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stairwell.
    “Oh, and Ms. Porter?” She glanced over her shoulder with raised brows. “I suggest you wait outside, or dress appropriately.”
    “I can’t wait outside. However, I’ll stay out of your way. I’ll be fine as I am.”
    “Didn’t you hear what I said earlier?” His imperious tone plucked at her temper.
    “I heard you.” Her hand clenched on the stair railing. “But I don’t understand how my attire affects my ability to do this job.”
    “If you stand around a place like that dressed in your ugly suit, you’ll stick out like a sore thumb, and we agreed that you would be completely inconspicuous, did we not?”
    She bristled, forcing herself not to look down at her jacket and skirt. She was getting tired of him calling it ugly. It wasn’t a pencil skirt and stiletto heels, but her suit was clean, presentable, it fit properly, and it let her do her job.
    “I have workout clothes in my car,” she bit out.

Chapter Three
    T he club was busy, but Steve and his buddy Leo had a standing reservation, and after a few minutes at the speed bag, their ring opened up. He looked around and frowned when he couldn’t find his sparring partner.
    Leo Markham was a society divorce lawyer by day and boxed semi-pro the rest of the time. Steve didn’t know how he explained the bruises to his high-class clients, although the guy rarely had to worry about bruises. He was a rock-solid wall of Italian muscle that could go round after round and dealt more hits than he ever took.
    As Steve adjusted his gloves, his gaze alternated between the double door entrance to the gym and the door of the women’s locker room on the other side of the large athletic facility. He’d signed in his new shadow as a guest, although he hadn’t seen her yet.
    For someone who took her job so seriously, she hadn’t seemed eager to come to the boxing club. She was probably pissed because he’d refused to run home and hide behind his apartment door with the shades drawn. But until some real danger had been established—and he didn’t think that was going to happen—he wasn’t about to change his life around.
    He didn’t see that black suit of hers, which was a good sign. But then, where was she? Had she called her boss already and asked them to send someone else? She hadn’t seemed the type to give in so easily, and he liked that about her. Maybe too much.
    He grabbed his water bottle and took a big gulp, his gaze lighting on a woman coming out of the locker room.
    This April Porter was nothing like the straight-laced, restrained professional who’d waited patiently in the uncomfortable chairs outside his office all afternoon. This woman was a fucking Amazon dressed in body-hugging Lycra, showing off a sleekly toned, athletic body designed to make men weep.
    Holy shit, the difference a pair of shorts and a sports bra could make. He’d already suspected what lay beneath her ugly suit, but the reality made his mouth go dry, and it was sexy as hell.
    She was immediately approached by Big Joey—the owner of the club—and her guarded expression transformed into a warm smile that lit up her entire face and sent Steve reeling with a fresh wave of desire. Surprisingly, it seemed they knew each other. Big Joey touched her shoulder, and suddenly her smile faded and sadness filled her eyes. He frowned and started forward, but she saw him and her shoulders went back like a soldier at attention, confirming Steve’s suspicion that she was only so formal with him. It didn’t matter. He couldn’t take his eyes off her, and by the hint of pink in her cheeks, she’d noticed.
    She nodded to Joey and made her way over. “Are you already finished with your workout?” she asked.
    Frustrated, he shook his head. “I was hoping to get into the ring, but it looks like it’s not going to happen. My sparring partner didn’t show up.” After a day spent thinking way too much about his prickly, intriguing new bodyguard, his body had needed the