“I don’t know how long she’s going to be here.” He had the sudden urge to tell his cousin the truth. After all, keeping things to themselves hadn’t worked out. “She said what she said last night because she was drunk, and this is not a woman who gets that way often. She’d had too much wine and a bunch of hard days and I don’t know, maybe she got a little territorial. Josette was bitchy to her and Lisa doesn’t take a bunch of crap, if you know what I mean.”

“I don’t. Why wouldn’t she stay? She’s the reason you got the money on time.”

“Her brother is the reason I had the money. Lisa is my client.”

Jean-Claude’s brow rose. “Your client? Like as in she requires your bodyguard services?”

Remy nodded. “She’s got a mafia hitman after her. Don’t worry. I was careful. I don’t think he’ll trace her back here. My company had an operative stay in her hospital bed, and this afternoon they’ll try to draw Francesco Biondo out. Not that catching him will solve our problems. She’s stuck here for a while. I didn’t want to get the whole town up in arms, so I let them think she’s my girl.”

“Well, from what I heard, she’s good at playing the part,” his cousin pointed out.

“Yeah, well, we had some practice, and then she found out I was being paid to watch over her. She didn’t know. Her brother asked me to keep my professional duties to myself. I thought I could have my cake and eat it too. The real problem is I figured out I love her too late. She knew she’d been lied to and she says she can’t forgive me.”

And yet she’d felt perfect in his arms the night before. He’d had to carry her upstairs and help her get out of her jeans. When she’d sunk onto the double bed, she’d pulled him with her, wrapping her arms around him and falling asleep. He’d known exactly what would happen if he stayed there. He would have woken up kissing her, cuddling her. It had taken everything he had, but he’d slid away and slept on the extremely uncomfortable couch.

He hoped she didn’t hate him this morning.

Jean-Claude was shaking his head. “It sounds like she’s already forgiven you. Oh, she’ll tell you differently, but declaring herself your fiancée last night, that was what she wanted when she couldn’t think straight, when the pain meant nothing and it was all about what she wanted with her heart. So don’t fuck it up. Use this time to wrap her up and let her know you won’t let go.”