Page 18 of Fearless Bond

Then he handed the phone back to me.

“You don’t have to do a background check on Barclay,” I told Laure. Barclay just shrugged and turned back to the stove.

“But since he so kindly offered, I will,” Laure said. “Watch out for red flags, okay? I won’t always be able to pick up my phone, but I’ll send you the number of my chief of security. He’ll answer anytime, okay? Day or night.”

“Thank you, Laure.”

“I’ll see you in three days.”

“See you.”

I ended the call. Barclay stirred something in the pot and turned the burner off. Then he gave me a look so morose it almost made me laugh.

“You’re not a vegetarian or something, are you?”

“I eat everything. I’m mildly allergic to strawberries, but that’s it.”

He nodded to himself and gestured to the kitchen table. “Sit.”

The grumpy teddy bear was back, but I was starting to like him.

6

BARCLAY

“I don’t think I can eat more.”

I glanced at Calvin’s plate. He’d only had one small portion of soup and a piece of toast. With his five-foot-nothing frame and skinny shoulders, he looked like a gust of wind could blow him away.

“You should.”

He smiled sheepishly. “Sorry. It’s really good. It’s just that my stomach feels a little weird.”

“Stress?”

“No. Not that. I’m good.”

He needed to eat more. A tiny, frail thing like him could bear more meat on his bones. But why did I care? He wasn’t my problem. At least, after a few days, he wouldn’t be anymore.

“So. Um. You live here alone?” he asked, fiddling with his sleeve.

“Yeah.”

“And… you’re from Beauville?”

“Moved here from the city ten years ago.”

I stood and picked up the plates. A part of me wanted to get away from him again. He smelled so damned good I was having trouble controlling myself around him. I could pop a boner any moment. It made me feel like a perv. He wasn’t even my type!

He had freckles on his nose, pale ones, barely noticeable. His full upper lip was out of balance, one corner of his mouth in a small smirk all the time. It looked so sexy and mature on his boyish face; it was doing my head in. Maybe he was my type a little bit. His lips were gorgeous.

I should get the hell away so I wouldn’t do something inappropriate. But I couldn’t leave him alone. The bear in me wanted to hover.

He’s small and weak and in danger. I need to protect him.

Which was legit.

No, I didn’t want to leave. I realized I’d been quiet for a long time, holding a stack of dirty dishes in my hands, while Calvin observed me with an amused expression. I cleared my throat and asked him the first thing that popped into my head.

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