Page 35 of Regards, Mia

“Why not?”

“It’s fucking embarrassing. I’m a grown woman.”

“No one has to know.”

I laugh, looking up at him looming over me. “Look at you. You ride a motorcycle and are covered with ink.”

“I have a truck just like every outdoor lover in this town. And you’d be surprised how much I can blend in when I need to.”

I doubt that.“What am I supposed to say if people see you hanging around?”

“Tell them we are work associates.”

I can only imagine how well that will be received, but it’s a problem I don’t have the bandwidth to think about at themoment. I’m still trying to process the fact that Jay is going to be the one watching over me.

“Can you give me a minute to change?” I ask.

He nods, reaching for the door. “I’ll be downstairs. I’m gonna call a guy about your security.”

When he’s gone, I throw on a pair of leggings and a sweater, run a brush through my hair, and touch up my makeup. It looks like I’m stuck with Jay unless I call Jordan and try to talk him out of it. But that will just land me with another bodyguard, a stranger who won’t be Jay.

When I walk downstairs and see him examining the lock on my front door, I feel more confused than ever. God, I want him so badly, even though he is the last man I should want.

I need wine.

“This might take a while,” he says. “Your security system sucks.”

I feel his eyes on me as I walk into the kitchen and grab a bottle of wine from the pantry. “What’s wrong with it?”

“You need exterior cameras, new deadbolts, and window locks. My consultant is meeting me here tomorrow to update everything, but until then you shouldn’t be alone. I’ll stay the night.”

I nearly drop the bottle of wine on the counter. “All night?”

Jay comes into the kitchen and takes the wine bottle from my hands, expertly opening it with a few twists of his wrist. “I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“No.” My chest squeezes at the thought of him on my couch, feet hanging over the side. “You’re too big.”

“I’ll be fine,” he says, setting the wine on the counter.

I pull two wine glasses out of the cabinet and begin to pour, but Jay stops me, covering my hand with his. “None for me. But I’ll have some water.”

I grab Jay a glass of water and pour wine for myself.

“Have you eaten?” he asks, eyeing my full glass of wine.

I take a step toward the fridge, but my kitchen is so tiny, it’s hard to move without bumping into him

“I don’t have much in here,” I say, swinging open the fridge door.

Jay reaches past me to snap the blinds over the sink to the closed position. “We can order in. I’ll charge it to your bill.” Pulling out his phone, he scrolls through the delivery options. “What do you like?”

I reach for my wine and take another long sip, trying to put up my mental barriers again.

Do not think about how good he smells.

Do not picture him shirtless.

Fucking hell, this is going to be a long night.

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