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“I do, but I also know this is my apartment and I’ll be in it with Milo. If you need someone to sweep it, he can do it. Thank you.”
The silence elongated for a moment and Karagiani nodded once. “Very well, inside, and let me hear the locks. Call me with any schedule changes for tomorrow.”
I could practically feel Milo assessing the bodyguard. Not that he hadn’t been. The two weren’t quite glaring, but it wasn’t far off. Milo followed me inside and locked the door while I disarmed, then rearmed the system.
He strode off and I turned to track. “Where—”
“I’m going to sweep the place,” he said and I sighed. “You told him I would and the guy is paranoid, but it won’t hurt. Now, stay right there.”
Arms folded, I waited. It didn’t take Milo long before he returned with a smile.
“All clear,” he said, gathering my hands into his. “Do you want to shower and change before we talk or just want to tell me what’s eating away at you?”
“Honestly?” I blew out a long breath. “I doubt either will make it any easier, and I’ve put this off long enough. Do you need a shower, or can we talk now?”
“I’m good, Mayhem. Where do you want me?”
Everywhere. However I kept that to myself even if I summoned a smile. I glanced at the sofa and then reconsidered that plan.
There was another more formal sitting room and then the library… so we headed there. For once, I went to the bar and mixed up a drink. When I glanced at Milo, he shook his head.
“I have beer,” I offered, and his smile softened his whole face. “And yes, it’s for you.” I opened up the fridge and pulled out a bottle. It was even his brand. I made sure to check with Emersyn on what he liked.
“You’re pretty damn perfect, Mayhem.” He dropped a kiss on my lips before he took the bottle and then moved over to the chairs near the empty fireplace.
“I wish that was true,” I admitted before taking a sip of the gin and tonic. I didn’t really want to drink, but I needed something to do with my hands. “I probably should have told you about this before,” I said. “I’m not making excuses. I made a choice, and now I’m making a new one.”
“Okay.” He set the beer down and leaned forward, his attention on me.
I wasn’t going to put any caveats or provisos on this. I wasn’t a little girl, and I wasn’t scared of the dark. “The first time we were together, when Em was in Pinetree and then I left with Ezra…”
“I remember.”
He’d been angry then. Angry and maybe hurt. I wasn’t going to look too closely at that.
“I had to come back here, for Andrea.”
He nodded once.
“But I didn’t need to stay here long because she was back to school. Then Ezra took me to his island—it’s not his, it’s his family’s. But there was so much going on and he wanted me somewhere safe. I didn’t realize we were going there until we were already in the air.” I frowned. “It was a turbulent time. Adam had been missing, and Ezra was worried about him. Then what happened when Em and I had disappeared on him. He didn’t want me to disappear again.”
Right, get to the point, I told myself.
“While we were on the island, we had sex.”
Milo leaned back in the chair and his expression didn’t shift.
“It was—a couple of times…although he acted like it was a huge mistake and then pretty much told me to forget it happened. We came back here and pretended it hadn’t.”
I turned those memories over in my mind. On the island, Ezra had been—warm and funny, and kind and caring. He’d been incredible—even when he was infuriating.
Then he just flipped that switch and turned into an asshole again.
“Nothing’s happened between us since then…until a few nights ago.”
“While I was gone?” Milo’s only question.
My heart hammered and I met his gaze head-on. “Yes.”
