Page 38 of Gin & Trouble

“The US doesn’t feel all that safe either.” I hated the idea of living with him. He seemed to like to touch me. Touching would lead to kissing, which would lead to more touching, which would end in disaster.

Sleeping on the chaise in the ladies room wouldn’t be that bad, would it?

I thought of Valentina locked in my family’s ancestral home waiting to be married to a monster of a man. If I had any hope of helping her, I had to steer clear of my brother long enough to get the DNA results. To do that, I needed access to Dante’s computer network.

He met my gaze and broke my already-cracked heart. “I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe.”

I used the fresh tears filling my eyes to my advantage. Clinging to him, I pretended to be the kind of woman I hated. “How? I can’t go home to an empty apartment.”

“Stay at my place.”

The way he’d blurted out the invitation made me wonder if he’d thought about what he’d said before he said it—but I could work with that.

“If you’re sure it isn’t too much trouble?” I offered him a soft smile, but drew the line at batting my lashes. I had some pride left. Damn it.

12

Dante

I stood in the entryway,watching Julia walk into my place. To live. With me.

We’d gone from not speaking for an entire week to cohabitating in the course of a few minutes. I had questions about the person harassing her, but there’d be time for that once she’d had a chance to settle in.

Having her in my space was a big deal. A very big deal. Oddly enough, I’d never felt more certain of anything in my life. We belonged together.

Marco doesn’t know jack crap about relationships.

Julia set her purse and laptop bag beside the couch and turned to me. I knew her inside and out, but we hadn’t spent enough time together for me to read her facial expressions. If I had to guess, I’d say she’d gone past second thoughts and was working on rounds six or seven.

“Let me show you around.” I made a grand sweeping motion and used my best English butler imitation. “This is the living room, and my new sleeping quarters.”

She wrapped her arms around herself as if trying to make herself smaller. “I’m not kicking you out of your bed.”

“Good to know. Which side do you prefer? The right or left?” It was a lame attempt at humor, but I had to do something to lighten the mood.

Julia rolled her eyes, but I’d managed to get a quick smile out of her. “I’ll take the couch.”

“Suit yourself, but it’s lumpy and sheets don’t stay on the leather.” I guided her into the kitchen. “There isn’t much food, but the restaurant downstairs will send up anything on the menu. There’s also a grocery nearby that delivers. The number is on the fridge.”

“I’m not sure I can afford that. Would it be okay if I had Iris from IT bring me a few things?”

“Sure, or you can give me a list.” Although I recalled her telling me she helped support her sisters, it surprised me she was worried about buying food. While I didn’t know her exact salary, I knew we paid our staff well.

She nodded, but the more we spoke, the more uncomfortable she seemed.

I needed to hurry this along, sit her down with a glass of wine and rub her feet before she bolted. “That’s pretty much it except the bedroom and my office.”

Julia perked up a bit. “Can I see the Batcave?

“I don’t know… Are you sure you can handle it?” I rubbed my chin as if unsure if I should grant her request.

She swatted my arm. “Show it to me or I’ll be forced to sneak in after you’re asleep.”

“Ow, hey. No more assault and battery, ninja-woman.”

Julia bit her lower lip. “Did I hurt you earlier?”

My shoulder answered with a throb, but I shook my head. “Those were some impressive moves. Did they teach you to fight like that at boarding school?”

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