“You like it,” Xander said.
“Thanks,” Harper said. Her hand on his arm sent a jolt of desire through him. But Ares was right. He was her protector, nothing more.
Outside at the curb, Carli was waiting for them.
“Good evening, Xander, Ares. Harper.”
“Straight home tonight, Carli,” Ares said.
As he settled into the limo beside Harper. Xander checked his buzzing phone.
“Anything urgent?” Harper asked.
“I would tell you if there was,” Xander snapped.
Harper pulled out a pair of earphones and plugged them into her ears.
Ares shook his head at him, and Xander ignored his brother.
And as their ride started across the bridge to home, he texted Cindy, hating himself all the while.
When the limo pulled through the iron gates, with the monogram “M” across them, and stopped at the old staff quarters, Harper unplugged her earphones and gathered her bag.
“Have a good night, Harper,” Ares said.
“See you tomorrow,” Harper said.
Only when she was behind the door to her apartment did Xander exhale the breath, he was holding.
“You’re a damn fool,” Ares said.
Xander snorted, knowing his brother was right. But there wasn’t anything he could do to fix it. He closed his eyes as the limo continued to the front door.
“Are you coming?” Xander asked as the limo stopped. His brother frowned at his phone.
“Xander, one of the alerts I have for Harper, just pinged. Someone is ran a search for her family.”
His mouth went dry, and his heart pounded in his ears. It didn’t have to mean anything; her infamous family got searched a lot. But his instincts tugged at him, telling him this search was more than a casual glance through history.
Damn, he’d almost thought they were behind this, but it cemented his reasons why he had to continue to be her protector and nothing more.
CHAPTER FOUR - HARPER
Asitgotcloserto six o’clock, Harper fidgeted, trying to clear her desk. Cluttered spaces were a pet peeve of Xander’s, but when she felt stressed, her inclination was to cocoon herself in the clutter. Xander insisted on her space being clear. Normally, the task gave her a method to control her nerves.
She tried to focus on the details of doing it, but her hands were shaky as she moved paperwork and a collection of burner phones the Research and Development Team had dropped off. Harper was just putting those in the safe when the main office door opened, and Xander came in with Cindy on his arm.
Cindy flashed Harper the finger behind Xander’s back, as Xander opened the door to his black fortress, and kissed Cindy deeply.
Harper’s stomach fell to the floor. She ducked her head and moved one pile to another on her desk.
“I’ll be a moment,” Xander said to Cindy and his door closed again.
“She’s a class act.” Harper couldn’t help but say.
“Tonight, you’re going to Club Bandit with Marrock?” Xander leaned on her desk, a frown on his face.
“Yes,” Harper said.
