Page 26 of Reluctantly His

He nodded as he lifted his glass to his mouth. “Right. Right. But there’s nothing going on.” He then mocked my stern tone as he lowered his brow. “Strictly professional.”

My phone lit up with a call from Lucian Manwarring.

Rising from my bar stool, I tossed out a “Fuck you,” before I walked outside where it was quieter. “Sir?”

“Change of plans, Reid. Assign Charlotte a female from your staff as a bodyguard.”

I gripped the phone harder as I sucked in a breath through my teeth.

Although I had nothing to back it up, I knew there was no way Charlotte had told her father what happened between us earlier.

At least not the intimate details.

But that didn’t mean the little brat hadn’t run to daddy with a sob story to get me reassigned.

Lucian continued, “So it all works out. I’m sure you have better things to do than babysit.”

Everything he was saying was the truth and echoed my own thoughts earlier.

But that was before I’d tasted her…

CHAPTER 11

CHARLOTTE

“Surprised to see me, princess?”

I stopped short in the hallway.

Reid stood at the door, wearing black cargo pants and a black turtleneck sweater under a black leather jacket.

“What… what are you doing here? I thought?—”

He stepped close.

I backed up, but he caged me in anyway.

He pulled on a lock of my hair, running his fingers down the length. “Nice try.”

I bit my lip as I turned my head to the side. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Leaning in, he whispered in my ear, “Yes, you do.”

My breath hitched at his nearness.

It was sinister and yet electrifying.

Dangerous.

I swallowed. “My father?—”

He stroked the back of my cheek with his knuckles. “Your father agreed with me that only the best should guard his little girl. And as you know from… very personal experience… I’m the best.”

Reid then winked as he took the cello case from my hand.

I followed in his wake. “I don’t understand. I thought you’d be happy to no longer have to babysit me.”

We crossed into the portcullis where his massive truck was parked. He opened the passenger door and put my cello inside. “You thought wrong.”

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