I make a show out of a slow shrug. "What else would there be?"
"A certain brown eyed, long-haired blonde woman named after a flower."
My hands tuck into my pockets as I rock back on my heels. "I do believe I've heard of her. Buttercup, is it? Or, Rose?"
"Cut the shit,Penn."
We stare each other down, two men trying to ascertain how much trouble the other is going to be. Is Duke going to out me? Will I reveal who I really am and attempt to steal Duke's fiancée? Perhaps I am assuming that's what has the guy in a frenzy, but am I that far off?
"I'm not here to cause you trouble, Duke."
"Your presence in this town is troubling."
I duck my head like I'm thanking him. "Very kind of you to say so."
A muscle along his jaw tics. "You fucked Daisy up the first time you left. She loves deep, and she loves hard. You were lucky enough to be loved by her then, and you won't be given a second opportunity."
Regret slams through me, closely followed by shame. If I were alone, I'd let myself feel these feelings. But now, with Duke as my audience, I let the emotions channel into something else, something that makes me abrasive.
"Controlling motherfucker, aren't you?" I taunt.
"You don't get to waltz back into town after fifteen years and start fucking shit up."
Duke's not saying anything I don't already know. This line of thinking is precisely how I decided to keep my identity from Daisy. But that was a choice I made on my own, not because someone told me that's what I had to do. There's no way I'll be outwardly acquiescing, even if I happen to agree with Duke.
"She's marrying me," Duke says, lips twitching like they want to form a snarl, but he's too polished to allow it. "You'd do well to remember that."
There's the haughty, arrogant prick I remember. "How could I forget with that ice skating rink of a diamond you put on her hand? Are you afraid if we can't see her ring from space, somebody will steal her from you? Why don't you tattoo your name on her forehead?"
Duke starts to take a step toward me, but thinks better of it with Slim Jim at my side.
"Are you finished?" I ask, eyebrows raised. "Did you accomplish what you came here to accomplish?"
Duke pinches his lower lip, his other hand slipping into the black coat he wears. He's gazing at me like he's trying to gather his thoughts, and that's about the same time my patience dries up.
"Spit it the fuck out, pretty boy." I'm snarling. No need to be polished, or pretend I am.
Duke releases his lip. "Don't even think about telling Daisy who you really are."
"Aww," I cluck my tongue, just to piss him off. It works. "Afraid if she finds out who I am, she'll drop your sorry ass?" Not that I'm planning to tell Daisy anything, but fucking with Duke is the most fun I've had in a while.
He exhales an arrogant breath. "Pirate, you're not even my competition."
"You ever seen a big man fight a smaller guy, and the big guy puts his hand on the little guy's head, and the shrimp punches nothing but air?" I laugh once, every bit as arrogant as the fucker standing before me. "Guess who you are in that scenario."
"You've always been a mouthy little asshole, Penn. Ever since you were in my house when your mom?—"
Like a snake I strike, forearm against his chest, his back to the wall. "Say it," I goad. "Say a word about my mother, and give me a reason to make sure you're still unrecognizable by the time your wedding day rolls around."
Duke's face tips up, eyes hard, daring me to follow through. He knows I won't, because of Daisy. I'm sure there's nothing Duke would love more than to tell her I beat the shit out of him, probably make up something about me having anger issues, and that would be that. She'd drop me as a client, and a friend.
Letting him go, I step back. Duke shrugs his shoulders, straightening his precious clothes. He reaches for the door handle, pausing. "I want you gone." He turns back to me. "Wouldn't want Daisy finding out the real reason you left."
He opens the door, glides through, and closes it behind him, leaving me standing with my mouth open.
How the hell does Duke know about what went down between me and Daisy's dad?
Chapter 19
