Page 55 of The Kiss that Captured a Billionaire
“Well, that went worse than I expected. What’s next—kidnapping? Murdering the furniture guy?” Nikos asked, coming to stand beside him.
A sharp, predatory smile curved Theo’s lips. He’d buy the entire damn farm if he had to—but he wouldn’t need to. His Rose had thorns… and he’d bleed gladly to reach her.
“She’ll run again,” he said with confidence.
Nikos frowned. “Okay—and when she does?”
Theo flashed him a smile. “The van has two seats. I plan on being in one of them.”
Thirteen
From the upstairs bedroom window, Rose watched as Theo and Nikos made their way toward their SUV. Even from this distance, the stiff line of Theo’s shoulders was unmistakable.
She rubbed her palms against her thighs, restless. She hadn’t known Theo long, but she knew that jaw, that relentless focus—the way he decided something and then moved the world to make it happen. He’d been tenacious when he’d found her in New York, and he’d done it again here.
She didn’t know how he’d tracked her down—it had to be through Kerry somehow—but she knew one thing for certain: he wouldn’t give up easily.
The best way to keep a distance between them was to stay one step ahead. Which meant leaving. Tonight.
Her gaze lingered on the SUV longer than she intended. Theo opened the passenger door, but before getting in, he paused, his head turning slightly toward the farmhouse.
Her breath caught. Was he looking for her? Could he see her?
She stepped back from the window before she could find out, pressing her back to the wall. She had to move. Now.
She turned and began gathering the few things she’d unpacked, her movements brisk, efficient. Backpack first. Then the carry-on.
Keep moving. Keep breathing.
A quiet knock pulled her up short.
Robby leaned casually against the doorframe, his arms folded, his broad frame filling the space. But it was the look in his eyes—steady, possessive, tinged with something more—that made her chest tighten.
And just like that, she had another reason to leave tonight. Staying, even for one more night, would only complicate things—for both of them.
“You don’t have to run,” he said quietly. “I’ll keep you safe.”
A short, choked laugh escaped her, more brittle than she meant it to be. She shook her head. “I don’t need to be kept safe, Robby. If anything, Theo’s the one who needs a bodyguard.”
His eyebrows drew together, but she pressed on before he could answer. “I really do appreciate everything you’ve done for me. More than I can say. But I… I need time to figure out who I am. Where I fit. And I can’t do that if I’m…” She gestured vaguely toward him, toward the house, toward everything warm and solid about him. “…comfortable. I need to do this on my own.”
“Why can’t you do that here?” he asked, his voice quiet but weighted.
She met his eyes for a long moment. “I think you already know why.”
Something shifted in his expression—acceptance, maybe, mixed with disappointment. He straightened from the doorframe and crossed the room toward her. She tensed instinctively but didn’t pull away when he wrapped his arms around her.
“Kiss me goodbye, then?” he murmured.
She smiled sadly and nodded.
His kiss was warm, gentle, and comforting. But there was no spark. No breath-stealing rush. Not his fault—hers. Because deep down, she already belonged to a man she couldn’t forgive.
When she broke the kiss, she left her hand on his chest for a beat, her gaze lowered. She wished she could feel something—anything—but all she felt was the absence of Theo.
“Worth a try,” he said lightly, though she caught the flicker of something unguarded in his voice. “And if you ever think you’d like to try again, I’d be happy to volunteer.”
She gave a watery laugh and sniffed. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
