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“No,” she says. But she runs a hand over the back of her neck. “I hate needing them.”

“Yeah, I get that. Rafe had a team for you as well, right? Before you came here.”

“Yes. I became good friends with some of them.” She takes a deep breath. “I don’t think the stalker will follow me to New York.”

She saysdon’t think,but I hear the word she’s not saying. Hope. She hopes that’s the case. I study her for another quiet beat. “You have my number. I sent it to you. You’ll use it if you feel unsafe. Doesn’t matter the reason.”

She nods, and some of the vulnerability leaves her face. “So you can come charging in and complain about babysitting like you did last night?”

“I take my job seriously.”

“Take it a littlelessseriously,” she says.

That makes my lips twitch. “Do you have anything against me that I don’t know about? Did I break a family heirloom? Accidentally run over a pet of yours?”

She rolls her eyes. “None of the above, thank you very much. I’m twenty-four. I can take care of myself, and I know how to live with guards. I’ve already done it.”

“Did you run from them, too, and give your brother a heart attack?”

Nora smiles sweetly. “You’re in great shape and in the prime of your life. Your heart can take it.”

“A compliment? I should come inspect your apartment more often.”

She walks toward her front door. “You’ve already seen my bedroom once. Won’t happen again.”

Well, she’s damn right about that. I have no business getting closer to her than is absolutely necessary. I head to the door. Nora watches me, her eyes still just as defiant.

“I won’t stop going for runs,” she says.

“I’ll get you faster guards.”

CHAPTER3

NORA

West Calloway has never liked me.

I know this for a few distinct reasons. First of all, he is the only one of my brother’s friends who never smiles at me. Even James, quiet and serious, has done that. But never West.

Second, I once came on to him, and he turned me down.

It was at a Christmas party my father threw. Rafe was there, and he brought all his friends along. It was right before New Year’s, and they were headed off to the alps the day after to ski. Rafe, James, Alexander… and West.

I’d just turned nineteen. I had a bit too much champagne, and I gathered up my courage just before the clock struck midnight.

He was there alone, standing by the chateau’s large fireplace, a glass of brandy in his hand, and I walked up to him. Smoothed a hand over my hair to double-check that it was in place… and I suggested we grab a drink together.

He looked me over once, and then his gaze landed on my face. There was nothing but dismissal in it. “You’re drunk, Nora. Go to bed.”

Mortifying. I’d never initiated anything with a man before, but I did with him that night, and it was an idiotic idea. I walked away without saying a word, tears pricking in my eyes.

The humiliation didn’t stop there. A year later, I overheard him tell Alex that I’m pretty enough, but boring, and the last person he would ever date.

Since then, West has barely acknowledged my existence. We haven’t been in the same room often, but every time, he looks through me like I’m not there.

Their other friends aren’t like that. Alexander jokes around with me every chance he gets; James is terrifying but civil. Not West. And I’ve seen him laugh with others.

So I know it’s personal. It’smehe doesn’t like.