“I told you, he’s now well protected. And in my opinion, he isn’t the target.”
“Why would I be the target?”
Aslin levered off the wall and destroyed the small space between them in two strides. He lowered into a deep crouch, drawing his gaze level with hers. “Think about it, Rowan. Chris didn’t sit in that chair once for the duration of the shoot. Not once. You were in it all morning. And again when Nigel called Chris back. And your bag was outside his trailer next to the steps. We both know they were tampered with, and I suspect it was by someone hoping you’d come out to retrieve your bag.”
A cold fist sank into Rowan’s chest and squeezed her heart. She stared at Aslin, her lips tingling. “You’re insane.”
His nostrils flared, the only reaction to her incredulous accusation. “No. I’m worried.”
“About me? Forget it. You don’t have to be. For two reasons. One, your theory is loco, and two, I. Can. Take. Care. Of. Myself.”
Aslin’s jaw bunched. “So you’re ignoring the evidence?”
Rowan threw up her hands. The ice pack in her grip was no longer chilly and she squeezed it tight in an effort not to toss it at the irritating Brit. “I am. Because it’s ridiculous. Now call off your muscle and let me go back to my brother.”
“I can’t do that, Rowan.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Why not? Are you going to give me some macho bullshit reason about me being weak and defenseless and needing someone like you to look after me?”
He shook his head. “No, I can’t do that because of this.”
He snared the hair at the nape of her neck and crushed her lips with his.
She froze. For exactly two heartbeats. And then she slammed her palms into his chest and shoved him backward.
He didn’t land on his ass like she’d hoped. Instead, he recovered with nimble grace to stare down at her.
She looked up at him, her pulse wild, her belly churning. Her lips throbbed from his kiss, as did the junction of her thighs. A wicked, greedy, constricting heat that told her just how quickly and powerfully her body reacted to his. “S-so, you can’t let me go back to Chris because you want to kiss me? Where’s your control, Rhodes?”
“Rowan.” Her name was a low growl on his lips. His jaw bunched at her taunt. “I think someone is trying to hurt you.”
“And that’s why you kissed me?”
He let out a ragged breath and ploughed his fingers through his hair. “Fuck, woman. You’re infuriating. I kissed you because what happened back on set scared the sodding shit out of me. You could have been killed.”
Scared.
The single word tore at Rowan’s senses. She stared at him, her throat so tight she could barely draw breath. She’d only known Aslin for a short time, but she had little doubt nothing scared him.
Until now.
She shook her head. “I can’t believe someone is trying to hurt me.”
“And I can’t believe you refuse to even consider it.”
“Why would I? I haven’t done anything.”
“Except guide Chris, look out for him when others would take advantage of him?”
Rowan snorted. “And you think that’s it? Not the crazy fan you caught this morning trying to get to him?”
“It’s a theory.”
“It’s a stupid one.”
Aslin crossed his massive arms over his massive chest. “I hope so. But my gut tells me otherwise.”
“Then your gut has shit for brains.”
“Thank you, John Cusack.”
Rowan blinked. “How did you know I was quoting a movie?”
It was Aslin’s turn to snort. “I don’t live in a vacuum, Rowan. I do have a life you know.”
“Really? And here I was thinking you just follow a rock star around all the time.”
The corners of his lips twitched. “It pays well. Now I think I might just follow you around all the time.”
She snarled. “Just try it, buster.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “I’ve got to do something. You’re too sodding stubborn to listen to reason. At least if I’m tailing you I can protect you from—”
She didn’t let him finish. She leapt from her seat and slammed her shoulder into his gut. He let out a strangled oof, his back smashing into the door behind him.
The vibration shook all the way through him into Rowan’s body. She jerked back, preparing to smack her fist into his jaw. Fury roared through her. Hot and encompassing.
“I don’t need to be protected,” she snapped, glaring at him. “I’m not defenseless. I’m not weak.”
Aslin straightened, and it was as if she’d never barged into him. “No, you’re not weak or defenseless, Rowan. But I’ll be damned if I’ll be that scared again.”