A sense of wild triumph zinged around Katherine's brain. She had his attention after all. It was a huge step forward, but where did it get her if he wasn’t prepared to act on it? And she knew she was being selfish as hell, but for some reason, she just couldn't stop talking.

"So you think I need your protection now?" she flung at him.

"It’s the last thing on my mind." The emphatic beat of his voice was like thunder in her ears, thunder in her heart. "I mean, I think you need someone to be there for you, especially now. But I don't mean protection in a big...