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This unforgivable lapse, along hat had happened on Saturday, washim doubt his ability to effectively protect her in future He had allowed her—let’s face it—mundane daily life to lull hience could be potentially lethal for her

“I would never have agreed to having you in here with us while I did so so personal It would have been an invasion of her privacy,” she said, reaching for a bottle of water on her desk and lifting it with an only slightly tre hand

Cute that she thought she would have had any choice in the matter

But the thought of co in here with them hadn’t even occurred to him And that was the real problem

“Ugh, I know that look,” she said, after taking a long drink froain?”

“I should It was careless of me You could have been badly injured” They both paused to stare at the still-dripping coffee stain on the wall Vicki was the first to break the silence, clearing her throat aardly

“No chance of that Her aim was terrible” It was a feeble attempt at a joke, but he found hihtest bit of amusement

“Vicki, this is serious”

“Oh, aze i her for injuries, wondering if he hadbefore

“What?” he asked, when he couldn’t find anything visibly wrong with her

“That’s the first time you’ve ever used my name I didn’t think you even knew it”

Oh Shit

Another inexcusable lapse

“Of course, I know it” He sounded grumpy and self-conscious even to his own ears

“So why have you never used it before now?”

“Because it’s inappropriate You’re the client”

“Technically, my brother is the client”

God, she was a s to glare at the coffee-stained wall behind her

“So why now?” Her words echoed Linda’s earlier phrasing, and Ty was damned if he knew the answer to either question