Page 19 of Under His Protection

“All right.”

I couldn’t ignore how quickly and readily she agreed to that point. If she was hoping for a repeat of what we did at the car, she’d be disappointed. Now that we’d entered a deal, we both had to stick to what our roles were. The second we blurred the lines, it’d likely fall apart.

“However.”

She rolled her eyes. “There’s always a catch.”

“Don’t give me that sass.”

She arched her brows. “I won’t so long as you don’t try to give me any bullshit.”

“However,” I said again, “I am a busy man.”

“I think you’ve mentioned that.” She crossed her arms. Even though her Hound and Tea uniform was simple, her gesture pushed her breasts up in that white blouse. I struggled not to look.

“I am a busy man and I cannot stop my work commitments for you.” It was the biggest reason I declined any suggestions to date. It was also why I avoided investing the time to find a woman to be with. Work—all my businesses and deals—had kept me company for thirty years, and changing that was easier said than done.

Nina shrugged. “Okay?”

“I won’t be here to pamper you and coddle you.”

She smirked. “Was I asking you to?”

That fire. She had no clue how sexy she was like this. “I don’t want you to get it into your head that I’m available.”

“And why should you be?” She pointed between us. “We’re pretending it all. As far as I’m concerned, you’re just a roommate here.”

Oh, is that so? On one hand, I was pleased that she got it, that she understood I wasn’t here to play house with her. On the other hand, though, I wondered how easy it would be to go for it all.

A butler appeared to my side, ready to assist with Nina. He had to have noticed her and assumed she was a guest, not our newest inhabitant.

“George,” I said to him while I kept my focus on Nina. “Please see Ms. Bardot to the guest room near my suite.”

He nodded.

“See to it that her needs are met for the evening.”

“Yes, sir. I will fetch any garments and necessities that she requires.”

“But in the morning, please let my niece know that her assistance is required to further welcome Ms. Bardot into our home.”

Nina frowned. “Your niece?”

I nodded, though I wasn’t certain they’d ever met. “Yes, Eva will help you settle in.”

She opened and closed her mouth, glancing to the side. “Uh. Um, Right.”

Was she already losing sight of my explanation that I was too busy to play house with her? Or was she merely disappointed that I had to cast her aside so soon?

It’s for the better, Nina. I dipped my chin once, as a farewell, before I turned. “Good night, Ms. Bardot,” I said over my shoulder.

“You know, calling me by my name would make it more believable,” she teased.

“Believable to whom?” I turned slowly, holding my arms out to show that it was just me, her, and my butler. I didn’t need to worry about fooling him. He worked for me.

Technically, she does too. I added that to my list of tasks to do—ceasing her employment while she performed this act with me. It wouldn’t be safe for her to be near the gambling rooms with the bikers trying to find her. Or her idiot brother.

She got the point, though. Here, in the privacy of my home, there was no need to pretend anything. After a wince, she nodded. “Got it. Good night, then, Mr. Constella.”

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