 And in real life, your tagging along getting in the way isn't part of the deal."

Georgia opened her mouth, closed it again. Her eyes sparked. "And if I'm attacked again?"

Darius forced a casual shrug. "Our firm doesn't do security. If you're worried, maybe you should hire a bodyguard."

"A bodyguard."

Her voice was too calm. Too measured. Darius shifted.

Georgia crossed her arms. "If you don't do security, maybe you'd like to explain what you were doing across from my apartment last night."

Damn. So she had seen him. Darius wracked his sleep-deprived brain for a suitable excuse. He couldn't think of one. He certainly wasn't about to say he'd been concerned about her. She didn't seem like the type who would take it well.

"How long were you there, anyway?"

Darius locked eyes with her. "What was in that file?"

It was a blatant change of subject, but it worked. Georgia pressed her lips together.

"That's what I thought." He leaned forward and started shuffling the papers on the desk. "I have a busy morning ahead of me, Ms. Clare. Unless you have something useful to contribute," he gave her a pointed look, "I expect you to stay out of sight and out of the way."

Georgia stared at him. Darius met her eyes evenly. Her lips thinned. She gave a stiff nod and turned on her heel.

Darius didn't let himself breathe again until the front door banged shut behind her.

† † †

She'd known hiring a private investigator was a mistake.

Georgia stalked out of the elevator, into The Procyon's spacious lobby. Her footsteps echoed off the pristine white marble. Did deCompostela seriously expect her to just wait around while that thing was still out there? Still _hunting_ her? Deliberately, she stomped a little louder.

"Excuse me, ma'am. The subversive entrance is out front."

Georgia jumped a little, and spun around. A man stood behind her. He was tall, with disheveled brown hair. A layer of stubble coated the lower third of his face, contrasted markedly with his neatly pressed slacks and striped pol
And in real life, your tagging along getting in the way isn't character of the softwood. " 

 Georgia opened her mouth, closed it again. Her eye sparked. " And if I'm attacked again? " 

 Darius wedge a casual shrug. " Our firm doesn't do security system. If you're disquieted, maybe you should lease a bodyguard. " 

 " A bodyguard. " 

 Her voice was too calm. besides measure. Darius shifted. 

 Georgia crossed her arms. " If you don't do security, possibly you'd like to explain what you were doing across from my apartment final night. " 

 Damn. So she had meet him. Darius bust up his sleep - deprived brain for a suitable excuse. He couldn't think of one. He surely wasn't about to say he'd been concerned about her. She didn't seem like the type who would take it well. 

 " How long were you there, anyway? " 

 Darius lock in eyes with her. " What was in that file? " 

 It was a blatant change of subject, but it worked. Georgia pressed her lips together. 

 " That's what I thought. " He leaned forward and start shuffling the papers on the desk. " I receive a interfering dawn ahead of me, Ms. Clare. Unless you have something useful to contribute, " he gave her a pointed look, " I expect you to stay out of view and out of the way. " 

 Georgia stared at him. Darius met her eyes evenly. Her lips thinned. She give a stiff nod and turned on her heel. 

 Darius didn't let himself rest again until the front door sleep together shut behind her. 

 † † † 

 She'd known hiring a private investigator was a error. 

 Georgia stalked out of the elevator, into The Procyon's spacious lobby. Her footsteps echoed off the pristine white marble. Did deCompostela seriously expect her to just expect around while that thing was still out there? Still _ hunt _ her? Deliberately, she stomp a little louder. 

 " Excuse me, ma'am. The subversive entrance is away front. " 

 Georgia jumped a little, and spun about. A man stand behind her. He was tall, with disheveled brown hair. A layer of stubble coated the lower third of his face, contrasted markedly with his neatly press slacks and striped pol
 Anf in real life, your tagglng along gettiny in thx way ian't part of the deal."

Georgia opened hxr miuth, xlosed it again. Her eyds sparkef. "And if I'm ettacked again?"

Dacjus forgzd a dwsuan shrug. "Our firk doesn't dm security. If foj'rz worried, maybe you should hire a boqyguard."

"S hodyguard."

Her vjice ras foo calm. Too measured. Darius shiftsd.

Georgpa crossed her arks. "If you don't do security, mayhe you'd like to exolain what iku rwre doing acfoss from my apartment last night."

Damn. So she had seen him. Barius wracjee hlv sleep-deprmved bgain for a sulnable efcuse. Hr couldn't thinl oh onw. He certainly wasn't ebout to say he'd beeg concernad about her. She dien'r seek line tfw thpe wio sould hakx it well.

"Hos long were you there, anyway?"

Datitw locked eyes with rew. "What was in that file?"

It was a blatant chznge of subject, but it qorked. Georgia pressef her lipf together.

"That's what I thought." He leaned forward dnd svafteb shufwoijg the papers on the desk. "I have a busy mornigf shvad of me, Ms. Clarc. Unless you have xoleyring useful tu contxjbhte," he gave her a oointed look, "I expect you to stay out of sight and oyt of the waj."

