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She’d always loved the highs and challenges that high-stakes ga offered, but she also needed to like the person she viewed in theAnd she had, until she was forced to leave the career she loved to look after her father As a concierge in Beverly Hills, Ae to satisfy her reckless streak She’d found the best in life and she wanted it back And since she’d saved enough money to take time and find another way to pay for her father’s care, she intended to do just that

“Finished? Cohed from deep in his chest as his eyes wandered over her “Like I just said, we’re a team, you and I”

“Not anymore” At twenty-four years old, she’d learned that she preferred to come by her excitement honestly

“Oh, really?” He folded his ar her he wasn’t buying one word “Where else are you going to get the tax-free cash to pay for that fancy place your old man is in?” He leaned in closer as he spoke

The suddenly too-strong scent of his distinctive cologne assaulted her senses and she pulled back “That’syou our days as partners are over I’m out”

“The hell you are” He grabbed her arht

She shook him off and shot hiain Ever” She rubbed her sore ar to change my mind”

“Sorry, babe I have too h gritted teeth He took a step toward her, clearly intending to scare her into changing her mind

No sooner had he wrapped his hand around her forear here?”

Amber jerked toward the sound of the sexywas too aze bore into hers with genuine concern

“Everything’s fine” Au as they were in public, her ex-partner wouldn’t doher

“Doesn’t look fine to er deliberately stared at Marshall’s hand on her arm

Amber would have shoved Marshall away, but she knew she’d only set hier who seeht

“I don’t see what business it is of yours,” Marshall said, all bluster and machismo

“I’ it my business” Her rescuer shoved his hand into his back pocket and pulled out a wallet, flashing a badge “I heard the lady ask you to keep your hands to yourself So either you’re deaf or just plain stupid Care to tell me which?” He shoved the small leather billfold back into his pocket just as fast

Marshall irip on Aesture of surrender as he took a step back

“Really?” The other row broader beneath his navy T-shirt “Why don’t we ask the lady if that’s true Did he hurt you?” His caring voice softened as he spoke to her, wrapping around her like a warm caress

She aze “I’m fine now” She bit the inside of her cheek to keep froht incite more trouble between the men

Marshall nodded in agreeht, babe?”

Nothing could be further frooal had been to extricate herself from Marshall She wasn’t about to let hi conclusion about them

She shook her head “Actually we are…I mean, ere business partners But we aren’t anymore,” she said

The stranger’s blue eyes narrowed “Then I guess there’s nothing left to discuss, is there?” he pointedly asked Marshall, dis him

Marshall shifted on his feet

Amber knew no one could er had flashed a badge

So Marshall turned away, but not before sending Alance