Page 41 of Untamed Protector

“There’s a lot to tell. I’ll let you unpack. You’ll find fresh sheets and towels in that closet. You have everything you need in the bathroom for a shower or a bath, whatever you like.”

“And where will you be?”

“Around the house. I’ll make us something quick for dinner and pop in later to get some sheets for myself.”

“Is there another bathroom in the house?”

“Yeah. Next to the study.”

“You mean the room that’s off-limits?”

“Lexi, you should know you’re welcome here. I hope you can make this your place for a little while. I only have one rule.”

She raises an eyebrow, waiting for me to continue. “No snooping around the house, please. I prefer to keep the locked doors and closets locked. If you need anything, just ask. I’ll make room in the closet for you to keep your clothes and move some of mine into the study. Feel free to use whatever you need from the kitchen or the bathroom. But don’t snoop around the rest of the house. Okay?”

“Of course. Why would you even think I would…? It’s your house.”

“Women have a knack for curiosity,” I say with a playful grin. She shoots me a death glare in response.

“And men can be rude,” Lexi whispers in a low voice. I’ll let this one slip.

“You’re welcome. See you at dinner.”

I leave, closing the door behind me. This is going to be interesting…

***

I take a quick shower and change in the study, and then I’m off to whip up a salad in the kitchen. Lexi’s been holed up in that office all day. Mike said all she had was waffles and apples. She must be hungry, so this could be a chance to tame her down a bit before we tackle the whole fake dating thing.

I wasn’t sold on this idea initially, but Dominic has a point. If everyone knows she’s with me, they’ll back off. I need to tread lightly when Lexi comes out of the bedroom. If I refer to her as mine, she’ll probably flip. Still, the thought of her getting all riled up—cheeks flushing, those piercing green eyes shooting daggers—well, it’s pretty tempting.

Damn! How do I remember every little detail of her face so intensely? The image of her at the Casino entrance last night is still crystal clear in my mind. And now, she’s right here in my house, in my life, stirring up all sorts of emotions in me. But not in my bed. Not yet, anyway. Ugh. I can’t even let myself entertain that notion. Tempting, Gabriel, but not safe.

Just as I’m about to finish making the salad, Lexi walks over to me from the bedroom. She’s changed into a pair of shorts and a T-shirt that reveal the delicate lace of her bra, her toned legs, and her curvy figure. She walks barefoot, shivering slightly as her feet meet the cold kitchen tiles.

“Hi. What’s that you’re making?” Lexi asks. She seems a little less on edge now. Maybe a nice dinner will be a chance to connect and learn more about her. I don’t know why, but I have a feeling she’s hiding something. I told Dean to gather more intel while he’s with her dad. But that’ll take time, and I want to get social media stories about us out there ASAP before people forget about the Casino ball.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t ask what you wanted to eat. How does chicken and salad sound?” I ask.

“Great. I take it you rarely eat at home in the evening?”

“Not really, no. My work keeps me constantly on the move.”

“What’s a typical workday like for you?”

“Look, let’s make a deal. I’ll tell you about my work if you agree to tell me more about yourself.”

“What else do you need to know?” She got tense again. How the hell do I get through to her?

“Come on, Lexi. We talked about it at the office today. We agreed you’d give me a list of people who might hold a grudge against you and tell me more about your life when you’re not working for the Maiers. Wasn’t that the deal?”

I put the salad bowl on the counter next to her and hop on a chair. “I can throw in some ham, too, if you like.”

“No worries. It looks great. No need for anything extra. I can’t sleep if I eat too much and so late.” She takes tiny bites as her eyes dart around the room, flitting like a nervous butterfly and landing anywhere but on me. Maybe this little buffer time is what we need before we get to the tougher conversation.

“Look up,” I say, pointing to the living room ceiling with the big skylight.

“Wow, I hadn’t noticed. You can watch the sky at night. I can see why you didn’t want to add another floor. Did you buy it like this?”

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