Page 28 of Dangerous Obsession

“Where would you like these, Shayna?” He bit back a grin.

“They can go on the work table in the back room.” She started to show him.

“I remember where it is.” He turned and left the office.

Shayna moved to the doorway and watched him walk away, slowly rotated back, and mouthed the words, “Oh. My. God,” as she fanned herself. She took a last long look and moved to stand in front of Marigold. “Who the heck is he, and where have you been hiding him?”

The last time Viking was here, Shayna had been in New York with Shelley, who had arranged for them to have a behind-the-scenes look at one of the bigger fashion houses.

“He’s a friend in town on business.” Not a lie so much as a half-truth.

“Seriously, Marigold.” Shayna fanned herself some more. “That man is h-o-t, hot.”

Nowthatwas the whole truth.

“So, what’s in the totes?” Marigold finished the last bit of her tea and set the mug on her desk.

“Not going to talk about him, huh?” One teenage shoulder bobbed up, then down. “That’s fine. I can totally see why you’d want to keep him all to yourself.”

“Shayna, he isjusta friend,” Marigold emphasized. “Come on, I’m excited to see what you have.”

Marigold rounded the doorway and, “Oof,” ran right into Viking.

He wrapped his arms around her and held on as he looked down at her. Holy hell’s inferno, he was warm, and her entire front was flattened against his chest and abs. The man was a solid wall of muscle, and from the fiery look in his eyes, he might be feeling the same zing she was.

“I’ll just … go … um … start taking stuff out of the totes.” Shayna snickered and squeezed past them.

Marigold meant to back away, but the message never made it from her brain to her feet.

“I love your hair.” Viking’s voice was gravelly as he lifted a hand and gently wrapped one of her curls around his long finger. “It’s so bouncy and soft.” He lowered his nose to the top of her head and breathed her in. “And you smell like a damask rose.”

“My shampoo has rose oil in it.” She was still waiting for themove awaymessage to reach her body.

“It reminds me of Afghanistan.” He drew in another deep breath, and his chest expanded and pressed against hers.

“Oh, dear.” That was unexpected. “Is that good or bad?”

“Good, actually.” He lifted his head. “It’s one of the few pleasant memories I have of that place.”

“You were in Afghanistan?” She knew he’d served in the military but didn’t know much beyond that.

Because you never made the effort to learn anything about him.

“Several times.” His arm remained wrapped around her as he told the story of how some farmers in Afghanistan replaced their opium poppy crops with damask roses.

“Unfortunately, only a small percentage of them are doing that, so the war over opium poppies still rages on.” He let her hair fall free and laced his fingers together on her lower back.

“During one of my missions, I was perched above one of those rose fields. The fragrance was so powerful, it floated all the way up to my position.”

The bells jingled on the front door, and Marigold’s entire body clenched.

“It’s okay.” He tightened his hold slightly. “It looks like you’ve got your first customer of the day.”

Viking released her and stepped aside.

“Nicky’s asleep in her crate, so why don’t you go work your magic?” He pointed to his usual spot near the door. “I’ll watch from over there.”

“Actually, would you mind seeing if Shayna needs some help?” Marigold was anxious to see what she’d brought in today, but that would have to wait.

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