Page 36 of The Daredevil

He did? I wanted to ask what exactly he saw, but I was afraid of his answer or where this conversation might go. We all had things we didn’t want to talk about, and if I asked the wrong question, I might be forced to discuss something I wasn’t ready to.

“I guess we all have something that inspires us.”

Something flickered in his eyes, but was gone in an instant. “We can go to the banquet together.”

“That would be convenient. I was going to call your car service for a ride, but now I don’t have to.”

“Call me if you ever need to go anywhere. I’m just across the street. It’s no bother at all.”

His eyes pinned me, and silence thrummed between us. It was the silence that spoke more than any words could ever say. He wasn’t joking about wanting me to callhimand not the car service. But why? Did I dare ask?

“Why? I’m sure you’re busy. I don’t want to trouble you, Royce. I’ve already invaded your space.”

“It’s not an intrusion when you’ve been invited. And I don’t invite people into my place often. Besides, I’d like to get to know what kind of angel you are, Michelle.”

A thrill fluttered deep in the pit of my stomach.

He shifted to stand in front of me and tipped up my chin. He was so big, so tall. Energy sizzled between us, and my skin tingled from his touch.

“I’m no angel, Royce. But I’d like to know what kind of Viking you are. Are you the Nordic warrior like the movies portray, or are you someone new?”

“I guess you’ll have to find out.”

His lips were so close to mine. All I had to do was go on my tippy toes and our lips would touch. His musky cologne tugged at my senses, tempting me to kiss him.

The phone rang and popped the magical bubble we were in.

Cursing, he fished out his phone from his back pocket and stared at the flashing screen.

“I need to take this. Why don’t you get settled? I’m going to call your landlord as well.”

He walked out of the bedroom, leaving me weak, wobbly, and wondering what had just happened between us.

CHAPTERFIFTEEN

ROYCE

I strodeinto my office to take Oskar’s call. He confirmed his men would arrive Friday morning to repair Michelle’s window.

“The men can’t come tomorrow,” Oskar said. “They’re still repairing the storage room.”

A package in storage had exploded and caused a fire a couple of weeks ago. Luckily, no one got hurt. The package came in with other deliveries, and before anyone had time to sort them out, it burst.

“That’s fine. Thanks.” I smirked, loving the idea that Michelle wouldn’t be going back to her apartment tomorrow.

“Someone can stop by tomorrow and cover the window with a tarp until repairs can happen.” Oskar’s words brought my attention back to the task at hand.

“Thanks. Let me know the time, and I’ll be there to let him in.”

In the past few months, one accident after another had created a substantial financial loss. Who in the hell was trying to sabotage my company? These disturbances wasted my time, money, and energy, none of which I wanted to divulge unnecessarily. A part of me feared these disturbances were just the beginning.

After the call ended, I dropped into my office chair and gathered my thoughts. In the last week alone, I sensed a change in myself. I had blamed it on the long hours at work, trying to sort everything out, including postponing projects, but now I wondered if there was something else.

I’d always been careful about my feelings. Keeping myself numb to emotions made things easier to deal with. Which was why I hadn’t had any serious relationships. I never got close enough to a woman tofeelthis odd tug in my heart.

But having Michelle around evoked something in me. She was the whisper in the night, luring me out for an adventure without making me fearful of what might lie ahead. I should be terrified because she was daring me to open myself to her—something I’d never done for anyone. And yet, I found myself enticed because I wanted to know what she had to show me.

Was this another phase in my life where I just had to wait it out? This was the best opportunity for me to find out.

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