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“Yes.”
He walked farther into her condo and turned. This wasn’t how he’d pictured Eloise—Ella—as an adult. Not that he’d pictured her. Well, hehadhad a thought or two, or ten, about her over the years. Who didn’t think about an ex? Especially when they broke off under circumstances like theirs. But this was Ella as a verygreenadult whose living space wasperfect. Every cushion and picture frame looked expertly placed. All things matched and, oddly enough, reminded him of Eco-Ella. The woman took branding to a whole new level. She lived it.
“I’m armed at all times.”
Her eyes narrowed as she watched him assess her collection of knickknacks from what had to be many different trips to various parts of the world.
“What about during sex, Muscles? Bet you’re not armed then.” She didn’t even bat an eye. Not a wink. Not a blush.
Nothing like the choked laugh lodged in his throat. “You win. Not on me.”
He turned back to the wall of travel memorabilia, because he wasn’t one to put his hot cheeks on display. Ella had made him blush? Hecouldblush? That was news on several levels.
“I don’t like guns,” she explained. “Actually, I loathe them.”
“Well, I don’t like to shoot people, El, but there’s a time and a place for everything.”
“Well, this is my home,” she murmured. “No shooting in here, please.”
Time for a subject change. Guns could be a hot-button issue with certain people, and he had a feeling Ella was the leader of that group. Besides, he was more interested in her cell hidden in her purse. “What’s the deal with the calls?”
She groaned, taking his invitation for a shift in topics, and dropped her head back. “Some asshole gave my phone number out.” She twirled, and her skirt flared as she flopped down on her couch. “I hate calls to begin with. So having my phone ring nonstop is maddening.”
Instinct on high alert, Bishop shifted his weight and rubbed a hand over his jaw, catching the scent of lavender and mint. He tried to hold that herb-scented breath in for a five-count as his patience had officially worn thin.One, two, three, fuck it…“Think that’s something you should mention?”
“To you?” She pushed upright on the couch, and her dog jumped next to her. “You’re upset about the calls?”
“Uh, yeah.” Maybe they needed a roadmap or a strict set of rules that she needed to follow.
Use your security system.
Report harassing phone calls.
Somehow, the woman in front of him seemed unable to see what he clearly could.
“First, Stalker Boy isn’t calling me,” Ella ticked off on a finger.
A headache scratched at his temples. “You don’t know that.”
“I do know that. I’ve been doing this Eco-Ella thing longer than you know.”
“I know exactly how long you’ve been doing Eco-Ella. I read your damn file, El.”Mostly.
“Well, not in enough depth to realize who I was, genius. Second—”
Round three, point goes to Eloise—Ella. “When death threats are involved, you and your people are not the ones who filter threats anymore.”
“Bishop,” she snapped. “Someone put my phone number on the Internet. That’s it. It’s out there. It happensall the time. I’ve changed my number before, but I’d rather wait it out. Updating the people who should have my number with the new one is a pain in the ass. This is mylife.”
“That you brought on yourself.”
She threw her arms out. “Have I given you the impression that I don’t like it? Because I do. I love it. More than you can ever imagine. It’s taken me places, brought me my dreams, saved me from a hell that you don’t know about, and I’mnotchanging it because some asshole out there doesn’t like what I’m doing!”
“Damn it, Ella.” Truth was, he didn’t know the woman in front of him. He didn’t know her wants or goals, and he had no clue what her dreams were. No idea what Eco-Ella had saved her from. Bishop cleared his throat. She was a Titan VIP. That’s the only thing that mattered. “Fine. Agreed. I don’t get this.”
She nodded, the coloring on her cheeks fading. “Fine.”
The kitten and dog sat on either side of her, and Bishop stood awkwardly in her living room. “Why don’t you turn the volume off and vibrate off?”