Page 60 of The Daredevil

“You like things that are beneficial?”

“Depends on your definition of beneficial.”

I laughed. “Here we go again with the definition. I think by the end of my stay in Iceland, I’m going to have a brand-new dictionary with all new meanings to things I thought I had already defined.”

“There’s always room to learn new definitions.”

“Seriously though, your speech was inspiring. It opened my eyes to the possibilities out there. When I was younger, I wanted to visit the Seven Wonders of the World, but as I got older, I made my own list. Iceland was one of them.”

“I’m happy my homeland is on your list. Maybe you can share your list with me sometime.”

“Only if you take me to visit—”

Jeez, I was thinking as if he were my real boyfriend.Steer the brain back to the slow lane, Michelle. You’re detouring . . .

“I’d love to. My excursions sites are all over the globe.”

I hadn’t expected him to agree. But maybe he was being nice as friends should be to one another.

My attention returned to his volcanic research—safer territory to be discussed. “I had no idea you were working on such important research. Do you have to fly back and forth to do it?”

He smiled at me. “I’m a part-time researcher, so I don’t have to be present in Iceland. I only visit the labs here whenever I return to Excursions for You, which is one of many companies under Paradigm Excursions Group. The private labs in Boston are where I do research. I spent most of my time expanding my excursion business and keeping it updated and fun.”

“No wonder you’re the most eligible bachelor. The women at the table had plans to introduce you to eligible bachelorettes if you hadn’t brought me.” A thought sparked in my head, and I narrowed my eyes at him. “Is that another reason for this fake dating?”

He smirked. “I can see why you’d think that. But no, it hadn’t occurred to me until now. I guess this fake dating is verybeneficial.”

It bothered me that he saw our relationship that way. It made me feel like a business transaction, and my heart hurt at that thought. The tightness in my chest became uncomfortable, and I stroked it as though I had heartburn. But it was a different burning in my heart.

Feeling irritated, I stayed quiet for the rest of the ride. He was obviously contemplating something, probably how else he could “benefit” from this relationship.

When he stopped the car in front of my apartment, I finally looked at him and regretted it. My heart lurched at the intensity of his eyes. Those green eyes held something—a quiet conversation he wanted to tell me, but couldn’t. How did I know this? Because it felt as though I was having a quiet conversation with him too.

We both had things to say, but something held us back.

A silhouette from my window caught my eye, and I gripped his hand in terror.

“Someone’s in my apartment.”

CHAPTERTHIRTY

ROYCE

I lookedup at the window and saw a quick silhouette before the soft light died, and everything went dark. Who the fuck was in there? I called the police, reported the incident, and contacted Ludvik, a detective friend who lived in the vicinity.

This was the third time Michelle had been in harm’s way since she landed in Iceland. After three times, coincidences went out the window. Something peculiar was happening here. Who was after her?

A lot of epiphanies emerged at the museum today, and I’d been trying to sort them out during the silence in the car. But now, Michelle’s safety came first.

“Stay here,” I told Michelle, who looked frightened.

“Where are you going?” She gripped my hand.

“Up there to check it out. I’m just browsing.”

“No. That’s dangerous.”

Reaching for the glove compartment, I retrieved the gun and shoved it into my jacket pocket.

---