Never Gonna Happen - Cynthia Eden Page 0,33
get in your pants that he didn’t even hear me—”
Sebastian tried to surge past her again.
She pushed her hand against his chest. “Don’t. I get that it’s tempting—”
“He shouldn’t talk about you that way.” His hard glare was on Dex. “Just going to teach him manners. You don’t say shit like that to a lady.”
Now Dex laughed. “Since when do you care about manners?”
“Since Alyssa.”
She could feel the frantic beat of Sebastian’s heart beneath her hand. Alyssa nibbled a second on her lower lip, then asked, “Won’t you get in trouble for, um, kicking his ass?”
A shrug. “Like I care about trouble.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m saying,” Dex pointed out. “You don’t typically care about anything. Except maybe hitting up your next adrenaline rush. So why you are trying to pretend to be some kind of knight in shining armor for her is beyond me. I mean, I clearly heard her tell you that she didn’t have sex on the first date and that you two hadn’t been on a date so…”
Alyssa turned toward him. “I don’t like you. You’re rude and insulting.”
He blinked. “You’re direct.”
“I’m also terrified. Someone shot at me. Sebastian is helping me, and you bust in here, eavesdrop on our private conversation, and then start insulting us both. You know what?” She nodded decisively. “Maybe he should kick your ass.”
Dex’s lips twitched. “I think I see why he likes you.”
“And I definitely see why he wants to kick your ass so much.” She puffed out her cheeks and blew out a breath.
Sebastian surged past her.
Dex held up his hands. “Hold on, man. Just hold on.”
It didn’t look as if Sebastian wanted to hold on. She was also no longer in the mood to hold him back.
“You called me, remember?” Dex’s words rapped out. “You called me late. As in, I should have been the first person on your speed dial, but instead, I had to catch your big story on social media and only then did you give me a ring. Probably because you knew I was already heading your way.” His gaze flickered to Alyssa. “By the way, you photograph beautifully. Probably those cheekbones of yours. Did I mention you are gorgeous and that I’m available?”
Her hands flew to her hips. “And did I mention I’m not interested?”
“Fair enough.” He straightened. “Let’s start over. My name’s Dexter Ryan, and I’m the man you want on your side when the world goes to hell.”
She wasn’t so sure about that.
Dex slid his gaze to Sebastian. “You should have called me first.” His voice was lower, rougher. “As soon as you received the text from Antony, you should have reached out to me. I could have collected Alyssa and moved her to a safe location. You didn’t have to get involved.”
Nothing Dex said made her like him more. “I’m not a thing to be collected.”
Sebastian stood toe-to-toe with the guy. “I don’t trust anyone else with Alyssa’s protection.”
A sigh escaped from Dex. “Yes, I was afraid you’d say that.” His shoulders hunched. “Just how much have you told her?”
“Everything.”
And at first, she hadn’t believed him. It had seemed so crazy. But…
Someone was trying to kill her.
Now Sebastian’s handler was there. Though she didn’t even understand exactly what a handler was.
It’s all true.
“Everything,” Dex repeated with a wince. “That’s going to be a problem.” When he looked at her again, he wasn’t smiling. His eyes were cold and hard. “Just how much do you trust her, Sebastian?”
“I trust her completely.” An instant response. One that surprised her.
“Do you trust her with your life? Because by revealing the truth about yourself to her, that’s what you’re doing, you know. Putting your life in her hands. In the hands of a woman who I’ve been told doesn’t even like you very much.”
Who had told him that?
“I’ve done research on you,” Dex continued with an incline of his head toward Alyssa. “Had to do it, of course, considering my working relationship with your brother. And, of course, Sebastian here. It’s important to look for any threats that might exist.”
“You think I’m a threat?” Why did it suddenly feel so cold in that room?
“That’s ridiculous,” Sebastian snarled. “She’s hardly dangerous!”
“That depends on your definition of dangerous.” Dex’s eyes were on her. “I see her as quite a very serious threat.”
Sebastian swore. “I didn’t call you over so that you’d insult her.”
“No, you called me over to protect her.”
“I can protect her,” Sebastian thundered right back. “I wanted you to find out where the hell