Tears shimmered in Calliope''s eyes.


    Ss wasn''t expecting the sudden hug. He froze, startled, then slowly wrapped his arms around her, a warm, grateful smile softening his features.


    How wonderful.


    Being in her arms-nothingpared to it.


    Across the room, Nigel glowered, frown tight on his brow, clearly unhappy.


    Damien seized the moment to needle him. "You see that? Calliope''s head over heels for Mr. Myers. With him, she turns into a whole different woman—soft and sweet. Don''t they look perfect together?"


    "And let''s not forget, Mr. Myers spoils her rotten.”


    "When a woman''s in love, it shows. It''s pretty obvious she isn''t in love with you—she never acts like that around you."


    "Bet you''ve never seen her like this, have you?"


    "Getting a little envious?"


    "Well, you can''t me us if you are. Our Mr. Myers already got there first!"


    Damien''s relentless teasing only darkened Nigel''s expression until it was nearly thunderous. After an uneasy pause, he finally stalked towards Calliope and Ss. "What about that guy? How do you want to handle him?” Nigel asked, voice clipped. Only then did Calliope step back from Ss''s embrace.


    Ss released her but didn''t let go of her hand, shooting Nigel a frosty look.


    "Mr. Howell, shouldn''t you find a new hobby? You spend an awful lot of time hovering around someone else''s wife."


    "That''s rich,ing from you, Mr. Myers. Seems you''re so busy you can barely care for your own wife. Or maybe something else keeps you upied? Work-or another woman?" Nigel sneered.


    "If I remember right, I''m the one who just saved you from being tiger chow," Ss shot back. “Heroic of you, trying to protect someone, but isn''t it embarrassing needing to be rescued by the very person you were supposed to be protecting?"


    Nigel''s mouth snapped shut.


    The words stung-there was no denying the truth. No matter how much he wanted to look after Calliope, the reality was she''d ended up protecting him instead of the other way around content


    He had nothing to say.


    Damien gave an exaggerated nod, as if Ss had read his mind.


    "And you," Ss added, turning his steely gaze on Damien now.


    Damien shrank slightly. "Sorry, I dropped the ball."


    their fault," Calliope cut


    in.


    "No one could''ve predicted just ret


    dangerous things would get her?.


    "It''s all over now, anyway."


    "And Simon''s situation is...plicated," she admitted, casting a weary nce across the room.


    "It''s not,” Ss said calmly. "I know people who can help him. You don''t have to worry about it."


    "Seriously?" Calliope blinked at him, surprised.


    "Seriously." Ss''s voice softened. "Sorry. Was I toote?”


    "No," Calliope shook her head. "You


    were right on time. You got here


    before they could tear me to


    shreds!" she joked finally letting


    smile slip through.


    fo


    But Ss didn''tugh. He looked toward Simon, voice hard. "If you didn''t know him,


    he''d be fish food by now."


    Calliope fell quiet.


    "No you don''t have to. That''s only a part of him, not what Simon truly wants."


    "I''m okay. Everyone''s okay. That''s enough for me."


    Ss nodded.


    "I''ll have my people handle things here. Let''s go home."


    Calliope nodded back. "All right. But... you promise you won''t do anything to Simon,


    right?"