Those words stung, but Maris didn’t let it show. If Syn only knew how much he really did love Darling.

But if wishes were cake, no one would starve.

And Maris had never made the mistake of thinking he could change Darling. Nor did he want to. He loved Darling just as he was.

Syn patted him sympathetically on the back. “This new guy must be special indeed for you to be so altruistic. I can’t wait to meet him.”

Maris smiled mischievously. “I can’t wait to introduce you.”

Knocking on Darling’s bedroom door, Maris stood back so that he could watch Syn’s and Hauk’s expressions.

As he expected, Zarya opened the door. Her cheeks flushed bright, she was still breathing heavily. Dressed in one of Darling’s black shirts that fell all the way to her knees, she was stunning with her dark mahogany hair tousled. And from the depth of her exposed cleavage, it was obvious that she was naked beneath that shirt. “Please come in, Darling will be out in just a second.”

Now there was a look Maris would have paid money for. Hauk and Syn stood completely slack jawed as their gazes went up and down her body, trying to make sense of what they saw.

Unaware of the havoc she caused, Zarya opened the door wider, then went deeper into the room to pick up some of the mess the two of them had made.

Laughing at their continued shock, Maris reached up and closed Hauk’s mouth.

Hauk blinked twice. “Is that…?”

“… a he or she?” Syn finished for him.

“She,” Maris said with a wicked grin. “Definitely a she.” He headed inside and arched a brow at what he found there.

Oh yeah, this was…

Pretty much what he’d assumed from all the things he’d heard coming out of this room for the last few days. But still, it was impressive. The room was a disaster from the unmade bed to the paintings on the walls that had been knocked askew… if not completely off the wall, to the stacks of pillows all over the place.

No wonder the housekeeping staff had been complaining.

Over the last four days, Maris had visited with Zarya several times while Darling attended business. But he’d only been in her room. This was the first time he’d ventured into Darling’s. And while he’d spent time with Zarya, Darling’s duties and strange hours had conspired to keep them from seeing each other.

Zarya returned some of the pillows to the bed, then paused to frown up at Hauk’s giant size. “Are you the doctor’s bodyguard?”

His brow still furrowed, Hauk ran his thumb along his jaw as his lips quirked with amusement. “Yeah… no. Pretty sure he can handle himself. Most days anyway.”

Syn snorted at him as he stepped forward to offer her his hand. “I’m Dr. Syn Dagan-Wade.”

“Dagan as in the Dagan Group?”

That too appeared to take him by surprise. “You’ve heard of us?”