Ian moved his weight off her. "Friendship is earned."

She scooted away from him and sat up. "I'm not here to be your friend. I'm your guard. That's all."

He stared at her. Connor had hired a woman to guard men? This was unheard of in the vampire world. A mortal woman wouldn't have the strength…unless she was a shifter like Phil and Howard. "Are ye—" How could he put this when shape shifters were a secret? "Do ye change a bit at a certain time of the month?"

She gave him an incredulous look. "Are you asking me if I get PMS? Are you serious?"

"Nay! I dinna mean—" Ian stopped, interrupted by Phineas's laughter.

"I know what you're thinking, man, but she's normal."

"Normal?" She glared at Phineas. "I nailed your ass earlier this evening."

Phineas held up his hands in surrender. "Don't hurt me, sweetness. You're a strong, beautiful hunk of woman."

She inclined her head. "Thank you."

"Connor told me on the phone that he'd hired a Tony," Ian muttered. "I thought ye would be a man."

Her eyes narrowed. "I thought you would be somewhat intelligent."

"Snap!" Phineas grinned. "She got you good, bro."

Ian scowled. "It was perfectly logical to assume Tony was a man's name."

She lifted her chin. "Is it logical to attack people without talking to them first?"

"In this case, aye, it was. The window was open—"

"I opened it," she interrupted. "It was as stuffy as a tomb in here, and I was hot."

"Sweetness, you're so hot, you're sizzling." Phineas made some hissing sounds.

Ian shot him an annoyed look, then resumed his explanation. "The window sensor triggered the alarm, and when I investigated the matter, I found you looking at verra expensive books, dressed like a cat burglar."

"Yeah, you do look like a hot and sexy Catwoman." Phineas clawed at the air. "Meow! Hiss!"