Page 21 of My Best Friend's Grump Brother

“None of your business,” I ripped my hand from his hold. “I’m fine. I’m just a woman, and I live alone in one of the most crime-infested cities in the country.”

He wasn’t convinced, “If it’s one of the residents, I can have them removed. Just give me a name.”

His statement threw me a little. “Look, Mr. Billionaire, I know you think money makes you powerful, but I think the owner would have a thing or two to say about you harassing his tenants. And I don’t even think you have the legal power to do that.”

“I do.”

I waited to see a smirk or a hint of humor on his features, but the man was dead serious.

“What? So you own the building?” I laughed lightly, but my laugh died down when he didn’t refuse my claims. “Wait, you can’t be serious. You own this damn building?”

He gave me one curt nod. “So, I will say this again. Give. Me. A. Name.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “But you’re a lawyer.”

“I diversified my portfolio. Now give me a name.”

“I don’t have one for you,” I blinked, “I just used to live in a sketchy place before this one, so it’s a force of habit.”

It wasn’t a complete lie. It was better than telling the truth to him. There would never be a time that I would be ready to tell him or anyone the truth. That was a secret that I was going to die with. The only person who could let it all slip was miles away in Braven Bay. Though it was my best friend’s husband, Sebastian was also Daniel’s childhood best friend. But Sebastian was a doctor, and the whole doctor/patient privilege thing would be in effect, right?

He didn’t look convinced but didn’t press the issue further either. Instead, he grabbed the knife from my hand and placed it on the small table behind me that held my keys and a vase of water lilies.

“Grab your coat,” he was so close I could feel his hot breath on my face and smell the subtle scent of whiskey on his lips. A scent that I never associated with this man.

“You’ve been drinking.” My voice came out far softer and lower than I intended.

The air between us sparked with little bolts of electricity from my wrist. My heart did a few summersaults in the middle of my chest, my breath catching, stealing all the words from my lips.

Oh, be still, my restless heart.

His hazel eyes, far more blue in this light, danced over my features, lighting every with an electric jolt. I felt the heat rush to my face, my heart refusing to settle under his gaze.

“Only one.” Was he closer than before, or was the distance eating itself away between us? “Get your coat, Selena. Please.”

He stepped away from me, dropping my hand in the process.

“Why?” I cleared my throat, trying to calm the excitement in my chest. Why was it that my entire system malfunctioned every time this man was close? I would need to determine whether I would survive the next few weeks or months on this case.

“You haven’t eaten.”

“And how would you know that?” On cue, my stomach growled like a wild enemy lived in it. “Okay, I haven’t, but—…”

“You can either come of your own free will, or I will carry you out, your choice.”

Was this man being serious? In the two years I had known this man, I realized that he rarely joked about anything in his life. So, if he said he would hoist me over his shoulder and carry me out of my apartment, he meant exactly that.

“Fine, it’s free food.” I turned to run back into my house to get a hoodie to pour over my leggings and tank top.

I just hoped that I wouldn’t regret this.

***

The air was cold the moment I walked into the lobby. It was well past ten at night, and the crisp fall air was quickly settling in. I pulled my hoodie over my body tighter and tried to hide from the cold, humid Chicago chill. Daniel fell into step with me, his eyes set forward, but his demeanor was overpowering. He was the definition of what women today would call tall, dark, and handsome. You would think light eyes would soften his hard features, but all they did was add to the mystery and awe of him. They were intense and chameleon into whatever shade the light agreed with at that time.

“You’re staring.”

I snapped my neck forward and closed my eyes. “I’m not staring. I was just…never mind.”

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