Elise glanced up from the scanner, just in time to catch the stiffening in Isabelle's shoulders.
Oh?
Her lips curled ever so slightly. Not quite a smirk—more a diagnostic expression of curiosity.
"I knew you were invested," she said casually, tone light. "But I didn't think it ran that deep."
Isabelle's head turned sharply. "Excuse me?"
"I mean," Elise continued, feigning innocence as she adjusted the scanner's setting, "the protective tone, the shoulder support, the death glare you gave that striker… if I didn't know better, I'd say you were auditioning for the position of his personal bodyguard."
Damien grinned, wincing as he stretched his leg slightly. "If she is, I approve the application."
Isabelle's eyes snapped to him.
"That wasn't a compliment," she snapped.
Damien raised both hands in mock surrender. "Didn't sound like an insult either."
Isabelle's jaw worked soundlessly for a moment, then—
