“I am?”
“Seeing the way Antonio reacted when he realized I was your protection gave me a better understanding of your reason for wanting to pass me off as a boyfriend. His hackles went up and there was no way you were going to chat him up.”
“Do you think that’s why he was such a dick?”
“I do believe so. Anyway, I promise to work harder to blend in for tomorrow’s assignment. Unless you plan on coming back here?”
“Never,” Sophie said emphatically. “Antonio is not now nor ever will be boyfriend material…real or book.”
“His fatal flaw can’t be overcome?” Stone asked.
“It most certainly cannot.”
Stone’s, on the other hand—the jury was out on that one.
Chapter 14
Stone walked down the corridor to Ms. Birdie’s office, his steps measured and his demeanor composed, yet his mind was anything but calm. Yesterday’s kiss lingered in his thoughts, replaying with an intensity that caught him off guard.
What in the hell had caused him to throw his she’s-mine-keep-the-fuck-away card down at Antonio’s feet? It was a sure bet move to invoke another alpha to want something he couldn’t have.
Now, Stone couldn’t help but worry his lack of control around Sophie had something to do with his still glitching. Unfortunately, until Clarabelle returned from her visit to Mayhem, Missouri, there wasn’t anyone he could turn to for support.
It had been a relief when he’d learned Sophie hadn’t needed his services today. According to the text she’d sent him, she’d not yet decided on a new across-the-tracks candidate to interview. He’d caught a break there. The warmth of Sophie’s lips and the slight tremble he had detected in her touch had haunted hisdreams last night and had chased his thoughts all morning. He needed the day to reset.
He couldn’t help but wonder if she, like him, had spent the last twenty-four hours convincing herself it had been just a kiss to prove a point to an asshole. That the two of them were best suited as the occasional book buddy. Nothing more.
He reached the sleek glass door markedExecutive, took a deep breath, and smoothed down his jacket—a futile attempt to settle his thoughts as much as his appearance. With a slight nod to Ms. Birdie’s assistant, he pushed the door open.
Ms. Birdie sat poised behind her desk, her sharp eyes looking up from a stack of papers as he entered. “Stone, it’s so nice to see you again,” she began, her voice cutting through his reverie with its usual brisk efficiency. “I appreciate your dropping everything to see me this morning.”
“Not a problem. Sophie ended up not needing me today, so my schedule was free.”
Ms. Birdie sighed. “I’m afraid I’m the reason she didn’t need you today. I’ve tasked her with putting together a more detailed outline of her plans for the remaining columns.”
“If I know her, she will be thrilled with the excuse to dig deeper into her book boyfriend files.” Stone just hoped it didn’t require him to read additional romances. The ones he’d read had already thrown him off his bachelor-for-life plan. As it was, he was hanging on to its ledge by his fingertips. One more happily ever after could spell the death of his commonsense approach to his future.
“Oh, you’re not wrong,” Ms. Birdie said. “I dropped by her office and saw her process, and it involved a corkboard with colorful threads crisscrossing all over the place. Reminded me of one of those crime scene boards you see on television cop shows.”
“That sounds on brand for Sophie.”
“Anyway, I hate to tell you this…” Ms. Birdie continued shuffling the papers into a neat pile. “But we’ve received a rather unsettling threat against our star columnist.”
Stone stiffened. Thoughts of Sophie being hurt sent a cold fury down his spine. “When? Who?” If it was Antonio, Stone would make good on his threat. No one would hurt Sophie on his watch.
“It came sometime in the last twenty-four hours. Dropped off downstairs in our mailbox. Nothing was caught on the cameras, so the who is not known.”
“I don’t understand.” Stone paced to the window and glanced out before turning and leaning against the wall. “You said you’ve asked for a more elaborate plan. Why not cancel the whole assignment? Surely, her safety is more important than the column.”
“I gave her the option, and she wouldn’t even consider the possibility. In her words, that’s why she’s got you.” Ms. Birdie waved at the chairs in front of her desk. “Sit. You’re making me nervous.”
Stone nodded, forcing his professional mask firmly into place, and did as he was told. “I’d like to see the correspondence.” The room felt too warm suddenly—or maybe it was just him.
Ms. Birdie handed him a file folder. “That’s a copy of the note. The original went with the police.”
He opened the folder and read.Watch your back, Sophie E. Clark.
“Have you met any of her prospects that gave you reason to worry for her safety?” Ms. Birdie asked.
