“Good morning, Sophie.” He didn’t seem bothered by my outburst. “It’s almost eleven o’clock, and I need to remind you that you’re not exactly practicing medicine these days.”
What the actual hell?
“I’m making up for the past decade,” I snapped. “And that was a shitty thing to say.”
“Merely pointing out the obvious.” He looked past my shoulder, nodding his head. “And trying to remind you that having your career back is within your grasp.”
“I’m sure that would make sense to Violet,” I muttered, dragging my hand through my hair. “What are you doing here?”
“Taking you to my villa where I can keep you safe.”
I frowned. “Frankly, I thought you were joking.”
“Do I strike you as a man who jokes around?”
“I guess not,” I mumbled, “but I hate to tell you, but I slept on it all and I’m not going to your villa. Yes, you’ve saved me a couple of times, but you’re a perfect stranger and could be a psychopath.”
He smirked. “So could you, and you don’t see me complaining.”
“You have a bodyguard who could easily wipe me out,” I pointed out, tilting my chin toward his shadow hovering in the hallway. “I don’t, therefore it would be two against one and I’d be the one who was outnumbered.”
“You’ve had three of my men guarding you all night. They can be yours permanently.”
“That sounds like a prelude to a very dirty book.”
“Oh, they know better than to touch you,” he drawled. “Now, let’s stop wasting time and get you packed.”
I stared at him, looking all put together in a suit. He was dead serious.
“I’m not packing. I just woke up.”
“That’s fine.” He smirked. “My men can pack.”
I glanced around my tidy room. “No freaking way they’re touching my stuff.”
He sighed. “Fine, I’ll do it.”
“Oh, that will make it loads better.” I scoffed. “A sexy silver fox touching my panties.”
I froze, realizing the words that slipped out, but it was too late to take them back. I went to slam the door shut in his face, but he was faster, his foot blocking my way.
“Zemër, we’re all adults here. I’ve seen panties before, and I’m not leaving without you.”
Heat bloomed in multiple parts of my body, and that nickname wasn’t helping at all. But I refused to let myself get sidetracked.
“Listen, Kian?—”
“If you’re worried about your safety, message your family and tell them you’re staying with me,” he offered. Then he pulled out his phone and started typing, his fingers flying efficiently over its screen. “There, my full name, address, and even a copy of my passport. All I need is your phone number, and I’ll send it to you. Feel free to share.”
I recited my phone number, and in the next second, my cell phone buzzed. My eyes darted to it, then back to him.
“Wait until I check that message.”
“You seem to have trust issues, Sophie,” he said dryly, but he removed his foot and I shut the door in his face, then ran to my phone. I opened the message, and sure enough, Kian had provided his information, including his date of birth.
For a second, I debated sending it to Kristoff, but then decided against it and sent it off to Violet.
Me: If I’m found dead, this is the information on my hot silver fox killer.
