Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

After making sure everything was settled, Silas shot Barnaby a series of

meaningful glances-like he was spelling out a whole instruction manual with his

eyes-then headed off to the study to grab something before leaving.

That left just Barnaby and Susanna.

Susanna quietly picked at her scrambled eggs, totally ignoring him.

Barnaby sat across from her, watching her with the intensity of a hawk. He didn't

even blink.

Susanna finally snapped. "Do you have to stare at me like that?"

Barnaby didn't hesitate. "Yep."

Susanna rolled her eyes. This guy was impossible.

Barnaby added, "After what happened last night, the boss said I'm supposed to

keep an eye on you at all times."

Susanna raised an eyebrow. "At all times? Like, what does that even mean?"

She still wasn't over her cold. All she wanted after breakfast was a little nap.

Barnaby replied, "Means I gotta be with you everywhere. No exceptions."

Susanna stared at him. "Everywhere? Seriously?"

Barnaby nodded solemnly.

Susanna tried to process that. "Even when I'm sleeping?"

Barnaby, deadpan: "Yup. Gotta keep watch."

Susanna just gaped at him. How was she supposed to get any rest with this guy

looming over her? And what if she needed the bathroom? Was he going to follow

her in there too?

She didn't dare ask-knowing Barnaby, he'd probably try.

Honestly, Barnaby was sharp in some ways, but hopelessly literal in others. She

wondered what exactly Hull had told him. For all she knew, Barnaby would insist

on standing guard outside the bathroom door.

Good grief.

Susanna's mind spun. If things were really that dangerous, couldn't Hull at least

have sent a female bodyguard? But given her and Hull's relationship, she figured

she shouldn't push her luck.

Whatever. If that's how it was, she'd just have to skip the nap.

She shot Barnaby a glare but didn't say anything.

The cook came over with her medicine. "Ms. Tucker, here's your after-breakfast

medicine."

"Thanks," Susanna said, accepting it gratefully.

The two housekeepers Silas had

hired were already gone-Hull had

fired them, apparently because they

couldn't manage to help her change

clothes or bring her medicine.

Susanna felt a little guilty. It wasn't their fault she'd been too out of it with her cold

to cooperate.

So, when the cook handed her the medicine, Susanna didn't argue. She just

gulped it down.

She almost asked the cook to fetch

her a blanket, but changed her mind.

There was no point acting precious

now not when she'd probably have

to fight her own battles soon.

She went to her room, grabbed a blanket herself, and settled onto the couch,

pulling it over her legs.

Barnaby, true to his word, plopped down on the sofa across from her, eyes never

leaving her.

Susanna sighed. "You know, you could go sit somewhere else."

She just wanted a bit of space. Was that so much to ask?

Barnaby shook his head. "No can do."

Susanna nearly groaned aloud. Sleeping on the couch was already her biggest

compromise, but Barnaby was taking his job way too seriously.

She turned away, curling up so her

back was to him, facing the couchnoveldrama

cushions. But even like that, she

could feel his gaze boring into her.

It was like having a porcupine at her back.

They sat like that for half an hour, neither saying a word.

Eventually, Susanna couldn't take it anymore. She looked over her shoulder and

saw Barnaby still staring, unblinking.

"Look, you really don't have to do this," she said, exasperated. "I can't sleep with

you watching me like a security camera."

But Barnaby just shrugged. "I only do what my boss tells me."

Susanna gave up. Unless Hull said otherwise, Barnaby was sticking to her like

superglue.