Page 8 of Full Mountie

The intercom for the main door is buzzing away by the time I let myself into my condo.

I should ignore it, but I can’t.

We need to have this out and it’s probably better for it to happen here, where it’s private. Things have been strained in the office enough as it is.

I pick up the phone and hit the intercom button.

“Yes?”

He hesitates, not that he needs to say anything. I know exactly who it is. “It’s Lachlan. Can I come up?”

I don’t bother to respond, I just buzz him in. He’s never been here, but I don’t doubt for a moment he knows everything about where I live.

It doesn’t take long for his knock to come at the door.

He’s looking rough. His suit is rumpled, and a day’s worth of scruff covers his normally clean-shaven face. Seeing him with his mask dropped like this really shouldn’t make me wet, but it does. He does, always.

That doesn’t stop me from being angry with him, though.

“Come in,” I bite out as I open the door wider, allowing him through before I close and lock it.

I turn to face him, hands on my hips. I don’t bother offering a seat. I don’t plan for him to be here any longer than it takes for me to give him the sharp side of my tongue.

“If you’re here about me going on a date with Hugh, you can just—”

“I was here to make sure you got home safely.”

“You don’t trust a member of your own security team?”

“With you? I don’t trust anyone.”

I swallow a scream, because that is beyond frustrating. I tamp it down and try to let it out in a long, slow exhale. It half works and I groan.

He steps towards me and reaches out, setting his hands on my shoulders. He crouches slightly so our eyes are level. “Beth, he’s using you for sex.”

Yesterday, I would have welcomed the feel of Lachlan’s hands on my bare skin, but now…

Now, it just fuels my anger.

“Well, it’s about time somebody did.”Because it’s not like I haven’t given you enough chances over the past year.

His eyes flare at that. Yeah, jerkface. I’m going to talk about sex if you storm into my apartment after the hottest makeout session ever. Deal. But I don’t say that out loud.

He curses under his breath, and his fingers tighten on my upper arms before he lets me go. He looks to the ceiling as he drags his fingers through his hair, and I immediately miss his warmth.

“Damn it, Beth, I’m just trying keep you from getting hurt.”

“The PM is the only person you need to keep from getting hurt. I can take care of myself.”

“I’m not saying you can’t. But, I know Hugh—”

I hold up my hand. I don’t want to hear his overprotective nonsense. They worked together a decade earlier. From the fiery clash they had when Hugh first showed up in Ottawa, I’d gleaned they didn’t always see eye-to-eye. But in the end, Lachlan hadn’t objected to Hugh’s posting to Gavin’s security detail. And over the last two months they’d been nothing but professional to each other. “It’s been ten years. I can’t imagine either of you are the same men now as you were back then.”

“Some things never change, no matter how much time passes.”

“That may be, but I’m capable of coming to my own conclusions about a man. And I think you’re underestimating how open Hugh is about the kind of man he is—and isn’t.”

Lachlan’s eyes flare wide. “What did he tell you?”

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