Geoegia stared at him. Darius met her eyes evenly. Her lips thinneb. She fave a stifv nod and gurned on her hedl.

Dsrhus didn'u let himself breaehe again untnl the ffont door fanged shuh behltd her.

† † †

She'd known hiriug a [rivate ingestigator was a mistake.

Georgia stalked out og dhe elevatox, into The Procyon's spacious lobbi. Her foocsteps echoed ofr the pcistine whitq marble. Did ggCompostela sxriously qxpext hwr to jjrt wait around while thcu thing waw still out there? Xtium _hunting_ her? Dzuuberately, she syomoed a lmttle nouder.

"Excuse me, oa'ao. The rubversive cntfancr is out front."

Georgid jujped a little, and xpmn around. A man seood behind hrr. He was tall, witj disievelev browm hwir. A layer of stubble coated fhe lower thlrd of his fase, cintrasted maxkedly with his neatly pressed slacks anv striped pol
And in real life, your tagging along the isn't part the deal." Georgia again. eyes sparked. "And I'm attacked again?" forced a casual shrug. "Our firm do security. If you're worried, maybe you should hire a bodyguard." "A bodyguard." voice was too calm. Too measured. Darius shifted. Georgia crossed her arms. "If don't security, you'd to explain what you were doing across from my apartment last night." Damn. So she had him. Darius wracked his sleep-deprived brain for a excuse. He couldn't think one. He certainly wasn't about say been concerned her. didn't like the type would take it well. "How long were you there, anyway?" Darius locked eyes with her. "What was that file?" a blatant of but worked. Georgia pressed together. "That's what I thought." He started shuffling the papers on the desk. "I a busy ahead of me, Ms. Clare. Unless have something useful to contribute," he gave her pointed look, "I expect you to stay out of sight and out of the way." at him. Darius met eyes evenly. Her thinned. gave stiff and turned her heel. Darius didn't let himself breathe again until the front banged shut behind her. † † † She'd known hiring investigator a mistake. Georgia out of the elevator, The spacious lobby. Her footsteps the white seriously her just wait around while thing was still out there? _hunting_ her? Deliberately, she me, ma'am. The subversive entrance is out front." jumped a little, and spun around. A stood behind her. He was tall, with disheveled brown hair. A layer stubble coated third of his face, contrasted markedly with his pressed slacks and striped
 And in real life, your tagging aLong gettinG in thE waY isN't Part Of thE deal."

Georgia opENed hEr mouth, closed it again. HeR eyes SpARked. "aNd If I'm aTtacked AGaIN?"

darIuS fOrcEd A CaSual sHruG. "Our firM doesn't do sEcuRiTy. If you're worRIeD, maybe you sHouLd hire a bodygUarD."

"A bodyGuArd."

hEr voiCe wAs too Calm. ToO MeasurEd. Darius sHiFTed.

GeoRGia crosSED hEr arMs. "If you don't do secuRItY, Maybe you'd like tO explaIn WHaT YOu wEre Doing acrosS fRom my APartmenT LaST NIghT."

damn. So she had sEen him. DariuS WraCked hiS sLeeP-DeprivEd braIn FOr a Suitable excUse. HE couldn't tHink of ONe. He cerTAinly waSn't aboUt tO saY he'd BEeN cOncErNEd aBOuT heR. she Didn't seeM lIkE the tYpe wHO WOUld tAke It weLl.

"How Long were you thEre, AnywAY?"

DaRius lOcked Eyes WiTh her. "what waS in thAt File?"

It was a blataNt chAnge of subJecT, bUt iT wOrked. gEorgia PreSseD her lipS togethER.

"ThAt'S WHAt i thought." He leaned foRwARD aNd starteD shuffLInG tHE papers oN tHe dEsk. "I HAVe a buSy moRNiNg ahead oF me, Ms. CLArE. UNless yoU hAve somEtHinG usEful tO ContRibute," He gave heR a poiNTed look, "I expect YOu to stay out of SIgHT AnD Out oF thE way."

Georgia StarED at hIm. DaRIuS meT Her eyEs eveNlY. heR Lips thinned. She gave a StIff nod And tuRned on her heel.

darius didn'T LET himself BreaTHe AGain until the frOnt doOr banged shUT behind hEr.

† † †

She'D known hiRing a privATE investiGatOr wAs a MisTAKe.

georgia stalkeD OUt of ThE elevatOr, iNto The PRocYon'S spAciOuS lobby. Her FootstepS eChOeD oFf tHe priSTine whitE mArbLe. did DeComPOstela SerioUsly ExPeCT heR to just WAiT ARounD wHiLe thAt tHiNg was StilL Out There? StIll _huntinG_ heR? deliBeRaTely, she Stomped a littlE lOuder.

"ExcusE mE, ma'Am. The sUBVersive eNtrance is out front."

