know or like . . .
Face it, you don’t like the angry one, either, because you know he’s angry at you.
“You need to stop lying to me, Sofia. Lie to anyone else; I don’t care. But you don’t lie to me.”
“Why?” she whispered.
“Because I care.” The words seemed to be ripped out of him, but after he’d said them, there appeared to be some regret in his face.
That regret flayed her.
Because she didn’t want him to regret caring about her. Even though she knew he shouldn’t.
“Why?”
“Why wouldn’t I? You’re sweet and kind and caring. And you’re also a brat. You’re so fucking closed off except for those few moments that you let go and show me the real you. Those small sips you’ve given me have just made me thirstier to know all of you. It’s a tease, one I’m certain you’ve done without conscious thought. But it can’t be reversed. You’ve given me parts of you, and Lord help me, but I can’t help but want more.”
“You . . . I . . . we can’t do this, Colm.” The words were wrenched out of her, the pain in them so clear to hear.