Page 8 of Billionaire Bodyguard

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Yep,” she said so fast I knew she was lying. What the fuck was she up to now? With her, it could be anything from contemplating base jumping from her balcony to cutting off all her gorgeous sable hair to masturbating forOnly Friends,which I would spank her ass for in a hot second. Or it could be anything in between. God alone knew. Linzey was completely unpredictable, and while some of her ideas stopped my heart, I actually loved her volatility.

“Can I come in?” My hand was already on the knob.

“No!” she exclaimed, sounding panicked.

“Linzey—”

“Just give me a minute. I’ll be right there.” I heard a soft thud and ashit, ow!

“Linzey, I’m coming in,” I warned, my hand tightening on the metal. Any other protectee, I probably wouldn’t, but Linzey… Linzey was different, even if I couldn’t have her and she’d always be outside my grasp.

“No,” she cried again, her voice closer. “Damn it, I said I’d be right there.”

The door swung open just enough for her to look around it, revealing her face and one slim shoulder, now in a silk robe and not the sweater she’d worn earlier. Her flushed, perspiring face concerned me. Her big, chocolate-brown eyes were narrowed, her brows drawn in pain. Damp tendrils of her dark-brown hair clung to her face.

“What?” she demanded quietly.

“Are you okay?” I asked in concern, studying her.

She rolled her eyes, and my fingers flexed. Every time the little bratbrattedat me, I wanted nothing more than to give her a little of the dominant discipline simmering inside me. But shedidn’t need that from me, not with what she’d been through four years ago. Which was yet another reason I could never have her. I craved her submission to me, and if we were together, I wasn’t sure I could restrain that part of me and not scare her.

“I’m fine,” she huffed. “I just finished running.”

My gaze scraped over her again. She looked exhausted. Beyond exhausted, and as we stood here and she cooled down, her face turned shockingly ashen. She clutched the door frame, and I steeled myself from diving in and lifting her into my arms. My body tensed, at the ready.

“Did you eat today?”

That was an issue I’d noticed more than once. I didn’t think she was anorexic, but she’d go long periods without eating, almost as if punishing herself for something. Then at other times, less unsettled times, she ate normally.

Then the exercise… It always occurred after nightmares, and she’d run until her legs could barely hold her up anymore. Was that what had happened now? All signs pointed to yes.

“I’m fine,” she repeated, not answering. “Is that all? I need to shower.”

My hand flattened on her door as she started to close it. I didn’t try to push it farther open. I just held it in place and didn’t allow her to shut me out.

“No. That’snotall. You’re going to your sister’s tonight.”

A delicate brow lifted. “Excuse me?”

“You’re going over to Marigold and Booker’s for the evening.”

“Why? What did you do? Make a play date for me so you can have the evening off? I don’t need—”

“No,” I interrupted. “Booker called me. Marigold wants to spend some time with you.”

“And where will you be after you dump me at my sister’s? You have a hot date or something? You don’t need to send me someplace, so you can go fuck—”

“No.” God, she was a brat. Didn’t she have some idea—anyidea—that she was the only one I wanted tofuck?

She stared at me, waiting, but I didn’t give her brattiness more to chew on. Her lips pursed, eyes challenging me, and I fought back a groan. If I ever lost my grip, no wall, no damn surface in this place, would be safe.

“We’ll leave at five-thirty,” I announced then pivoted away before I did something rash. Almost immediately, I turned back, though. “Unless you want to go out to dinner first?”

Where the fuck did that come from?

I mentally kicked myself. I’d just invited Linzey out to dinner? Like on a date? What the hell was I thinking?

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