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As I start to pull my arm back with an overwhelming need to pummel this asshole, my office door suddenly swings open and Alexis steps right in between us.

“Mr. Carrollton, a pleasure to see you,” she says with a smile that could melt a frozen heart. She turns and her backside presses against me. My gut reaction is to wrap an arm around her waist and pull her away from this prick, but I quickly remember where I’m at and drop my fist back to my side.

“Alexis! What are you doing here?” Don asks, completely taken aback by her presence. He sticks his phone in his pocket. His entire demeanor seems to morph as he looks down at her.

“Oh, just working for the congressman, here,” she says as her rear end presses harder against me, forcing me to step away. As angry as I am, the curve of her ass has my full attention as I step back.

Don’s eyes narrow. “The dark side, Alexis, I would have thought you’d choose more wisely.”

She leans in, and whispers in a low voice that I can barely hear, “Keep your friends close and your enemies…” She trails off with a grin.

Don laughs. “I like your style, kid.” I hate that he just called her a kid. I feel my fist clench involuntarily.

But before I can react, the assistant filming brings down the phone, sensing that an altercation is not going to happen. Don looks back at me.

“You are one lucky man to have this little lady in your office. You better rethink your policies, but maybe Alexis here can help you with that,” he says, giving her a wink that makes me want to break his face. He turns and walks off as if nothing just occurred.

I watch Alexis’s shoulders sag and her back expand with a deep breath before she opens the office door and steps inside. I follow her.

“What the fuck was that all about?” I growl as the door shuts behind me.

Alexis shrugs and picks up some papers before turning to walk down the hallway to her office. I reach out and grab her arm to stop her. She freezes at the contact but doesn’t turn to look at me.

“I asked you a question,” I demand. I shouldn’t touch my staff like this, but I don’t release her. The need to touch her, to mark, to show everyone that she’s mine is so strong that I can’t stop myself. What the fuck am I thinking?

“He was making a scene once at another office when I stopped over with paperwork when I was interning. I calmed him down. We talked. We…have a mutual respect now. Or at least a mutual understanding.” She slowly turns to face me, and I let my hand fall away from her arm. Her eyes are wide, but she’s completely calm, whereas, my body is pumping with adrenaline and testosterone.

“You’re a…little dove,” I muse, a grin threatening to spread across my face despite my anger.

She scrunches her nose and the face she makes is adorable in a way it shouldn’t be. “I’m a what?”

“A peacekeeper. A dove is a symbol of peace,” I explain.

She rolls her eyes. “Like an olive branch?”

“Yeah, but ‘little olive branch’ doesn’t have the same ring to it,” I answer with a smirk.

She shakes her head as her lips stretch into a smile.

“How did you learn to do that?”

“Do what?”

“De-escalate?”

She shrugs. “I took some classes in college.”

How is there so much more to this woman than I ever fathomed possible? I search her eyes, her mesmerizing eyes for answers to questions that I have yet to formulate in my brain. I’ve underestimated her. And I seldom ever underestimate anyone.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she finally asks, breaking the silence that has stretched out between us like an open road.

“You surprised me, little dove,” I admit as I take another step back from her.

She quirks an eyebrow. “I surprised you?”

“Don’t worry, I doubt you’ll do it again,” I state, regaining my composure and heading into my office. I shut the door and lean against it. Shit, if Alexis hadn’t been there, I might have done something really stupid. I’ve been on edge lately. The stakes are high, higher than they’ve ever been. I need to stay on course. I have a job to do, a promise to keep, and a wish to fulfill.

Chapter6