Page 34 of Regards, Mia

“I don’t need a bodyguard.”

Jay brushes past me, walking back through the living room toward the stairs. “Wait here while I check upstairs.”

“Wait.” I hurry after him. The rest of my house is pretty clean, but my bedroom is a disaster. “I wasn’t expecting company.”

He turns on the stairs and places his hands on my shoulders. “Stay.”

My blood simmers. “I’m not your dog. And I don’t need a bodyguard. I have a taser, a gun, and I know self defense.” I raise my arms in a fighting stance. “Want to see?”

Jay’s lip curls. “You don’t want me to answer that.”

Desire crashes through me at the low growl of his voice, followed quickly by annoyance. “Don’t underestimate me.”

“I wouldn’t dare.” His expression hardens. “Can I check the rest of the place now?”

“I don’t need…”

He sighs heavily. “Don’t argue, Mia. Just let me do my job. If you want to take it up with Mr. Adler, that’s fine, but let me make sure your place is safe.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “What did Jordan say?”

“Only that you are in possible danger.” He leans on the bannister. “Can you let me take care you?”

For fuck’s sake, I’ve been doing nothing but fantasizing about how this tall, sexy man can take care of me. I straighten and school my expression into neutrality and nod. “Go ahead. Check under my bed for monsters.”

He strides up the stairs and opens my bedroom door. I cringe at what he must be seeing. The unused treadmill, stacks of romance novels next to my unmade bed, and piles of laundry yet to be put away. I must look like a pathetic loser. It’s so embarrassing I want to hide. Instead, I wait patiently at the top of the stairs.

“Nice view from the balcony,” Jay says, coming out of my room. “Who lives next door?”

“No one,” I say, pushing past him into my bedroom. I grab the stacks of clothes and hurry into my walk-in closet to put them away. “It’s for sale, and guess who’s the agent?”

“That oily prick from the restaurant?”

I laugh at his description of Harrison and take off my jacket, hanging it next to the others. “Chelsea Taylor. My future sister-in-law.” Who is currently number one on my hate list.

“Let’s talk about your security system,” he says.

I reach into my jacket pocket and pull out the card Jordan gave me.Savage Security.“This is you?” I ask, showing Jay the card.

He nods. “That’s me.”

“I thought you owned a gym.”

“Ten years of private security paid for that gym,” he says. “I still do the odd job when I feel motivated.”

“What motivated you to take this job?”

“You.”

A thrill races through my body. “Me?”

“I don’t like the idea of someone out to get you. Especially after what happened…”

“When I acted like a rabbit caught in a trap. That won’t happen again.” I move past him to sit on my bed and unzip my boots. “I’m prepared now.”

“You don’t have to be prepared. That’s what I’m for.”

I swallow thickly, unable to meet his gaze. “I can’t have a bodyguard.”

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