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The driver opened the car door and Daave her his hand

She hesitated

He fought a scowl Though there was no e to his voice as he said, “If you’d prefer a hotel… Fine But keep in mind, I’ll have to be there as well To keep you safe And…because I still have your computer”

She let out a rush of air Took his hand and gracefully slipped froe and set it on the porch, where a butler discreetly whisked it inside

While Damen and Nikki remained under the porte-cochere

“It’s not that I don’t want to see your home, Damen”

“Then what is it, Nikki?” he inquired with a crooked brow

“This is personal,” she softly said “It’s your home”

His head bent to hers and he asked in an equally low tone, “And e did in that hotel suite in New York—the things we said to each other… That wasn’t personal?”

She glared up at him

He stared back at her

Challenging her

Her teeth ground for a moment

His brow crooked further