Page 75 of Mr. Dangerous

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Naomi

Alice wrappedmy hands in her own. We sat in the Delaney living room, the most comfortable, homey space right off the kitchen, with the morning sun trickling in through the two-story windows over the mission-style furniture and enormous creamsectional.

“So what do you think really happened?” Alice asked. “Do you think it was a bigmix-up?”

“Robthinks—”

Alice broke in. “We all know what Robthinks.”

I cocked my head to one side, taking in my sister’s face. Rob had made it clear he was feeling rather protective. That was why I had called Alice, asking her to stop by on her way into work, instead of meeting Alice by her office for coffee. Alice seemed irritated, and I wasn’tsurewhy.

“I know he’s being annoying,” I said, wanting to draw Alice back to my side. “But I think maybe he’s gotreason.”

“Okay!” Alice said, even though she didn’t seem convinced. She squeezed my hands. “I think you’re right to be cautious. You shouldstayhere.”

I chewed my bottom lip. Alice’s sudden agreement made me feel like I had to talk through the flip side myself. “I want to be smart. But how long can I really stay here? I have worktodo…”

“It’s fine,” Alice said. “Naomi, you’ve made the business your life. It’s not even a business you chose. It’s okay to havealife!”

“This isn’ta life,” I said. “It’s like, a few days of staying in Castle Delaney. Rob’s going crazy putting in these new securitymeasures…”

Alice nodded along, and finally, I knew what shemeant.

“I’m not starting a life with Rob!” Iprotested.

“Well, the extra time togethercan’thurt.”

“Alice.”

Alice spread her hands out innocently. “Look. Love needs time. Whether I think Mitch was unlucky and had a home invasion and now Rob is going nuts and overprotective and the two of you are losing your minds, or not… You two spending more time together can be a goodthing.”

I stared back at Alice. “Rob’s not the onlygoingnuts.”

“What’s that?” Rob asked, leaning with his shoulder against thedoorway.

I turned quickly, not sure how much Rob had heard. He was smiling slightly, his hands shoved into his pockets. His jeans and snug black t-shirt skimmed his powerful body. I felt a surge of lust, no matter how much trouble I worried wewerein.

“I was saying that I’m surrounded by loons,”Isaid.

“Then since you’re the one sane one, apparently, you’re duty-bound to stay with me.” When his lips were quirked up in that little smile, it made me want to kiss him sobadly.

Alice stood, gathering her purse from the couch. “You two are adorable, and I can’t handle it. I’m going to go write divorce settlements for the next ten hours to purge this from mypsyche.”

“Divorce settlements?” One of Rob’s dark eyebrows quirked over those cool-watereyes.

“Alice is a paralegal for a divorce lawyer.”Isaid.

“When you finish law school, do you think you’ll stick with divorces?” Robasked.

“I don’t know,” Alice said. “The law is fascinating, but there’s really no happy-ending kind of law anyway. Divorce law isn’tsobad.”

“More power to you. I couldn’tdoit.”

“I couldn’t be a SEAL. So.” Alice smiled at Rob as shepassed.

“I don’t know,” Rob said, stepping back out of her way. “Both of you girls seem prettyfearsome.”

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