She laid her head on hischest. His body, as usual, warm and hard. “I’ll be okayRyan.”
He turned his nose into herhair and closed his eyes to her scent. Roses, again. “I know youwill.”
“I believe you, you know.That it wasn’t my fault.”
“Good.”
“I just feel terrible forthe things I’ve said to her.”
“We are only human. Let itgo.”
“I want to, it’s justhard.” She lifted her head and looked at him. “Are we going to keeppretending that we don’t notice what passes between us?”
A smile pulled at thecorner of his mouth while he met her eyes. His hand came up andcaressed her cheek. “There’s nothing.”
She pursed her lips into athin line and shook her head as her hand went to his chest. “I canhear and feel your heartbeat. It’s fast like mine.” She took hisand put it on her own chest between her breasts. “Tell me you don’tfeel that.”
He pulled his hand away andreleased her stepping back.
“Ryan?”
He shook his head, turnedaway and ran his fingers through his hair. “Go back to bed,Kat.”
“Are you seriously turningme away?”
“I am.” He didn’t turnaround.
“Ryan—you are lying toyourself! You can’t even face me and tell me that.” Yes, she wasnaïve, but she also knew what she looked like to the opposite sex,and had her experiences, to a degree, with men. She was going totrust her instincts despite her insecurities. Hewas attracted to her.That embrace was genuine—caring.
“To bed Kat.” His voice waseven, commanding.
“You have toknow—you have toknow that I’m not one of those women that throw themselves at you!I’m not like that.” She wasn’t! She’d seen how women were aroundhim and he’d refused all of them. She couldn’t face being put inthat same category. She meant something more. Didn’tshe?
“Kat—”
“I have morals, and pride.”Rejection wasn’t easy for her. She was close to tears for adifferent reason—shame. She put it all out there and was gettingrejected.
“I know.”
“I don’t just walk aroundpicking up men!”
“I figured that out afterfive minutes of meeting you.” He finally faced her. “I’ve told youbefore—”
“You’re an ass if you thinkthat’s working on me. A stupid ass.” She turned on her heel andleft, shutting the door between them.
Fuck. He lowered his face in his palm.
Kat wouldn’t go to himtonight if she had the night terrors. She’d be strong and deal withthem on her own. She didn’t need him for anything. If he wanted tobe an employee, she was going to treat him like one. She’d neverput her heart on her sleeve like that, and he rejected her. Tearsrolled down her cheeks. It would be a cold day in hell before shedid that again.
***
The next morning, Peter wasat breakfast and so were several of his men, including Ivan. Hecould feel an icy chill from Katya who sat beside him. Well, hecouldn’t really blame her. Rejection wasn’t easy for a woman, andshe was as stubborn and proud as a mule. It would hit her a littleharder.
“I want you on this casewith Ivan,” Peter said out of the blue staring pointedly atRyan.
“What case?” Katyaasked.
She was ignored by herfather. “I want these people caught. The ones that killedPorsha.”
“That wasn’t the conditionof my hire,” Ryan reminded him evenly.
“What case? Who killedPorsha?” Katya repeated. Her eyes went around the table, trying tomake sense of this. When she looked at Ryan, she could see themuscle in his jaw bulge. He was angry, but his expression remainedneutral. She knew he didn’t like being told what to do either, butunlike him, she wasn’t going to hold back.
“I’m changing thatcondition,” Peter said abruptly setting his eyes on his daughterfinally acknowledging her, but not her question. “You are nowhomebound.”
Her expression altered torage. “You hired Mr. Casey for me because he’s thebest.”
“That’s why I need him withmy men. These dum-dums have uncovered nothing.” The men shifteduncomfortably in their seats and exchanged guiltyglances.
“Do I mean that little toyou?” she further argued. “He saved my life, and now you want totake him to play tag team with murderers? Do you honestlythink that’s the bestuse of his skills?”
“Katya, you will do asyou’re told. If you don’t leave this house, we don’t have aproblem.”
“That’s where you arewrong! You are aproblem, and it’s because of you Anna is dead! You also forget thatyou actually can’t tell me anything. I’m an adult and donot need yourpermission,” she protested vehemently. “The only reason I’m hereand nowhere else is because of Anna, what they did to Anna!” Shehated to admit that she needed the protection that her father couldprovide.
Ryan saw that Peter’s faceswelled up in anger, then turn blotchy red. It might have beenamusing to him in any other setting, but he was unsure of how hewas going to deal with his daughter’s defiance. He watched theolder man’s body language carefully for some sort of indication hewas going to explode. He was certain that if it was anyone else,their heart wouldn’t still be beating. Ifthe man made one move toward her, he’d get between them. He wasalso a little surprised at Katya’s rebelliousness, but couldn’thave been more impressed that she stuck up for herself. It wasn’teasy to stand up to a murderous tyrant. It probably had somethingto do with a carryover from the night before. He knew that anywoman wouldn’t take rejection well, and Kat had a lot of pride andhe’d hurt her.
“You will not speak to melike this in my house Katya!” Peter jutted his fork in herdirection “Do you want to end up like Porsha, likeAnna?”
“It’s a hell of a lotbetter than being trapped here like a chained dog!” she shouted athim.
He half rose out of hischair, his face turning scarlet. “I’ll have you whipped and tied toyour fucking bed, you ungrateful bitch! You will listen.” He noddedto one of his men. “Take her to her
