“And what about you? You didn’t think you should tell me that you’re a bodyguard?”
He chuckled. His hair was a bit longer and the five o’clock shadow was gone, making him look younger. “I’m not a bodyguard. I’m part of Valor Knights, an elite team that provides security needs, among many other things.”
“You need to tell Mr. Langley that you can’t do this!” She kept her voice low, afraid that someone outside of the office would overhear the conversation.
“And why would I do that? This is my job.”
“Then tell him you can’t do this weekend.” A scorching heat rolled down her spine. The mere thought of being on a private resort with her ex made her heart drop into her heels. It couldn’t happen—shouldn’t happen.
“Why would I do that?” His thick brows arched.
“Because it’s your weekend with Finley.”
“Nice try, sweetheart, but it’s your weekend. We traded a while back, remember? Why do you care what I’m doing this weekend anyway?”
Heaving in a lungful of oxygen, she dropped her arms to her sides. “I’m working at the resort this weekend too.”
Something flashed across his expression that she didn’t have time to read.
“Great. It’ll be like old times.” The flirtatious tone tingeing his deep voice didn’t go unnoticed to the most intimate parts of her. This was exactly why they couldn’t be near one another. He was a force of nature.
“I refuse to go there if you’ll be there too.” She rubbed her temples, feeling like the walls were caving in.
“Then you tell Langley that you’re not going.”
“I can’t.”
He half-shrugged. “And neither can I. So, it looks like we’re going to Lake Jade together.” The way he said the word “together” set butterflies free inside her stomach. Get ahold of yourself! She deserved to find happiness—deserved to be free of all those erratic emotions. “By the way, since this is your weekend then who’s taking care of Fin?”
“Mom.” She paced the floor, hoping to ease the irritation in her body. She couldn’t get out of the weekend. Coming to stand in front of him, she said, “I can tell him you’re my ex and he’d have no choice but to fire you.” Her mind grappled for something, anything, so she didn’t have to endure being around Egan for three days. She didn’t like him being here in her territory.
“Like hell you will. Maybe he’ll fire you,” he simpered.
“Didn’t you hear him say that I was the best assistant any businessman could ask for?”
A sliver of concern crossed Egan’s features but vanished quickly. “I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this, Novah. Don’t screw it up for me, and especially don’t screw it up for my crew,” he growled, taking a step toward her. The vein in his neck, the one that popped out when he was irritated, made its presence known. He sized her up in one fell swoop of his icy gaze. “Got that?”
No, she couldn’t do that to him or anyone else. In all her thirty-five years she’d never stepped on anyone to get ahead and she wouldn’t start now.
Blowing out a long, exasperated breath, she blurted, “Fine. We’ll have to agree to be adults about this…”
“Because we’re not adults? You’re the only one who seems worried.”
She squeezed the bridge of her nose. “Mixing business and my personal life is never good. I need this job.”
“Then don’t mix your personal life and professional life.” He exhaled. “Why didn’t you tell me you needed help? If my child support isn’t enough, I can send more—”
Giving her head a quick shake, tendrils of hair fell to her cheeks. “No. I meant, I need this job not just for financial reasons but because it’s a challenge that I like.”
“What about teaching? It’s in your blood. You’re good with the kids.”
Losing her teaching position at the school had been heartbreaking. “Maybe I’ll find another in time, but right now I’m making do. Are you only working on Mr. Langley’s security team temporarily?”
“The time frame is inconclusive.”
Hearing voices from outside the closed door, she motioned for Egan to follow her through a back door that led into Mr. Langley’s private corridor. She quietly closed the door behind them and when she turned, he was standing inches from her. A sharp inhale of her breath pulled in his sandalwood scented soap deep into her lungs.
“Egan…”
“Novah…”
“This is important,” she pushed through thin lips.
“And did I say it wasn’t?”
CHAPTER THREE
EGAN WAS A lot of things, but unmoved by his ex-wife wasn’t one of them.
She still did something to him, sparked a need in him that wormed past all his strength and toughness. She’d changed some since the divorce. There were a few new creases around her eyes, but she was more beautiful. Her hair was a few shades darker and pulled back, showing off the soft angles and pale hue of her face. Her dove grey eyes were surrounded by a fringe of long lashes and glossy lips were twisted as if she couldn’t bear looking at him. This triggered some old feelings of anger. He should be the one who couldn’t stand to be near her after she’d divorced him. He’d signed the papers, given her what she wanted, but this was where he drew a line. If she didn’t want to be near him then she’d have to quit because he sure as hell wouldn’t.
She nervously slid her palms down her skirt that fit her nice curves and she appeared more composed. “There are some rules to this.”
“Rules? So now you’re making rules even after we’re divorced?” He held her gaze with
