Page 13 of Provoke You

“If I have to get these back on you to get the job done, I will.”

She dropped her head to her chest and cursed. The way that fuck lingered on her tongue made my cock twitch. Releasing a breath, she met my gaze. “Two hours ago, you couldn’t wait to get rid of me, and now you won’t leave my room? Make up your mind. Which one is it?”

“I told you. I won’t lose this job because of you.”

She squeezed her eyes shut and winced.

Of its own accord, my hand rose to brush the hair away from her temple. “I don’t understand why you’re refusing my help.”

She wrapped her fingers around my hand and brought it back up to her cheek. “To you, I’m just the job. But to me, it’ll be too hard to be with you another twenty-four hours. I don’t deal well with rejection, okay? Just go.”

Pushing her away had been easier when she oozed confidence. This vulnerable version of Ela was hell to say no to. I didn’t want to be the one to cause her pain. She was right. I should go, but her soft skin under my hand was like a magnet that kept me glued to the floor. Not to mention that Andre Benoit also had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity hanging over my head.

Even though I’d already memorized her features during the time I spent doing research on her and her family, my gaze roamed her face, taking in the pouty bow of her mouth, her small nose, the glow of her skin. “This is a complication neither of us needs.”

“Okay.” She pushed past me and returned to her packing.

I’d be lying if I said that didn’t sting. I leaned my shoulder against the post of the bed. The heaviness that usually sat on my chest burrowed itself deeper. “I’m glad you finally see it my way.”

A grin pulled at her lips. “Not really, but for now, I’ll let you be.”

“Why do I get the feeling you’re planning something?”

“I’m not. You don’t want to see me naked. I get it. That’s fine.” She strutted back to her closet and left me with a vivid mental picture of her with nothing on.

Yeah, she was up to something, but this wasn’t the place nor the time to try and figure it out. If I wanted the head of security job, I needed to make sure and execute this task smoothly. I focused on the logistics for the trip.

Jennifer hadn’t given me enough time to mount a full-on operation. The headhunter who had approached me about the LB job said the chief of staff was in a rush to fill the position. Why did Jennifer need a head of security with such urgency? Why did she need Ela out of the country?

Ela returned with more clothes in her arms and dumped them on the bed. I had no idea a woman could own so many sequined miniskirts. For all her complaining, she was at least doing what her stepdad had asked her to do.

“If you want to make yourself useful, the clothes on the couch go in the black suitcase.” She threw a couple of lacy bras on a different pile. She had a method to her madness, it seemed.

“I only came in here to make sure you were on board. I have a job to do.” I fished my phone from the back pocket of my jeans.

“Whatever. What time are you picking me up in the morning?” She went in the bathroom next.

I barked out a laugh and made myself comfortable in the living area. “I’m not leaving you alone.”

“What?” She poked her head out. “I thought you said you had work to do.”

“Work that I can do from right here.” I patted the coffee table across from me and started a text to Jennifer to ask her to send someone to fetch my things from my house. I sent a second message to a buddy of mine who lived in New Orleans. He’d also been struggling to find a purpose after the corps. He’d appreciate a job with some kind of longevity. To get Ela safely to Paris, I needed muscle and a pilot.

When she returned to the room, she threw her toiletry bag in her suitcase, zippered it, then started dropping shoes in a third one.

“Are you serious with all this luggage?” I shook my head. Her pained face told me that’d been the wrong thing to say.

Her eyes swelled with tears. “Thanks to Dad, I have no home.”

“I’m so sorry about that.”

“What do you have to be sorry for? You got the job you wanted. Didn’t you?”

Of course, she was right. I got what I wanted, well, most of what I wanted. “I think a few days in Paris is a good idea.”

“No, it isn’t. I can’t sit idle eating crepes while Dad gives away my hotel. This is my home. I don’t want to leave.”

If I went against Mr. Benoit’s wishes and let her go, there would be no guarantee she’d figure out how to get her hotel back. I’d lose my job for no good reason. Ela just needed a few days to digest the idea of selling the Baroness.

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