Page 7 of Sinful Lies

I force a smile. “We’ll make it work. I support my woman having a career.”

Zara tugs on my arm. “We should really be going. It’s been a long day.”

“Let’s get you home to bed,” I tease. “Well, it was a pleasure meeting you, Giuseppe.”

‘It’s Giovanni.”

“Right, sorry.” I shrug. I bite the inside of my cheek to stop from smiling at the look of fury on the douchebag's face.

“See you on Monday, Zara.” He flashes her a smile that has me seeing red.

Zara nods once, her grip tightening on my arm as Giovanni’s eyes flick over her once more before he turns and leaves.

“He was pissed.” Zara steps away from me the momenthe disappears from sight, running her hands through her long hair. “I’m going to pay for that on Monday.”

“Chill out, it worked. Your boss is off your back,” I try to ignore how much I miss having her leaning into me.

Zara folds her arms across her chest and frowns. “For now.”

I watch as she pulls her lower lip between her teeth, looking around as if she’s worried this guy is going to jump her the moment I step away.

“What’s the deal with this guy anyway? He seems a littletoointerested in you.”

Zara shrugs, tightening her arms across her chest. “Nothing. He’s like that with everyone.”

“Bullshit.” Her eyes flick up to mine, and I blink at the haunted look behind them. “Zara.”

“I said it’snothing.” She looks away.

Her throat bobs, and I fight the urge to reach out and wrap my arms around her.

“It sure as hell didn’t seem like nothing. I don’t like the way he was looking at you. If he’s going to be a problem?—”

“He’s not. Besides, he’s my boss. Sometimes, you have to put up with crap at work.”

“There’s putting up with crap and there’s being harrassed by some asshole who thinks he can use his power to get into some girl's panties.”

Zara flinches at my words, but she needs to hear the truth.

“You need to watch your back. Guys like him are everywhere, and they don’t like taking no for an answer.”

“I can handle myself.”

“I know you can. I’m just saying?—”

“Dimitri, please, juststop.” She throws her hands up inthe air. “I can’t talk about this right now. I’m tired, and I just want to go home.”

“Let me at least drive you.”

“No, thanks. I’ve got it covered.”

I run my hands through my hair, feeling torn.

I know Zara can handle herself, and I have absolutely no right to barge my way into her life again and start throwing my weight around. But fuck if I didn’t love playing the part of her overprotective boyfriend…

“I’m fine, Dimitri.” She forces a smile that doesn’t meet her eyes. “You don’t need to worry about me.”

Before I have a chance to say anything else, she’s walking away, but I don’t fail to notice the way her shoulders slump as if in defeat, and fuck if it doesn’t make my chest ache.

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