“Let me see the note,” Pierre said, holding his hand out to Maurice but staring straight at Theo.
Now Dani wasreallywishing she knew what was written in that note.
“He tore it up and threw it in the water so we couldn’t read it,” Maurice offered.
Pierre’s gaze homed in on Theo, like lasers boring into his pupils. “What did it say?” he demanded.
“None of your business,” Theo spat back.
“A love letter to your sweetheart?” Pierre asked.
“I told you. I’ve never seen this woman in my life.” Theo tossed his head in Dani’s direction with disdain.
Pierre pursed his lips, shifting his eyes back and forth between the two of them, trying to read their expressions.
Funny. Dani was trying to read Theo’s expression, too.
“Well, if she’s truly no one to you, then I guess we don’t have a need for her,” Pierre said. Um, Dani didn’t like the sound of that. “Maurice? Louis? Get rid of her.”
The words turned Dani’s blood to ice.Oh God.Forget what she thought earlier.This is it. This is how I die.
The air stilled, everyone’s gaze shifting from one to another. But when Maurice took a single step forward, the patio broke out in a blur of commotion. Theo hopped out of his seat soquickly it skidded on the floor behind him, and he immediately backed up to shield Dani.
“Stay back,” he said, holding his hands out wide.
“Out of our way,” Maurice said, practically foaming at the mouth with delirious pleasure.
“Put your hands on her, and I swear to God I’ll break them,” Theo spat.
His right hand curled around Dani’s waist, tucking her behind him, as his left hand remained outstretched, holding off Maurice and Louis. The surrealness of the situation caused her knees to buckle. So she gripped his broad shoulders, which blocked her view, and she pressed her forehead against his back between his shoulder blades. She’d always marveled at Theo’s height compared to her own, but she’d never realized how perfectly built he was for protection until now.
He smelled of saltwater and the sun, or at least what Dani imagined the sun would smell like. She could bask in his glow all day, soaking in his scent like she took in the sun’s rays, filling her with warmth. Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to consume him. Tobewith him.
If only he weren’t with someone else.
And, oh, you know, if only her life weren’t on the line.
“You are awfully protective over some tourist,” Louis said.
“And it’s quite interesting that you have a cozy nickname for her,” Pierre said. “Juicy, was it?”
Dani felt Theo’s muscles tense under her palms. That fucking nickname.
“Theo?” she whispered. Whatever was happening, his current approach wasn’t working.
He craned his neck to look at her behind him, then reached around bringing her to his side. Dani stared into his eyes,searching for an explanation, but all he gave her was a halfhearted smile and a whisper back. “Trust me. It will be okay. I promise.”
Theo then wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his side. “Fine,” he said to Pierre. “You’re right. She is…sheismy fiancée.”
Warmth spread across Dani’s cheeks, and she fought to keep her body from flexing under his touch.
“That’s more like it. There’s no reason to lie, Dr. Galanis. Things will be much easier if you don’t try to play tricks on me,” Pierre said.
“Just let her go. I’ll do whatever you want, but don’t hurt her,” Theo pleaded.
“I find it fascinating the number of people who think I’m some sort of murderer,” Pierre said to Maurice and Louis, amused. Then, turning to Theo, he continued, “I was never going to hurt her. I only needed to know whether I could use her as leverage. And it seems I can.”
Theo’s head hung a little as if realizing he’d put her in even greater danger than before.
