Xander glanced at Sasha. The color had drained from her face, and he put a hand over hers. “What are you saying?” he asked Dan.

“That you did the right thing hiring us for twenty-four-seven security. Jared mentioned you’d both be at your Manhattan apartment starting tonight.”

Sasha’s gaze flew to Xander’s and her eyes narrowed. He shot her his most charming grin and shrugged. So what if he’d already planned for her to come with him? He hadn’t been about to lose their argument and jeopardize her safety.

“Smarter than staying at a crowded hotel,” Dan went on. “Makes it easier for the guys to keep an eye on you. We already moved your personal assistant again. To a smaller hotel with fewer rooms per floor. Just as a precaution.”

“Thank you,” Sasha said in a shaky voice.

“You’re welcome. Xander, someone will be by tomorrow to go over your security and I’ll get you an estimate. Can you arrange for someone to let him in?” Dan asked.

“Yes.” He and Dash had a service that checked on the house in their absence. He’d just shoot off a text to them tonight.

“Anything else?”

Xander looked at Sasha and she shook her head.

“Nothing here,” Xander said.

“Okay, I’ll be in touch.” Dan disconnected the call.

Bracing himself, Xander turned to face her. “Okay, let me have it.”

Her shoulders fell and she shook her head. “I can’t. You were right. But you still should have discussed it with me before now.”

He groaned. “Yeah, I probably should have, but what would you have said?”

“That the hotel was safe with my security, and we shouldn’t let ourselves get used to this,” she muttered.

Reaching out, he tugged on a long strand of her hair. “Your leaving is going to suck and hurt no matter when it happens,” he said in a gruff voice. “Wouldn’t you rather savor the time we do have?”

Sad eyes met his. “Yes,” she said on a whisper.

“Me, too. But as for the rest of it, it’s your life and you need to feel in control in any way you can. So if you’re feeling like I’m taking over, let me know.”

Her lips twitched, then she spoke. “So you can do what you want anyway?”

Deciding they’d had enough serious talk for the day, he tackled her and came down on top of her sweet body. And conversation was over for a good, long while.

***

After a lazy day by the pool, Sasha and Xander packed up, readied Bella, and drove to the city, Jared right behind them. Xander parked in the garage beside his apartment. Only visitors with a phone app could get into the building from the parking structure entrance, which seemed to satisfy both men.

They stopped by the concierge to explain the situation with Sasha staying over and her need for security, both at the front desk and a bodyguard in the hall outside his apartment. Everyone, including his family, needed to be approved with a video call to Xander or Sasha before they would be allowed past the desk.