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Temperance heads toward my bedroom, and when I go to follow, he stops and leans close, his breath right at my ear. "Give me thirty seconds, then let him in. I'll go out this way."

This way?"The balcony?" I ask.

He smiles and nods. A thrill shoots through me.That's hot. Sorry, but it is.He cocks his head, seeing the spark that his words brought to my eyes, and then gives me a half smile, almost sympathetic.Whatever, hot stuff.

I turn to the door. "Who is it?" I call.

"Julian," he yells back. I glance toward my bedroom, but Temperance is gone, the sliding door to the balcony open and the wind playing with the curtain. We are five stories up. Is he going to shimmy down the freaking wall?

“Just a sec,” I answer Julian, then take a deep breath, arranging my face into a happy and excited expression before opening the door for him. "Hey!" I say with a breathless smile.I’m so happy you just showed up here.

"I know you weren't expecting me. But I was in the neighborhood." I glance down and see that he is in running clothing.

“Come in," I say, widening the door. "You want some water?"

"Sure."

He steps into my apartment, his sexy smell coming with him. I'm still amped up from Temperance's visit. From the threat Grand made against me. But I'm happy to see Julian. The guy is like a balm for me. He heads for the kitchen, and my gaze falls to his ass in the loose shorts he's wearing.Damn. Hot damn.

In the kitchen, I pour him a glass from the Brita and hand it over. He drinks it down, sweat trickling from his hairline. "Want to grab some dinner?" he asks as he puts the glass on the counter.

I laugh. "You want to go out like that?" I raise a brow.

He grins. "I figured I'd change first and come back for you."

"Mm-hmm." I take a step toward him. "You can shower here, if you want."

He smiles. "I thought you might like to see my place tonight. You've never visited me."

“In Malibu?” I ask.

“Oh, no, that was just a rental while I renovated. I moved into my new place when we got back from Shanghai. It’s in the Hollywood Hills.”

“Fancy,” I say before thinking about it.

Julian laughs and warmth spreads through my chest. “It’s a gorgeous place—mid-century modern from 1961—that I spent way too much on, bringing it back to its former glory.” His cheeks are bright and eyes dancing.He loves his home.

I might be in the midst of an international incident that is going to get some people— hopefully not me—killed, but at least my boyfriend is freaking adorable and wants to keep moving forward.

Am I putting him in danger?

I push the thought aside. Temperance would have said something…right?

"What?" Julian asks, and I realize I'm chewing on my lip.

"Oh, nothing," I say, forcing a smile onto my face. "I definitely want to see your place."

His hand comes out and holds my hip as he leans in for a quick kiss. Memories of what we did last time in this kitchen flash through, heating me from my hair to my toes, and I wrap my arms around him. He makes a small appreciative sound as his other hand comes around to grab my ass.

God, he smells good. How can someone so sweaty smell so good?

My cell phone rings, and I groan.What now?He laughs as I pull free to grab it out of my purse. "Sorry," I say.

"No worries. I'm going to head home and get ready. I'll be back in about two hours to pick you up."

"Sure." He leans in and gives me a quick kiss before leaving. I finally find my phone in my bag and pull it out.

Mary.