Ha. That’s not why she’s blushing. Amusement filters through me.
My phone buzzes. I sigh, reaching for it, hoping Thorn hasn’t changed his mind. The number’s unfamiliar. I put it on speaker. “Who’s there?”
“Hi, it’s Wesley Whisper.”
Ella frowns. So do I.
“How’d you get this number?” I ask.
“I’m a computer programmer,” he snaps. “So here’s the deal—”
I stiffen but let him speak.
“I think you’ve kidnapped Ella. I’m on my way to the police station, and when I get there, I’ll not only file a missing person’s report, but I’ll tell them you blew up TimeGem and committed battery on me.”
“I don’t like being threatened, Wesley.”
He coughs. “That’s too bad, because I’m going to save her if it’s the last thing I do.”
Ella sits up. “Wesley, I’m here. I’m sorry things ended the way they did, but I haven’t been kidnapped.”
I kiss her forehead. Nice of her to step in, though I’m already thinking I’ll have to kill the guy.
Unfortunately, she must read something on my face, because she frowns and shakes her head. “I’m trying to save your life here, Wesley.”
“I don’t care about my life,” he retorts.
That I can understand. I’d die for her, too.
“Either you meet me and talk this out, or I’m going to the cops. I don’t believe you’re not under duress,” Wesley says.
Ella rolls her eyes. “I wouldn’t lie to you under duress.” Her cheeks pink slightly because we both know she’ll do whatever I want with enough encouragement. She glares at me. I smile. God, she’s cute.
“All right, Wesley,” I say. “We’ll meet with you—”
“Not you,” he breaks in.
Maybe I’ll just beat the shit out of him. “Oh yeah, me. If you don’t drop this, you’re going to end up dead.” I don’t think he’s recording me, but if he is, I’ll deal with it later. “We’ll meet you in half an hour at the Malice Media headquarters.” I can deal with him before Alexei arrives. “You’ll get fifteen minutes, and if you still want to go to the cops, I’ll make sure you do it in a coffin.” I end the call.
“That really wasn’t nice,” Ella says.
“Are you kidding me?” I retort. “After the two meetings, let’s go shopping. See how nice I’m being? I’m letting you meet with him first.” I want to go ring shopping. I’ll surprise her.
Even her frown is sexy. I want to get her naked again. Now. “We’re meeting at your office,” she says. “If you ask anybody to kill him, they will.” She’s not wrong. She leansup and cups my face, running her palm over the whiskers I didn’t bother to shave this morning. “Promise me you won’t kill him. He’s a decent guy.”
“Have you slept with him?” It shouldn’t matter, but I want to know.
“Nope,” she says cheerfully. “We dated a little bit, but it just wasn’t there.”
She probably just saved his life. “So long as he gets the message he can’t go to the police,” I warn.
“I know. I’ll talk to him.”
“I’ll be there.”
She leans up and kisses my neck. The woman is seriously touchy, and I’m shocked by how much I like that.
“I hope I didn’t force you into this,” I surprise myself by saying.
