Page 47 of Forbidden Forget-Me-Not

Only when Julian's eyes dropped to my hand did I relinquish Kaylani and move into my usual guard position.

I ground my teeth, muttering every swear word I knew in all four languages I knew how to speak under my breath.

Kaylani took his arm, but there was nothing relaxed or intimate about the touch.

I followed close enough to kill for her. Far enough to remind everyone I was a soldier born to walk a step behind and be dismissed as I became invisible.

Inside, the lobby glittered with diamonds and gold. Old bloodlines paraded new heirs. Famous movie stars searched for a night of relaxation. But it was the eyes tracking Kaylani as if she were currency changing hands that drew my attention.

As usual, she handled it all with ease.

“Kaylani, how wonderful to see you again,” an older woman said.

Mrs. VanCamp. I had only seen her once before when Nathaniel met with her husband.

“This is my husband, Harold,” she said, introducing the man beside her. “I can’t remember if the two of you have met.”

“No, we haven’t, and it’s a pleasure to see both of you this evening.”

Kaylani shook Harold’s hand.

“Is this your fiancé? Are the rumors true?” Mrs. VanCamp looked Julian up and down as he plastered on his good boy smile.

“No, Julian is not my fiancé,” Kaylani said.

“Not yet,” Julian corrected. “But, I’m aiming to steal her heart.” He gave a wicked smile and slid his hand to her lower back.

Kaylani bristled. It was subtle, but I picked up on it and my hand balled into a fist. My teeth grinding as everything in me screamed to rip him away from her. This was why you never got involved with those you worked for. The line didn’t get blurry, it got messy.

Mrs. VanCamp laughed. “Well, you have to admire confidence in a man. This one seems to be a keeper. Enjoy the show.”

She dragged her husband away. He looked like he would rather be anywhere else.

“I assume this means you have not accepted my proposal,” Julian said once the couple was out of earshot.

“No, I have not. Is that a problem?”

Julian smirked. “Not at all.”

Another couple approached, then another, and another.

Each time Kaylani introduced Julian as a date, nothing more and nothing less. I told myself it was all strategy. She was playing the board, not the man. But it didn’t stop it from feeling like a hand closing around my heart, viciously twisting it.

Julian settled into the role like a chameleon shifting its colors to match its surroundings. He played his role perfectly. His hand remained on her back. Possession without permission. Claiming without declaration. Never stepping so far out of line that I had cause to shoot him in the head. At least cause other than my personal reasons.

The lights flashed, and everyone moved toward their seats. Julian’s guards approached and I stayed behind Kaylani, Julian, and the two men. We walked down the hall to the first level of box seats. Fancy. I expected nothing less.

When we reached the heavy drapes separating the box from the corridor, Julian stopped.

His gaze cut to me, irritation no longer hidden.

“I don’t believe your presence is necessary inside the box. As you can see, there are only two seats and no magical escape,” he said sarcastically. “Ms. Mikhailov will be quite safe.”

Kaylani turned her head slightly. She didn’t speak, but I understood.

I stepped closer to Julian and lowered my voice so only he could hear. “I will remain right here outside the curtain. Just in case.”

His jaw twitched. I wished he would hit me, but I knew he had more control than that.