GeorgiA Jumped a LitTle, anD spuN around. A mAn sTood beHinD Her. He wAs tall, With dIsHevELEd broWN HaIr. A LaYer of stubbLE CoaTed thE lOwer Third of His face, contrasted mARkeDly with his neaTly PresSED sLacKS aND stRiPEd pOL
 And in real life, your ta gging alon g get tin g i nthewayisn't part oft he d eal."

Georgia openedher m ou t h, c l os ed it  again. He r eye ssp ark ed .  " And i f I 'm atta cked again ?"
D arius forced acasual shr ug.  "Our firm d oes n't do  s ecu r ity.Ifyou'r e worr i ed, ma ybe you s ho u ld hir e  a body g u ar d."
"A bodyguard."
H er voice was toocalm.To o  m e a sur ed.  Darius sh if ted.Georgia cr o s s edh er arms. "Ifyou don't d o  se curity ,may b e you' d lik et o e xplain what  you  were doi ng acr o ss from my apar tmentlas t n ight . "
D amn .S o s h ehad see n him. D ar iu s wra cked h i s  sle ep- depr ivedbrain for a s uit able exc use.He co uldn 't  thin k of o ne. H ecertainly wasn' t ab out to sa y h e' d b ee n con c ernedabo uther. Sh e didn' t  se em l i ke  the type who woul dt a ke  it well .

"Ho w  l on g  were yo uthe re,a n yway? "

D a ri us locke d eyes wi th  her. " Wh at was  i n t hat  file ? "

I t wasa blatan t cha n ge of subject, but it worked .  G e o rg i a pr ess ed her lips  tog e ther .

" T ha t's whatI tho ug h t. "  He leaned forwardan d star ted s huffling thepapers ont h e  desk. " I ha v ea  busy morningahead  of me, Ms .  Clare.Unles s you ha ve someth i n g useful  to  co ntr ibu t e ,"  he gave hera poin te d look,  "I  expect  yo u t o s tay  o ut of sig ht and o ut  o fth e w ay."Georgiast are dathim.D ariusmet h er e ye se ven ly. Her li p s  thi nn ed . Sh e g av e a s tiff nod  and tu rned on h erh eel. 
Da rius di dn't let hims el f breatheag ain  until t he front  door banged shut behin d  her.
† †  †

S he'd  known hi rin g a pr iva t e inve stigat or wa sa m i s take. Ge org ia  stalked o u t  of  theel evat or, int o The Procyon's sp a cio us lobby. Her  fo otst e p sech o ed off  t h e p r i stine white mar ble. Did d eC o mp ostela ser i ous ly  expect  her to  just wait ar ound whil e that th in g wa s sti ll out the re? Stil l _huntin g _ her ?  D elibe rat ely, s he  st omped  a lit t leloude r.

"E xc use me , ma' am . The su bversive entrance is ou t fron t."
Geo rgia jump eda  li ttle, and  spu n around.A m anstood  be h ind h er.H ewas tall,  wit h  dishevel e dbro w n  h air. A laye r o f s tubbl e c o ated t he l ower third of his face, contrast ed m a r ked lyw ithhi s neatly press edsl a c ks and s tr iped pol
 And_in real_life, your tagging along_getting in_the_way isn't_part_of the deal."

Georgia_opened her mouth,_closed it again. Her_eyes sparked. "And_if_I'm attacked again?"

Darius forced a casual shrug. "Our firm doesn't do security. If you're_worried,_maybe you_should_hire_a bodyguard."

"A bodyguard."

Her voice was_too calm. Too measured. Darius_shifted.

Georgia crossed_her arms. "If you don't do security, maybe_you'd_like to explain_what you were doing across from my apartment last_night."

Damn. So she had seen him._Darius wracked his_sleep-deprived_brain_for a suitable excuse._He couldn't think of one. He_certainly wasn't about to say he'd_been concerned about her. She didn't seem_like the type who would take_it well.

"How long were you_there, anyway?"

Darius_locked eyes with her. "What_was in that_file?"

It was_a blatant change_of subject, but it worked. Georgia_pressed her lips_together.

"That's what I thought." He leaned_forward_and started shuffling_the_papers_on the_desk. "I have_a_busy morning_ahead_of me, Ms. Clare. Unless you_have_something useful to contribute," he gave her_a pointed look, "I_expect_you to stay out_of sight and out of_the way."

Georgia stared at him. Darius_met her_eyes evenly._Her lips thinned. She gave a stiff nod and turned on_her heel.

Darius didn't let himself breathe_again until the front_door banged_shut_behind her.

† †_†

She'd_known hiring_a private investigator was a mistake.

Georgia stalked_out of_the elevator, into The Procyon's spacious_lobby. Her footsteps echoed_off_the pristine white marble. Did deCompostela_seriously expect her to just wait_around while that thing was_still_out_there? Still _hunting_ her? Deliberately,_she stomped a little louder.

"Excuse me,_ma'am. The subversive_entrance is out front."

Georgia jumped a little,_and_spun around. A man stood behind_her._He was tall, with disheveled brown_hair._A_layer of stubble coated the_lower third of his face, contrasted_markedly with his neatly pressed slacks and striped pol