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“We will not discuss any business unless we are alone.”
“You don’t trust your former guards?”
“Since they are no longer here, that isn’t an issue.”
Perfect. I’d forgotten he was the type that never answered a question directly. “I get it. I won’t mention anything about our business outside this room. Has the suite been thoroughly checked for bugs.”
“Yes.”
“And you trust the work?”
He studied me for a moment. “Do you?”
“I never trust anyone else’s work.”
“Then go ahead and conduct your search. I have some business to take care of. When you’re done, take your things to your room and unpack. We’ll talk more later.”
“I’m here to protect you. I’m not here to take orders from you.”
“You work for me. Therefore, you take orders.”
“No, I work for X.”
“I don’t give a fuck what X has told you. There is no reason to manhandle me. I am proficient with a weapon and capable of taking care of myself. If I say I’m exiting the elevator or the room or anywhere else first, I expect you to listen. I need another set of eyes, not a barbarian.”
I looked down at myself, then winked. “Too late. You’re getting both.”
“No, I’m not.”
“You’re really used to getting your way, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
That simple answer told me he wasn’t lying. I was certain very few, if any, men said no to Mr. Fontaine. “I can’t guard your body if I’m not allowed to touch it.”
He raised his brows, and I held his gaze until he spoke through gritted teeth. “Double-check the room is secure.”
“A please wouldn’t hurt.”
He narrowed his eyes, and I could practically feel myself turning to ice. He was like an evil Elsa.
As soon as he turned around, I called out, “Dare?”
When he whirled back around, the fury in his expression was exactly what I’d hoped for. “Do not call me that again.”
I grinned, loving that I was getting to him. I was going to break through his ice, even if it killed me.
“How about Big D, then?”
He gave me a look that would have sent a lot of men running. I just laughed. “Well, I guess not since I don’t know if that actually applies.”
The scowl on his face made me laugh. “You can address me as Mr. Fontaine.”
“Nah, but I suppose I can stick with Darren.”
He blew out a long breath. “I can’t believe Xavier saddled me with you.”
“I can’t believe you call him Xavier.”
He turned and stalked out of the room. This time, I let him go quietly. Had I won that round? Did his lack of need to defend himself mean Big D was in fact a good name for him? I was salivating to find out.
4
DARREN
I suppressed a smile even though Fox could no longer see me. I wasn’t taking any chances. I could not afford to let him know I found him amusing or anything other than obnoxious—which he was. I was going to have to work harder to act like a client rather than a protector. That wasn’t a role that came easily. I’d been defending myself my entire life, and my instincts were well honed. I may have grown up with as much money as Xavier, but our families were nothing alike, and I’d never had the skill at sliding into different roles that he did. I’d been who I was my whole life, but I wasn’t about to tell Xavier I couldn’t complete this mission. When I took on a job, I did it and did it well. Failure had never been an option for me.
I couldn’t stop watching for danger or being prepared to confront it, but I could be more discreet. Normally, that wasn’t a problem for me, but Fox knew exactly how to push my buttons. Did he do that with everyone? Or was he especially resentful of this assignment?
After spending only one day with him nearly a year ago, I’d known he was going to piss me off, but he was even worse than I thought. Dare. No one called me that ridiculous nickname except my sister, and she rarely used it now.
If anyone else was dealing with a man like Fox, I’d tell them to give him as little attention as possible and avoid saying things he’d take as a challenge, but I wasn’t anyone else. Fox wasn’t going to back down. He was going to have a comeback for everything I said, but I didn’t back down either. I was going to make him behave.
I could do that expertly if I didn’t have to remain professional, but I’d learned a long time ago that it was best to keep hookups anonymous. Still, the thought of him surrendering his ass to me was appealing as hell.
It was going to be a long damn week, and I hoped to hell I wouldn’t be stuck with Fox any longer than that. Based on what I’d learned about his background, he wasn’t likely to relish a babysitting job. Xavier told me not to worry, that he’d convinced him of the importance of the mission.
