Page 38 of Ruthless Reign

“Like the dead.” She takes a minute to stir milk into her tea before her eyes meet mine. “I hope you weren’t weirded out about last night. I just wanted you to experience something different. Once we leave today…” She shrugs. “Everything will change.”

“Exactly,” I say emphatically. “Which is why I think we should stay one more day. What do you think? We could visit that little shop in Kensington you liked and check out Covent Garden Market.” I hold my breath, eager for her to agree.

Kira’s face falls. “I’d love to, but I can’t. Maxim and I have a fundraising event tonight that we can’t miss.” She pauses in thought, then her eyes widen. “But you can stay! The suite is yours for as long as you want it, and I’m sure one of the men can stay and guard you.”

I shake my head. “That’s entirely unnecessary. I’ll be fine without a guard,” I insist.

Kira looks like she’s about to argue, but another voice fills the space between us.

“Who’s going without a guard?” Roman steps into the room, looking extra delicious. His dark brown hair is still wet from the shower, curling slightly over the top of his collar. He swipes a muffin from the tray on the table and lowers down beside me.

My heart beats triple time when I get a whiff of his aftershave. Memories from last night come flooding back.

Roman’s gaze travels over me as heat rises to my cheeks.

“No one is going without a guard.” Kira sends me a pointed look, and it takes me a minute to remember what we’re talking about. To Roman, she says, “Liza’s going to extend her holiday for a few days. Who can stay with her? Feliks?”

Roman’s jaw hardens. “I don’t think so. He’ll be busy overseeing a shipment coming from Italy.”

Kira’s eyebrows pull together. “Okay… Bogdan, then?”

“Mmm, nope. He’ll be with you and Maxim at the fundraiser.” Roman takes a big bite of the muffin in his hand and blinks at Kira blankly.

“It’s fine,” I say to my friend. “Really, I’m good.”

Kira looks unsure, but she can’t force a guard on me. I’m about to call the matter settled when Roman scrapes his chair back, the sound echoing off the walls in the small room.

“I can’t leave you without a guard,” he says plainly.

Irritations blazes up my spine. “Says who?”

“Says Maxim Belov. I was put in charge of both of your safety. As a soon- to-be Petrovich, you’re a high-value target.”

I'm sure Anatoly will be furious to learn that I’m spending another day in London, but I have no intention of giving him advance warning. I'd rather ask for his forgiveness than permission. But it seems Roman might be a thorn in my side.

My fingers tighten around the handle of my mug. I give Roman a warning look, but he continues to eat his muffin, completely unfazed.

Kira sighs. “In that case, surely we can clear Feliks’s sched?—”

Roman clears his throat. “I’ll stay.”

My breath hitches. Roman is going to stay here with me … alone? My brain scrambles to make sense of what that means.

Kira tilts her head. “Really?”

I’m still too shocked to respond.

Roman lifts a shoulder. “Why not? What’s a day or two more? The shipment is not due for a few days, and I can coordinate everything from here.”

I try to be casual. “I’m sure you have better things to do. I’m happy to plant myself in the hotel spa for a few days. Security in the hotel is top-notch, so you won’t have to worry about me. I don’t want to inconvenience anyone.”

“It’s not an inconvenience.” He takes another huge bite of his muffin, watching me as he chews.

I shoot Kira a pleading look.

She throws her hands in the air. “I don’t mean to be a mother hen, but what does it hurt to have a guard?”

This is not good, not good at all, but arguing it any further would be suspicious. Not that I believe Roman’s casual “I’ve got nothing better to do” act.

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