Page 42 of Illicit Temptation

I push a hand through my messy bun, bringing all my hair down. “That woman at the bakery...”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, princess.” He tugs my hand and brings me into the bathroom where he runs the shower until steam envelops me.

“Wait.”

“Sit.” He points to the cedar bench next to the vanity.

A scent hits me. “Is that...”

“Eucalyptus,” he says.

“My shower steamers?”

“Aye.” He got a good look around my bathroom while I was struggling to breathe. But he meant well, and it wasn’t like I was on the floor passed out.

I take a seat and lean against the tiled wall, slipping off my shoes. The steam opens my lungs again and my heart rate slows.

“Thatwomanat the bakery told me she knew who I was,” I say while Trace bends down and begins to help me remove my shoes. “What did she mean? This is a small town. I want people to know me. Word of mouth is still a very powerful marketing tool. But the way she talked to me.”

“She gave me a standoffish vibe, too. I don’t think she knew you for your party planning.” Trace peels off my socks and massages my feet. Christ, that feels good.

“Can it be because of my brothers?”

“I don’t know. But if there was any other place I could have left you, I would have. I even considered taking the chance to order a cab. But I didn’t trust how quickly they would have reached us. I only trust myself, I knew I’d get here and back to the bakery to pick you up in a few minutes.” He looks down, and next, his hands are running up my calf. “Perhaps that was wrong of me.”

“Wrong of you?” I want to keep him talking so his hands stay on me.

“To make all of these assumptions.”

“You were acting on instinct,” I whisper. “I’m sure you did what you had to do in the military. But have you ever had to...kill someone for a client?”

“Not working for the private security contractor,” he answers quickly. “Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t second guess the need to take someone out.Anyone...for you.”

I scoff. “I’m not in danger here. The rude woman aside who, for all I know, attended an event I hosted and didn’t like the food.”

“I’m not worried about her,” he mutters.

“Who are you worried about?”

He looks up at me with his stunning golden eyes that steal my breath all over again.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Trace

Who am I worried about? Me, for one. And what I want to do to this woman. What I’ve always wanted to do to her.

Rhys called me insane for holding on to a boyhood crush all those years. I’d not pined for her openly, just gotten drunk at a pub one night and spilled my guts. Twenty years and an ocean between us kept my obsession in check. Then I was in the same hotel with her and my walls crumbled.

Fuck, I’m her husband and crazy about her, but I’m not the right bodyguard for this job.

Iwillact irrationally if Crest, Scava, or anyone, tries to touch her.

Iwillsacrifice myself at the drop of the hat.

ButwillI survive being this close to her again if she figures out a way to divorce me before all the pieces of my game fall into place?

Now that I’ve been drawn into this emerald gaze of hers and see how she still wants me, too, I’d have to be dragged onto a plane in chains to stay away from her.

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