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“I don’t?” she whispered breathlessly.

“You wait for one of us to take you. Anyone could be in this crowd. You could have been hurt or worse.”

Oh, he’d been worried about her safety. Which was kind of nuts. She’d helped organize this event and the security was tight.

“But why would anyone target me? I’m no one,” she said, unwisely.

A tic started to thump in his cheek and he crowded her into an alcove. It was quiet back here but someone would likely be along soon so this wasn’t a good idea.

Well, her head knew it wasn’t a good idea. But her body was going into overdrive.

Ooh, baby.

Her body liked having him close. She had to clench her thighs together and she hoped like hell that her hard nipples weren’t pressing through the material of her dress.

“You are not no one,” he told her in a harsh voice.

Immy didn’t trust herself to speak so she just nodded. The last thing she needed to do was to beg him to kiss her.

“Hear me, Immy?” he said. “Repeat it back to me.”

Unicorn poop.

He wanted her participation?

“I’m not no one.”

“And I better not hear you say anything like that again or you’ll be in trouble.”

Would he spank her?

Spank me.

Thankfully, she didn’t say that out loud.

Suddenly, he stepped back, something strange filling his face. “I didn’t scare you, did I?”

“Huh?” The last thing he’d done was scare her. “No. You could never scare me.”

“Tell me if I do, Immy. I never want to hurt you.”

What was he talking about? He’d never harm her.

But before she could question him, he reached down and grabbed her hand, tugging her along. “Come on, we need to get out of here before someone sees us.”

It was like cold water splashed over her.

Right. Because he didn’t need to be seen with someone like Immy.

“Don’t want to be seen in an alcove with me?” she asked in a teasing voice.

Well, she hoped it sounded like she was teasing him and not upset.

He stilled and looked down at her intently. “The only reason I wouldn’t want anyone to catch us is because I like to keep my private life private. Bad enough all of those paparazzi were taking your photo when we arrived. I don’t like you being in the public eye. It brings too much bad attention and compromises your safety.”

Urgh. She was being an idiot.

He wasn’t ashamed of her. He was just worried about her safety. Like always.