Page 27 of Saved By the Billionaire

“They seem to think so.”

“Because I can just keep flying under the radar…”

“Their job is to keep you safe.”

She placed the folder to the side. “I need to think about that.”

Her fingers trembled a little as she moved to the second folder. She took in a deep breath, not sure she wanted to see their photographs again. As if instinctively understanding that, Roman strode across to her and took a seat at her side, one hand on her knee for strength. Sparks flew through her.

“You need to ID them,” Roman said, softly. “This is the alternative we agreed upon, rather than you going to the station.”

She shivered at the very thought, her fingers trembling as she opened the folder. Her eyes latched on the images. The faces of twelve men peered back at her. She scanned them all and then shuddered, pointing first to one, then the other. “I’ll never forget their faces. Their eyes. It was dark but—I remember them.”

Roman took a pen and circled the images Kate had indicated.

“The statement can wait,” he said firmly, putting the folder back with the others.

“I can do it.”

“No. That’s enough for now.” He grimaced. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I just wasn’t expecting…to feel like this. Their faces…they’re in my nightmares.”

“You’re having nightmares?”

She lifted her shoulders. “I’m pretty sure that’s normal after something like that.”

“Yes,” he said, but the word was heavy with anger. With displeasure. As though the very idea was offensive to him. “They can’t hurt you, Kate. They’re going to go away for a very long time.”

“I know.” She closed her eyes. “I’ll be back in Australia soon enough anyway. I doubt they’d bother trying.”

“Yes,” he agreed, but his brow furrowed as though only just remembering that she had another country she called home. “Where in Australia?”

She made a tsking noise. “Don’t we need a signed contract before we can talk about ourselves in that kind of detail?”

A flicker of amusement crossed his lips, and she reached up slowly, eyes challenging him to stop her, as she dragged her fingers over his mouth, gasping at the feeling of his lips, his breath, his warmth, his stubble. It was so elemental and real, so fiercely perfect and right.

The night before, he’d put his finger in her mouth. Now, she did the same thing, pushing one finger between his lips, staring at him as she held it there then slowly removed it, shifting it to her own lips and sucking on it, closing her eyes slowly at the intimacy of that made her insides clench.

“Fuck,” he groaned out, so she opened her eyes and removed her finger, placing it on his knee, then slowly, slowly dragging it higher, towards his hip.

“Kate,” he said, a warning in the word. “Stop.”

“Are you sure?”

A plea flooded his face. “No.”

The admission made her feel exultant. He was lost, just like she was. Lost like he’d been the night before, but he’d walked away. She didn’t think he’d do that again, though. Not with the way he was staring at her now, like she was his last breath.

“Kiss me, Roman,” she challenged, moving closer. His gaze fell to her lips and hovered there. Kate leaned even closer. “Kiss me now.”

He reached behind her, cupping her head, drawing her towards him, so close that she felt his breath against her temple. “Sign the contract,” he said, eyes probing hers. “For God’s sake, sign it now.”

She sat at the table, glass of wine to one side of her, Roman to the other. She’d read it through once. It was pretty standard. Not that NDAs were a part of her wheelhouse, but she’d had enough jobs, seen enough contracts in the course of her life to recognise basic legalese. There was nothing in there to trick her, nothing to take advantage of her.

She placed the pen down, sipped her wine, then glanced across at him and asked the question she’d been thinking about since he’d first mentioned the paperwork. “Has Tia signed one of these?”

It was obvious that he hadn’t expected the question.