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"I meant everything I said." I draw myself up to a full height. "Also—" I turn to Abby. "I promised your brother I’d look after you while he’s away on duty."
Yep, Knight joined the army. He had the chance to join the national cricket team with me. He is, in fact, the only person I’ll concede is better at the game than I am. But he turned down the opportunity of making the big bucks for a chance to serve his country. Something which makes me proud of him, and makes me realize just how much of a selfish motherfucker I am. The least I could do was promise him I’d look over Abby while he’s gone. A promise I intend to keep.
Abby folds her arms across her chest, her jaw set in stubborn lines that take me by surprise. The Abby I remember was sweet to a fault. Perhaps, she was even somewhat of a crybaby. She was very young, not even a teenager, when I’d met her. The Abby in front of me is, as she just pointed out, a grown woman. She has the figure of a siren—albeit, with gentler curves—and a strong backbone, which she apparently acquired along the way. She narrows her gaze on me. "I do not need you."
"Oh, but you do. You just don’t know it yet," I say in a casual tone.
Her eyes flash, and color flushes her cheeks. "Anyone told you how condescending you are?"
"I can afford it."
She gapes at me. "You’re such an asshole."
"Thank you. Also, I prefer alphahole."
"Why you—"
"Enough already," Zara’s steely tone cuts between us.
Abby takes a deep breath. She seems to get a hold of herself, and by the time she turns to face Zara, all traces of anger are wiped from her face. "Sorry about that. I don’t normally lose my temper."
"Don’t I know that?" Zara looks at her speculatively. "It’s good to see you stand up for yourself."
She shuffles her feet. "It’s just, he— I—"
"Don’t worry about it." Zara’s features soften. "I think it would be good for you to accept this role with King."
Abby blinks. "Y-you do?"
Zara nods. "You’ve done a great job with the Prime Ministerial campaign. But that’s over now and you need something else to challenge you so you can grow. And becoming King’s Communication Manager would give you all of that, and more."
Did my sister just insult me?"Are you saying my reputation is in need of repair."
Zara snorts. "It would help if you weren’t seen with a different woman every week. Not to mention, that pub brawl you got into; you could have done without that."
I smirk. "You should see the other man."
Zara shakes her head, but her lips curve up a little. "You’re right. You need a professional in charge of your image. Someone who’ll also help keep you in line."
"Hold on." I raise my hands. "Who said anything about keeping me in line?"
"If I were to become your Communications Manager, it means you’d need to follow the ground rules I lay down." Abby draws herself up to her full height.
"I make the rules, doll; I don’t follow them."
"Also, I have a name. You’d do well to call me by that," she says primly.
"I’m the person paying you. Do I need to remind you of that?"
"And I’m the person who’ll be managing your public facing profile. So remember, I have the power to also cast you in a bad light."
I stare at her, then bark out a laugh. "Touché, kitten. Apparently, you have claws."
She glances at her nails then rubs them on her sleeve. "They’re sharp and lethal and can cause enough damage that you’ll wear the scars for a lifetime."
The thought of her marking me sends a ripple of heat racing through my veins. I may have agreed to keep an eye on Abby as a promise to Knight. I hadn’t thought the assignment would turn out to be quite this interesting. Of course, there’s no way I’m going to break the trust Knight placed in me. Doesn’t mean I can’t have a bit of harmless fun with her in the meanwhile, hmm?
I walk around the bed, then hold out my hand to her. "So,Abigail Warren,you’re taking the job?”
