Of course, just thinking that brought to mind the kiss they had shared at his house. It took every ounce of his control not to touch her.
“I want to work more.”
He was painfully aware of the silence in the room. They were being watched like they were some kind of show. He usually hated to be examined, but at the moment, he hated how pale Lila was. The dark circles beneath her eyes were more pronounced.
It ticked him off that she wasn’t doing what he’d ordered her to do. Granted, he didn’t have a right to do that…or maybe he did. He was working her case, so he was the operative in charge. He leaned down so that he was eye level with her.
“You either get that sweet ass of yours up off that loveseat and go lie down, or I will pick you up and carry you myself.”
She studied him. “You wouldn’t.”
“Without hesitation.”
Aggravation colored the sigh that escaped from her, but she stood, causing him to straighten and take a step back. “Fine. But just for a little while.”
They would see about that. She put on a good show, but each step she took showed a different story. It was as if every move she made took almost all of her strength. He led her through the house, getting angrier each time he looked behind him. Her shoulders drooped and she barely made a sound. That was not the Lila he knew. The woman who had driven him crazy was a shell of herself.
They arrived at her room. “You have a private bathroom.”
“At least I have an indoor one this time. It’s like I’m a billionaire.”
It was said in the same tone a normal person would mention the weather. He studied her. “You look exhausted.”
“Once again, you have to stop with the compliments, Ian. I’m not sure I can take it.”
He closed the door to the bedroom, then returned to her. What he had to say needed privacy.
“I need you to promise me that you are not going to run away from me…or try. You are not well enough to get out of here by foot, and while you might think you don’t need help, you do.”
She studied him for a long moment. “I could put all of you at risk. I don’t like that. That’s why I tried to leave.”
“Then why did you keep contacting me? You have to know that each time we talked, you might draw attention to yourself.”
“And you. It’s my weakness.” She shoved a hand through her hair, then paced away to the window. “I’m sorry. It was just hard to not…stay informed. I promised my grandmother I would.”
“Bloody hell, Lila, I can take care of myself.”
She looked over her shoulder at him. “It’s been a few close calls. And even though I know I annoyed you?—”
“You didn’t annoy me.”
“That’s not what you say to other people. You think I don’t know what you say about me? And no, I don’t listen in.”
At first, she had annoyed him, but somewhere along the way, he had changed. His need to hear her voice had colored his every thought. He rolled his shoulders, drawing her gaze. “What?”
“It’s a tell. When you’re annoyed.”
“I’m not annoyed.”
She snorted and crossed her arms beneath her breasts. Jesus, he wanted a taste. The kiss had just made all of his fantasies about her even worse.
“I know when you get irritated. This is irritated.”
“You really want to know what I’m thinking about?”
“I know.”
He shut the door, then took a step closer. “I’m trying to control myself.”
