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I took a deep breath. Maybe if I gave her this, she'd stop worrying about the danger. "Code and I... well… we're together now."

The squeal that came through the phone nearly ruptured my eardrum.

"I KNEW IT! I knew this was going to happen! From the moment I saw you two together, I knew!" Angelica laughed. "Oh my God, Kit. Details. I need details. How did it happen? When? Where?"

"Angie—"

"Don't you dare 'Angie' me. I drove you to Tennessee. I introduced you to my hot cyber warrior cousin. I deserve details."

"We kissed a couple days ago, and then things just... progressed."

"Progressed? What are you, a Victorian romance novel? I want the good stuff." Her voice dropped to a stage whisper. "How is he in bed? Because those shoulders suggest⁠—"

"Angelica!"

"What? I'm just saying, a man who looks like that has to know what he's doing. So, does he? Does Code Drakos have skills?"

My face was on fire. "I am not discussing this with you."

"That's a yes. Oh my God, that's definitely a yes." She giggled. "You're blushing, aren't you? I can tell you're blushing even over the phone."

"Can we please talk about something else?"

"Fine, fine. But just tell me this—on a scale of one to ten, with one being 'why did I bother' and ten being 'I've found God'—"

"Angelica!"

"Okay, okay!" She laughed again, clearly delighted with herself. "But seriously, Kit. This is fast. Like, really fast. You've known him less than two weeks.”

The teasing dropped from her voice, replaced by genuine concern.

"I know it's fast." I stood and resumed pacing. "I know it sounds crazy. I'm under stress, he's helping me, all the classic damsel-in-distress-falling-for-her-hero tropes."

"But?"

"But it doesn't feel like that." I stopped at the window, pulling back the curtain to look at the parking lot. "I'm thirty-one years old, Angie. I've been in this industry for fifteen years. I've dated, but I tried to stay away from men in the industry. Some of them were really good guys, but wrong for me. Hell, I was married to a man I thought I loved."

"Your ex was a dick."

"True. But my point is, I've never felt like this before." The words came out quiet. "When I look at Code, I don't see my hero. I see someone who understands me. Who sees me, the real me, not Kit Lord the brand."

I thought about last night, about being careful with his injuries, about wanting to take care of him the way he'd taken care of me. But that felt too private to share, even with Angelica.

"I'm almost positive he feels the same way," I continued. "The way he looks at me, the way he—" I stopped myself. "It's real, Angie. I know it sounds insane, but it's real."

Angelica was quiet for a long moment. "You know what? I believe you."

"You do?"

"Kit, you have great instincts about people. It's one of the things that makes you such a wonderful actress. If you say this is real, then it's real." She paused. "Plus, I saw how Code looked at you when he thought no one was watching. The man is gone for you."

Relief flooded through me. "Thank you for saying that."

"Just don't forget to invite me to the wedding. I want to be maid of honor."

"Angie, for God’s sake, we've only been together for like three days!"

"So? When you know, you know." Angelica's tone turned mischievous again. "Now, about those shoulders⁠—"