gorgeous.” Billy grinned. He knew what she meant and he didn’t have to give her a hard time, but where was the fun in that? “First, you yell at me for not being me, now you’re telling me not to be me. Talk about mixed signals.”
The corners of her eyes twitched as she shot back, “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
Feigning innocence, he lifted his hands in mock-surrender. “No, I don’t. You’re going to have to be more specific. Do you want me to pretend I’m someone else? Should I, how you say, speak with an accent?” he asked, with what was probably hands-down, the worst French accent in the world. He’d discovered her amusement at his lack of French-accent-ability when he’d first learned that Maxi’s mother was French. In an attempt to lighten the mood when the heavy subject had been brought up, Billy had done the stupid accent. It made her smile then and had the same affect today.
The dueling knots that had taken up residence in Billy’s chest and gut loosened slightly at the sight of her lips turning up and her eyes lighting with humor. Damn. He would do anything, anything to keep putting that smile on her face.
There was another knock on the door as Simon asked loudly, “Maxine, are you okay?”
“ Maxine ?” Billy mouthed.
The only people that he’d ever heard call her by her full name were people that didn’t know her. She hated her full name.
“Just. Don’t.” Her two-word warning was packed full of meaning.
His only response was a wide grin. A small flare of panic flickered in her baby blues before she turned in haste to open the door.
Would he ever do anything to embarrass her? No. Would he ever disrespect her by flirting with her in front of a date? No. But if he kept her mind occupied with what his next move might be, then she wouldn’t be thinking about the asshole that was stalking her. But Billy would. He knew that he wouldn’t have a moment’s peace until whoever was doing this was caught. That’s all he’d be thinking about.
As she pulled the door open his eyes scanned down to the full, rounded curve of her backside. Well, he might be thinking about a few other things, too…
Chapter 6
“S orry about that.” Maxi’s rushed apology fell on deaf ears as Simon ignored her and stared over her shoulder, his mouth agape like he’d just seen an alien walk off the mothership.
She understood.
Billy Marshall had that effect on people, and not just women. His six-foot-two, muscular frame was impressive in and of itself. But he paired that with looks that could easily be on the big screen and a general demeanor that screamed badass . No matter what gender you were, it was potent and a lot to take in.
Knowing that she had no choice but to get this introduction over with, she motioned her hand behind her. “Simon, this is my friend Billy. He’s going to be working on a client’s security detail and he’s staying with me while he does.”
“Nice to meet you.” Billy reached past her and his forearm brushed against her upper arm as he shook Simon’s hand.
His bare skin felt hot to the touch and sent one doozy of an aftershock running the length of her body. The first quake had erupted when he’d held her hip moments ago as he’d whispered in her ear. The sensation of his large palm and strong fingers on her body, while his hot breath fanned down her neck as his deep voice echoed in her ear caused an eight-point-five tremor to rock her to her core.
“Hello.” Simon flinched at the handshake.
Billy “The Big Bad Wolf” Marshall was known for his firm grip. With a slight shake of her head, she tried to clear the cloud of lust that had cloaked her since the moment she’d walked out into her living room and seen the brooding, tense look on Billy’s normally relaxed face. His jaw was tense as he held his phone. The chiseled lines of his muscular chest were visible through the grey cotton T-shirt that was tight in all the right places. Logically,
The corners of her eyes twitched as she shot back, “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
Feigning innocence, he lifted his hands in mock-surrender. “No, I don’t. You’re going to have to be more specific. Do you want me to pretend I’m someone else? Should I, how you say, speak with an accent?” he asked, with what was probably hands-down, the worst French accent in the world. He’d discovered her amusement at his lack of French-accent-ability when he’d first learned that Maxi’s mother was French. In an attempt to lighten the mood when the heavy subject had been brought up, Billy had done the stupid accent. It made her smile then and had the same affect today.
The dueling knots that had taken up residence in Billy’s chest and gut loosened slightly at the sight of her lips turning up and her eyes lighting with humor. Damn. He would do anything, anything to keep putting that smile on her face.
There was another knock on the door as Simon asked loudly, “Maxine, are you okay?”
“ Maxine ?” Billy mouthed.
The only people that he’d ever heard call her by her full name were people that didn’t know her. She hated her full name.
“Just. Don’t.” Her two-word warning was packed full of meaning.
His only response was a wide grin. A small flare of panic flickered in her baby blues before she turned in haste to open the door.
Would he ever do anything to embarrass her? No. Would he ever disrespect her by flirting with her in front of a date? No. But if he kept her mind occupied with what his next move might be, then she wouldn’t be thinking about the asshole that was stalking her. But Billy would. He knew that he wouldn’t have a moment’s peace until whoever was doing this was caught. That’s all he’d be thinking about.
As she pulled the door open his eyes scanned down to the full, rounded curve of her backside. Well, he might be thinking about a few other things, too…
Chapter 6
“S orry about that.” Maxi’s rushed apology fell on deaf ears as Simon ignored her and stared over her shoulder, his mouth agape like he’d just seen an alien walk off the mothership.
She understood.
Billy Marshall had that effect on people, and not just women. His six-foot-two, muscular frame was impressive in and of itself. But he paired that with looks that could easily be on the big screen and a general demeanor that screamed badass . No matter what gender you were, it was potent and a lot to take in.
Knowing that she had no choice but to get this introduction over with, she motioned her hand behind her. “Simon, this is my friend Billy. He’s going to be working on a client’s security detail and he’s staying with me while he does.”
“Nice to meet you.” Billy reached past her and his forearm brushed against her upper arm as he shook Simon’s hand.
His bare skin felt hot to the touch and sent one doozy of an aftershock running the length of her body. The first quake had erupted when he’d held her hip moments ago as he’d whispered in her ear. The sensation of his large palm and strong fingers on her body, while his hot breath fanned down her neck as his deep voice echoed in her ear caused an eight-point-five tremor to rock her to her core.
“Hello.” Simon flinched at the handshake.
Billy “The Big Bad Wolf” Marshall was known for his firm grip. With a slight shake of her head, she tried to clear the cloud of lust that had cloaked her since the moment she’d walked out into her living room and seen the brooding, tense look on Billy’s normally relaxed face. His jaw was tense as he held his phone. The chiseled lines of his muscular chest were visible through the grey cotton T-shirt that was tight in all the right places. Logically,
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