Page 104 of The Bodyguard's Fall

He didn’t.

I stopped just before him, hands on my hips, my heart racing.

“I wasn’t aware we were keeping score of anything,” I said.

“You touched my butt. That’s a point. Everybody knows that.”

“I had to touch your butt. That’s different.”

He shrugged. “I’m just saying, you could have put up a little more fight. It sends mixed signals.”

“Me wanting to run away and beg your mom to do it sent mixed signals?”

Grinning, he went on like I hadn’t said a word. “So it looks like I might have to tie us up.”

“Tie us up? How?”

A thousand ideas were filtering across his face that he was struggling not to say. It was the way he had to look away and swallow the grin trying to escape, to keep himself in check.

When he finally spoke, he cleared his throat. “I’ll let you take the lead on that.”

“What about our annulment line?”

He bit back another smile before he shrugged, a gleam in his eyes. “Listen, Rawlins. I’ve been trying my best to keep things professional between us, then you go and do something like this. Hands all over me.” He bit back a grin at my outrage but kept talking. “This is strictly about keeping things fair. The annulment line is still in play. I’m just thinking about the health of our marriage. According to the experts, it’s all about give and take.”

He was teasing. That was all this was. A bit of fun was all he was after, but I couldn’t forget our purpose here. I wouldn’t forget our purpose.

I was a job to Tate.

First and foremost. I knew that. And I respected that.

But at this moment, he seemed lighter. Completely at ease. Like we had just untethered something for a minute. And watching him like this, so carefree and unguarded and so completely flirtatious, was enticing. Tempting. Endearing. And the whole thing reminded me of dancing with him at Will’s wedding. Except there was no performance. No show. It was just us.

All of this, combined with my galloping heart, was a wild combination.

Ever so slowly, Tate reached out, looped a finger through the belt buckle of my jeans, and pulled me to him. When my body was flush against his, he turned us until my back pressed lightly against the door.

“I think it’s only fair that I kiss you right now to make up for all your manhandling⁠—”

“What? I didn’t⁠—”

His low laughter stopped whatever words were about to cross my lips. “Then we’ll be even. The score will be tied up.”

His body was warm and solid against mine; his arms were around my waist, and his eyes were...sweet when I finally dared to look up at him.

I was smiling.

And feeling completely safe in his arms.

“Fine,” I whispered.

He closed the gap, his lips brushing softly against mine. Hesitantly. Like we were on a roller coaster slowly making its way up the hill. But before we could fall into whatever this was, he pulled back suddenly, his eyes searing into mine and flashing with warning.

“After this, we’ll be even. Everything will be back like it was before. I’m sleeping on the floor, and you’re wearing sweats to bed. Got it?”

My face tilted upward, a fraction of an inch, completely mesmerized by his blue eyes on mine.

“Don’t boss me around,” I whispered.