Chapter 5

Alexandrea took a sip of the black coffee. The bitter liquid helped clear the remaining fog in her brain.

She stood awkwardly by the marble island, using her free hand to try and comb the tangles out of her hair.

"Thank you," she muttered, looking down at the floor. "For last night. For getting me out of there."

Cassidy set his mug down. The playful smirk returned to his lips. He took a step closer to her and held out his right hand.

"Don't thank me yet," he said.

Alexandrea looked at his hand. Wrapped around the thick part of his palm, right between his thumb and index finger, was a layer of white medical gauze. A small spot of dark, dried blood had seeped through the center of the bandage.

Alexandrea's eyes widened. "What happened to your hand?"

Cassidy leaned forward, invading her personal space. "This is the physical evidence of your assault last night."

Alexandrea's heart skipped a beat. She took a step back, her lower back pressing against the cold edge of the marble island.

"You just said nothing happened!" she said, her voice rising in panic.

Cassidy shrugged. He looked down at her with a predatory gleam in his eyes. "I said we didn't go all the way. But you definitely caused bodily harm. You threw yourself at me and started biting me."

Alexandrea's face burned. The heat rushed up her neck and settled in her cheeks.

Her mind went completely blank. The word "biting" sent a wave of nausea and sheer terror through her system. With her five years of elite bodyguard training and former Mossad-level combat skills, she couldn't fathom losing control to the point of launching such an unhinged, violent attack on someone while blacked out. She squeezed her eyes shut, horrified by the image of herself behaving like a feral animal.

She pressed her palms together in front of her chest and bowed her head. "I am so sorry. I drank too much. I wasn't in my right mind. Please forgive me."

Cassidy stared at her. She was actually trembling. He was trying so hard not to laugh that his stomach muscles hurt.

He tapped his uninjured fingers against the marble counter. "Sorry isn't going to cut it, Alexandrea. You have to take responsibility for me."

The word "responsibility" made Alexandrea's blood run cold. She thought he wanted to date her. She thought he wanted a relationship.

She shook her head frantically. "I can't! I can't take responsibility like that. There's... there's someone else in my heart. I can't."

Cassidy's fingers stopped tapping. The mention of someone else-Barron-sent a flash of dark irritation through his eyes.

He pushed the irritation down. He stepped closer, trapping her between his body and the counter. He was a foot taller than her, and his bare chest was inches from her face.

Alexandrea held her breath. She didn't dare look up.

"I can pay you!" she blurted out, her voice desperate. "I'll pay your medical bills! I'll pay for your emotional distress! Just name a price."

Cassidy let out a sharp, incredulous laugh. He was a billionaire. He owned half of Silicon Valley. And this bodyguard was offering him money.

He raised his left hand and flicked her hard on the forehead.

"Ouch!" Alexandrea gasped, her hands flying up to cover her head. She glared up at him.

Cassidy's face was completely serious now. He looked straight into her eyes.

"I don't want your money," Cassidy said softly. "I want you to agree to one condition."