Page 29 of Dangerous Rhythm

“It can’t happen again,” she repeated firmly. Curtis noted she didn’t deny his statement.

“It’s not professional,” she said when he only smiled at her. “You’re my client. I’m here to keep you safe. It wasn’t professional of me to let you do that. I should’ve stopped you.”

Curtis tilted his head and couldn’t help but smile as he listened to Lina trying to excuse him kissing her last night.

“These things happen,” she continued.

He frowned and finally asked, “Wait. What do you mean, these things happen?”

“This client-bodyguard infatuation. Your life has been turned upside down. You’re going through a situation that’s scary and unpredictable. I make you feel safe. It’s normal for you to mistake that feeling for something else altogether,” she stated.

“You think I kissed you because I have some kind of bodyguard kink?” he asked.

Lina, without batting an eye, nodded. “It happens all the time. It’s temporary, so it’ll fade. I won’t worry about it. That’s why we can just forget it ever happened.”

Curtis admitted he probably had the bodyguard kink for Lina, but this began when she’d joined their tour four years ago. He’d brushed it aside as a summer infatuation and moved on each time a tour ended. But every time he saw her again, that same primal reaction to her roared inside him. Last night had been the only time he’d done something about it.

“Do bodyguards get the hots for the clients sometimes?” Curtis turned the logic around.

Lina licked her lips and visibly swallowed. “Sure. It happens.”

“To you?” he pushed.

“That’s not important. The point is, I’m here to do a job. And that job is to protect you from Serafina Stiletto’s grasp. I need to keep my focus on that. If you can’t respect that, I can get Paul to replace me.”

“Wait, you’ll quit on me?” Curtis did a double take.

“I don’t want to, but if you keep distracting me with your flirtation, I can’t be effective at my job. I need my focus solely on your safety.”

So, she’s saying I do affect her.

Curtis pressed his lips together tightly to stop from smiling. “I don’t want Paul. I want you.”

“Then do we have an understanding?” she asked stoically.

Oh, we do, darling.

“Yes,” Curtis said, as stoic as she was, though he had to dig his nails into his palm to stop himself from grinning.

“Good.” Lina nodded.

A phone rang. Curtis knew it wasn’t his because she’d taken it away in New York.

Lina pulled a phone out of her back pocket. “Marcus?”

She listened to whatever Marcus was telling her without giving hints of what was being said. Just the slightest movement of her brows betrayed she was concerned about the news she was hearing. It was enough to make Curtis’ hands sweat.

“What is it?” he asked.

Lina raised a finger for him to wait. But now he started getting agitated. He couldn’t deny the kiss and the conversation about it had kept his mind off the Stilettos. But Lina was right, the threat was still out there, even if they were safe here. Maybe he needed to put this thirst for her aside. Was getting under her skin worth risking his life or his family?

Grow up, Curtis.This isn’t a game.

Knowing what he had to do, Curtis pushed down his earlier revelation about Lina. He couldn’t act on it. Not now. It just wasn’t the right time or the right place. Would there be a right time or place?

He didn’t know. What he knew for sure was he wanted Lina by his side. He felt strongly she was the one who could keep him and his family safe.

“Curtis,” Lina called. She’d hung up.

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