faintly against her pillow. She'd fallen asleep somewhere between overthinking and pretending she wasn'

t night: his stare, the warmth in his voice, the way he'd said her name

t home

But somehow it mad

deeply, her phone buzzed ag

rning,

onger than necessary, half suspicious of i

They weren't friends. They were barely acquaintances

who did not have a billionaire neighbor sending her good morning texts. But even as she made her

ne buzz

I need to talk to

inked at t

her? Abo

erased, t

na

. what's

paced the small kitchen, t

is rep

id in person.

lingered the tension, the silence, the way he had looked at her

r fingers move

y.

the reply w

o

s breath

door just as her heart

fr

alrea

the knock had been a mistake. Her heart pounded too loudly for the quie

time, but still gentle. Co

to move toward the door. Every step felt heavier, her puls

door, Adrian Cole

ght softened the sharpness of his features, giving him an almost disar

he said

anded somewhere in her

ng her voice didn't betr

thing that felt dangerously close to concern. Like

ome in?"

didn't trust him, but because she trusted him

cologne brushed past her, clean and expensive

sion was tense, but not cold. More like he was wrest

he began, rubbing the back of his neck. "I ju

llowed. "Ex

ed a little closer, his gaze steady

e," he said. "And this me b

"Adrian... what are

his jaw flexing like he was

ecause something's happening-and you're alre

hill swept

ved in

supposed to see. Something you weren't supposed to b

ay. And now... it's t

s breath

pt her morning or flirt o

ull her into s

ing da

anchor herself. "Adrian... what di

long. "Last night, when you left your apartment... you walked right into s

er. "I just saw you talkin

deal that shouldn't be leaking through the cracks." He paused, his voice dipping low

. "You mean... I walked

tion at the situation itself. "Not illegal. Compli

the edges of a puzzle she didn't even know ex

visible. "I'm saying I won't let anything touch you. But I need you to know

tay steady. "Why tell me all this? You cou

for a long, quiet

hifted, softened in a way

I heard your footsteps in that hallwa

eart thudde

t li

nd unflinching, but vulnerable in

ou at a distance," he murmu

jammed in

n't gu

n't fl

nt eve

ut she didn't know what was

eliberate like he was giving her time t

dropping to a low, steady rumble. "But before I tell

ulse flutte

ated this gets," Adrian sai

between them, th

e of him, because of this morning, bec

her chin, gro

said softly, "if I don't ev

mperceptibly but it wasn't amusement. I

gh for his warmth to brush against h

unding hard enough to make her ches

and took a seat at her tiny kitchen table, the one that suddenly felt too modest for a man like him. He

began, "because it's not a worl

sit yet, bracing herself aga

I did see," she said gentl

ictor Lagos. And he doesn't show up

s pulled toget

om the deal I'm trying to close. He's no

s voice sent a cold s

t have to do with

ing him I wouldn't agree to his terms." Adrian leaned back, eyes lo

ugh her, sudden and sharp.

softly. "If you were close enough t

ed hard. "So wh

ated. "He wa

ge... l

the confirmation

"Adrian-tell me the truth. A

through them. "You're in danger because of the world I'm part of.

d her. "Funny, considering y

ice low and tense. "I don't get attached. Not to nei

n wh

cere. "Because the moment you glared at

oom s

he chair across from him, h

expect me to... what? Stay inside?

bows resting on his knees. "I e

Protect me? Adrian, we

he said quietly. "It needs

dry. "And what

cond-so quick she almost doubted it, but not enough

means standing between you and a man who

s pulse

eone might come after

pened with certainty. "But you need to stay close.

his words settle over her

eath. "Then you tell

ontrolled. He walked toward her, s

ped to a soft,

said, "is that I don't