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She shivered, taking another sip of coffee. “Are those measures really necessary?”
“Yes.”
“So you have to know everything about me and my life?”
“I have to know what will keep you safe. I have to be able to evaluate threats. I presume you want this matter concluded as swiftly as possible?”
She nodded stiffly. “Obviously.”
“It’s not obvious, actually,” he responded, mentally forcing himself to tone down the sarcasm in his voice. “If anything, your lifestyle over the last six months has been a flagrant invitation –,”
“How dare you?”
“You stick to the same routine when you are in Lond
on. Every morning, the same run, the same route, the same coffee shop at almost exactly the same time. If you were attempting to give someone a roadmap to stalking you, then you’ve done it.”
“So we’re victim blaming now?”
“Of course not. But given the threat, I can’t believe no one has advised you on the basic steps you could take to improve your personal safety. All I can conclude is that you get a thrill out of taunting this guy.”
The sound of her sucking in air filled the room.
“Noah,” Gray’s voice held a warning. “It’s been a tough day. Maybe you could check the fire-breathing dragon act at the door for now?”
Noah turned to his friend, only in that moment, they were no longer friends, but client and bodyguard, and his principal concern was delivering the hard facts so that both of them were shaken awake. “You hired me knowing what that would mean. If you’ve changed your mind, say so now and I’ll leave. If you want me to stay, then this is the way it is. There is no compromise here – compromises get people killed.”
Gray’s green eyes were locked with Noah’s silver, a silent battle raging between them until finally, Gray nodded, then turned to Max. “We’re hiring him. That’s final.” He moved to her, pressing his thumb to her chin and staring into her eyes. “I can’t lose you. Okay?”
She opened her mouth to argue but something passed between them, an understanding that years of being twins had fostered in their souls.
“For one week,” she agreed finally. “And only on a trial. If, after seven days, I don’t want to do this anymore, you have to let me fire him.”
“You won’t need to fire me,” Noah promised. “If you’re not convinced you need me after seven days, then I’ll walk out of your life without a backwards glance. Deal?”
She strode towards the desk, innately elegant, placing her coffee cup on the edge then closing the distance between them. Two feet from Noah, she stopped walking and extended her hand.
“Deal, Mr Storm. Shall we shake on it?”
His eyes held hers, and something deep within him answered the silent, compelling challenge in her gaze, the promise of her parted lips and gently undulating breasts. The stirring of desire, unmistakable and fierce, should have been enough to warn him. This was a bad idea. He couldn’t protect someone he was attracted to. He couldn’t allow any form of distraction.
But Noah Gray had never met a situation he couldn’t triumph over; this would be just the same.
He held out his hand, curving his fingers over hers and pulling ever so slightly, just enough to draw her body nearer to his so a hint of her vanilla and lemon blossom fragrance reached him, imprinting on him in a way that spelled disaster.
* * *
It took every ounce of Max’s focus to keep a neutral expression locked on her face. The last twenty four hours had scuttled her composure, but she suspected that had nothing to do with the raging fever in her pulse, nor the way her nipples were tingling and taut inside the lace of her bra. Noah’s hand, so much larger than hers, wrapped around hers, his thumb moving rhythmically over the skin of her hand until flames seemed to be licking the soles of her feet. She pulled her hand away hard, her eyes flashing a warning she hoped he’d heed. Or did she?
She pushed the traitorous thought away. He might be hotter than hades, deliciously handsome and the embodiment of alpha-male strength, but she wasn’t the kind of woman to be impressed by stupid superficial traits. She refused to be impressed by his looks and physical strength. That was just dumb luck.
“I presume you’ll need to take a day to catch up? You must be tired from your flight.”
His lips quirked in a smile that made her stomach ache. Beautiful, yes, but he was also laughing at her, mocking her, and she hated that. “Perhaps I wasn’t clear. I’m shadowing you. Effective immediately.”
A throb of pleasure radiated from her belly. She spun away, swallowing hard.
“I’ll have Rachel send you my calendar. I have a busy few days planned, Mr Storm. I hope you don’t suffer jetlag.”
