took a step toward her. “Or have you forgotten?”
Pierce used to intimidate the hell out of her. It was primarily due to his constant ability to be in complete control of everything when she couldn’t even control her own insides. How could she hold her own next to someone like that?
Someone who never felt powerless.
Someone who owned every emotion. Every reaction.
But now she knew the truth.
Peirce was just a better actor than she was.
“Is that something a person forgets easily?” Mona stood still as he continued to advance on her, looking more like a predator than the sleek, sophisticated businessman who used to make her shake in her shoes.
Luckily she was no longer prey.
“I would think not.” Pierce tucked one hand into the pocket of his pants.
It was something he did regularly.
Maybe it was part of the act. The same one that stole the kiss she was so lost in earlier today.
“Then you can safely assume I have not forgotten there’s a price on my head.” She smiled a little, holding up her pointer and middle fingers. “Two prices actually.”
Pierce stopped, his whole body going still. A wildness flashed in his eyes and it sent a thrill through her.
This was the real Pierce. The one he put in a suit every morning. Hid under perfect words and muted responses.
“You found the second listing.” He wasn’t asking.
He also didn’t appear to be amused.
“Heidi found it this afternoon.” They weren’t going to tell him, but right now the information served a valuable purpose.
The girls would understand.
Pierce’s eyes narrowed. “And you chose not to share that with me?”
“I did.”
“How am I to keep you safe if you withhold valuable information?” His words were tight as they slid through clenched teeth.
“Now you want to keep me safe?” Mona glanced to the door as she lowered her brows in false confusion. “I thought Abe was in charge of protecting me?”
“You know damn well I sent him—”
“That’s right.” Mona bobbed her head in a nod of agreement. “You sent Abe to be my protector because he’s the most qualified for the job.”
She’d never in her life purposely tried to make someone mad. Quite the opposite actually.
She never wanted to rock the boat. Never wanted to live with the fear that someone was angry with her. Might confront her about it.
And look where that got her.
Definitely nowhere as nice as this.
Pierce’s left eye twitched, and the muscles of his jaw looked tight enough to crush the teeth he was clenching. “You believe Abe is the man most qualified to protect you?”
“It would seem so since he’s the one standing outside my room.”
Pierce’s chin dipped, the change in angle casting a shadow across his face.
“But who’s the man standing inside your room, Love?”
CHAPTER 11
HE NEVER MEANT to come here tonight.
They needed space.
He needed space. Time to get himself back together after what happened.
What he did.
And this was proof he should have stayed away.
Mona hadn’t moved since he walked in. She simply stood there like she was expecting him, no hint of surprise on her face as he walked right into her room.
Her private space.
Pierce raked one hand through his hair like he had a hundred times already. “I should go.”
“Whatever you think is best.” Mona took a deep breath. “I’m sure Abe and I will be just fine.”
He caught the barest twitch of her lips.
Was it possible she was doing this on purpose? Taunting him?
No. Definitely not.
“Goodnight, Pierce.” Her chin lifted. “Tell Abe he’s more than welcome to come in and sleep on the sofa if—”
The rest didn’t make it through her lips.
Pierce caught Mona’s body with his, the thought of Abe sleeping so close to her making him act without thinking. He pressed her tight to the bit of wall separating her bedroom and bathroom doors. “He will sleep on your sofa over my dead body.”
Her breath caught. It wasn’t a gasp of surprise. Not even close.
Which made it so much worse.
Mona’s eyes held his. “You’re the one who sent him.”
“I sent him because I can’t be around you right now.” Pierce closed his eyes, trying to work up the fight it would take to walk out of her room.
Leave her to a man she was safe with in this moment.
“Yet here you are.”
He opened his eyes against his better judgment. “You questioned my concern for you.”
“And you came to prove you were worried about me? Is that it?” Her eyes dipped to where his body met hers. “Because it looks like something else brought you here.”
He’d