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“Second thoughts?” He studied her in the careful way she’d come to expect. She shook her head.

Since the whole shower incident, Jericho had given her the space she wanted. He’d become a quiet, brooding presence in her life, supportive and attentive.

Every interaction between them was reserved and polite.So freaking polite!No more frantic feedings over spilled coffee. No more intimate moments on bathroom vanities. At times she sensed his eyes on her and would turn, only to discover him scowling at the floor.

Because I’m Liam’s.

As all lies were want to do, Alex’s had only gotten bigger over the last two weeks, growing arms, legs, and tentacles.

At this point, she was in too deep to confess. Pretty much, she was going to hell. She glared at her lap, plucking the hem of her dress.

Colin nudged her in the arm. “Hey, no worries tonight. Jericho and I have your back. Besides, there’s no reason you can’t mix a little pleasure with business. You’ve put in some long hours with your training. You deserve to have a little fun.”

“Right. Fun. Let’s just get this over with,” Alex muttered, not sharing his enthusiasm.

The driver hustled to open their door. She drew a deep breath and braced to leave the relative safety of the car. Jericho stepped out and turned to help her.

She scooted to the edge of the seat and looked up.

The sight before her squeezed the oxygen from her lungs.

Roving spotlights haloed Jericho’s powerful frame, casting her in his weighty shadow. He extended his hand, a dark angel, reaching out, urging her to cross into the abyss. And damn if she didn’t want to follow.

Thick biceps strained the sleeve of his suit jacket. Tailored lines couldn’t hide the powerful muscles underneath. His glossy black hair hung loose over his broad shoulders. Just the top of his widow’s peak was pulled back, revealing his noble features. His golden eyes were fixed on her. Patient. Waiting.

Waiting for me.

Crap. Daze lifting, she reached for him. Strong male fingers enveloped her smaller hand. The connection slid over her senses, soothing her frayed nerves.

She unfolded her legs and climbed out, cringing as the short silver dress crept panty-flashing high. How the heck those graceful red-carpet ladies pulled this off was beyond her. Fortunately, Jericho had positioned himself to shield her from prying eyes.

She smoothed the shimmering silver overlay and glanced up to find him watching her. The fierce look on his face locked her in place. Their eyes met, and something dark shifted in his gaze. Something that was far from polite.

His masculine presence surrounded her, drawing her in, and a dull pressure tightened her chest.

She’d gotten the distance she’d wanted, right? So why did it feel as though she’d lost something along the way?

The driver closed the door just as Colin emerged from the other side of the sedan. Alex blinked, dragging her thoughts from the collision course they’d taken. Jericho released her hand and took a step back.

Colin glanced between them, eyeing their tense postures. “Hey, lighten up, will you? Do you realize how many of Victor’s guys would love an assignment like this one? I even bought new threads for the occasion.” He held his arms out, showing off the athletic cut of his navy suit. His GQ style was sure to make many women’s hearts flutter tonight. Given the arrogant spark in his eyes, he knew it too.

She offered him an apologetic smile. He certainly deserved a break after training with her the last couple of weeks. “I’m sorry. I know how much you were looking forward to tonight. It’s just, I’ve never been in a ritzy club like Pulse.” They weren’t even inside yet, and the place reeked of opulence and trust funds. “I’m used to places with peanut shells on the floor and beer in buckets.” Preferred them, in fact. “I doubt I’m even classy enough to wait tables here.”

Colin tapped his chin, giving her a critical once-over. His blue eyes slid the length of her frame, taking in her glittering heels and clingy silver dress. Ropy curls tumbled down her back, hiding herglyph.Hours of intense training had darkened it considerably. If she thought Victor was hard on her before, the last two weeks he’d been worse than a drill instructor. Driven by something that was seemingly above her paygrade.

Colin’s eyes warmed, his full lips pulling into an appreciative smile. “Trust me, Alex, you’re the classiest thing in this place. You should wear dresses more often.”

Jericho’s territorial growl rumbled at her back, and he took an aggressive step closer. Colin backpedaled, throwing out his hands. “Or not. We could get you a couple turtlenecks and a velour tracksuit. Yesterday, I saw an old lady getting her newspaper. She had this long, quilted coat thingy—”

Alex punched him on the arm.

“Ouch! Hey, what was that for?” he asked, rubbing his biceps. Like she’d managed to hurt him. Big baby.

“Come on.” Jericho heaved a sigh, placing a hand on the small of her spine and guiding her to the club entrance. They bypassed the line of people standing outside and headed straight for the door. She kept her eyes forward, avoiding the angry glares. One look at Jericho and the bouncer blanched, waving them in without hesitation.

As they entered the darkened space, pulsing music and twirling lights surrounded her. The air was heavy and sweet, with a touch of something wicked. Gold gilding, crimson upholstery, and crystal light fixtures abound. It was a strange mixture of old-world and contemporary refinement, much like the club’s otherworldly patrons.

She tugged her mental blocks into place, casting a worried glance at the writhing dancers on the floor. Emotional static buzzed at the base of her skull, leaking through the barrier she’d erected. The club was a virtual theme park of roller-coaster emotions.