Or so I tried telling myself. I could conjure all the right words, but not the sentiment.
I gazed down the empty driveway for a long, quiet minute, then headed inside. I had business to attend to, and a real-life intruder to track down. Now was not the time for such foolishness.
I stepped inside the grand entrance hall and headed toward the kitchen, hearing the guys there. But my steps slowed, and I stopped, searching for an excuse to avoid him — er, them. I hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep last night, and the morning hadn’t been a big improvement. Didn’t I deserve a little mental break?
A good plan, except for one thing. Marius stepped out of the kitchen, spotting me. He froze, taking up most of the doorway, casting a long shadow into the hall.
My eyes met his, andzing!There it was again. That fire. That live current zipping through my veins.
My heart warmed, because his eyes held joy, hope, and desire. My head urged me to run, because, well…joy, hope, and desire.
Running won.
I spun around and hurried to the spiral staircase, not ready to face him. Footsteps followed. Big, heavy, dragon-shifter-size steps that quickly caught up with me.
I stopped and glared, though he got the first word in.
“Where are you going?”
I stuck my hands on my hips, grateful that the stairs allowed me to look down at him.
“I need a minute,” I said.
“Now? We need to talk.”
We, as in him and me, orwe,as in all of us?
“We can talk later.” I turned and stormed up another few stairs.
Again, he clomped after me. Again, I spun, practically shouting this time. “What is it with you?”
He blinked. “What is it withyou?”
I made a show of scratching my chin. “Let me see. Oh, yes. I was stalked last night. I didn’t get a wink of sleep. Then Clement shows up…”
“He is an ass,” Marius muttered in agreement, though I’d said no such thing.
“He is not an ass. He was just checking on me.”
Marius snorted. “Oh, he wascheckingyou, all right.”
I huffed. “Even if he did, what’s it to you?”
Marius crossed his arms firmly. “Nothing.”
Ha. Nothing, my ass. The hair around his jaw bristled, and a squall whirled in his eyes.
I stared, then blurted in surprise. “You don’t like another man looking at me?”
He scowled and stuck his hands in his pockets. “No, I don’t. He wants you, you know.”
Yes, I did. And I was flattered to have a man like Clem interested in me. Flattered and, frankly, a little thrilled. But the thrill had faded quickly, and I’d found myself craving more distance from him.
But back to Marius, dammit.
“And this is your business because…?” I demanded.
He clicked his jaw, and I knew I had him. It was none of his business.
