Page 94 of Boss Level

Office One gestured with one hand, still keeping the other near his holster. “You three, over there.” He waved at Claire, Xander, and Dominic.

They complied.

He stepped closer to Dale.

“My ID is in my purse, near the door.” I nodded. “You have my permission to check it. This is the address on it.”

Officer two kept half an eye on the room while he grabbed my purse. I guided him verbally to my wallet. He showed my driver’s license to his partner, who scowled.

“Sir, you’ll need to step outside, please,” Officer Two said.

Dale was bright red, but there was noDo you know who I amthis time.

After what felt like an eternity of giving our side of the story to Officer Two, he promised they would escort Dale from the condo property and tell him not to come back.

I would’ve preferred they take him to jail, but apparently he’d sweet-talked Officer One while we were giving our own statements.

As the police left, I watched to make sure Dale did as well. My pulse hammered in my ears. My head felt like it might explode from the tension.

But the way Xander and Dominic had stormed in here was possibly the sexiest thing I’d ever seen.

I turned to Claire. “He may come back. Do you remember the place where we picked up the car?”

She nodded.

“Go there. Tell Rosie I sent you and she should text me when you arrive. It’s up to you how much you tell her, but let her know we’re all right.”

Xander pocketed his phone. “I just texted her. She knows you’re on your way.”

GodI loved him. It both ached and soothed to think those words.

Claire grabbed some things, and gave me a huge hug. “Thank you.”

“I’ll walk you to your car,” Dominic said to Claire. “And you’re not staying here either.” He looked at me.

I’d tell him not to boss me around, but I loved his worry. That he was here. That they both were.

The instant they walked out the door, Xander turned to me. The look in his eyes was terrifying and enticing. He backed me to the wall, hands on either side of my head, and stood close enough I felt his heat.

“I would’ve torn him apart if he hurt you.” Xander’s voice was jagged. “I don’t care how improper or unprofessional or illegal that is. If he’d touched you…”

We were still fighting, weren’t we? I was still upset that he thought he had some magical presence in my life that determined my fate. Because at this moment, all I cared about was that he was here. That he was close. That he came forme. “He didn’t.”

“Good.” Xander moved a hand to my face, and tingles spilled through me. “I’m sorry I said what I did. I don’t have the right words to explain, because my mind is on other things, but we’ll talk about it. The thing is, I’ll never stop wanting to protect you. I can’t—won’t—change how I feel about you. But I do know you succeed because of you. Because you’re incredible and one of a kind.”

I knowprobably wasn’t an appropriate answer. His intensity had me so tongue-tied I wasn’t sure I could speak anyway. “So are you.”

He smirked. “How long has it been since I kissed you?”

“Never.” We both knew that. He had to be as intensely aware of it as I was.

Xander dipped his head and brushed his lips over mine. It was a soft, painfully tender kiss.

That grew hard in a flash when he slid his hand to grip the back of my neck, and crushed into me. His mouth was hard on mine. His body. The primal growls that rolled from his chest.

I could crawl up inside this feeling forever, and let it—him—consume me. Clenching his shirt tightly in my fists, I held on for all I was worth. This was better than breathing.

How did I think I was living without this connection?

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