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“Thank you for trying to look out for me” She forced the words out

He tugged the lapels of his overcoat as if he were fitting ar at his watch, he took a step toward the door, speaking over his shoulder dismissively, “You’ll stay in, then? Or call Lazlo for an escort?”

Her silence hty frown in her direction

Clair curled her toes in her slippers It would be so easy to let her self-reliance cru-willed, incredibly attractive h? She’d be back to taking care of herself She had to hold on to her independence

“I’m not your kidnap victim” She tried to sound wry, but for some reason her lips treo out if I want to”

“Despite the risk,” he snapped, te his voice

“It’s not that great a risk!” She folded her ar Obviously his experience had taught him differently Determined to hold her own, she reasoned, “When you want to do soht? Same here”

His jaw tightened He was used to everyone answering to him, that much was clear The precisely machined, titaniuht a suitable rejoinder

“I’ her flawless manicure

“But you won’t give me your word”

“It would be a lie”

With a hiss of i the tiles with a hard thunk His mobile sounded and he answered with a staccato burst of Russian before tossing the device on the hall table and shedding his overcoat, his stare holding hers with antagonistic force

Clair sed and fell back a step “What?”