“That’s none of your concern. Just do as I say and keep your mouth shut.”
“But why don’t you want Mr. McLeod—or my brother, for that matter—to know that you’re their secret benefactor? You’re their guardian angel—”
“I’m no angel. Ask anyone.” The wild, pale fire in his eyes dared her to disagree.
Quietly but firmly, she said, “I say you are. Why do you try to hide it?”
With a ragged breath, he pushed away from her, stalked toward his desk.
She followed him.
“Why are you here?” He shuffled irritably through a pile of papers. “You’re risking your safety—never mind your reputation—coming here on your own.”
“With Mr. Cooper following me like a hawk, I’m perfectly safe.” She canted her head. “Why are you avoiding my question?”
“Why are you avoiding mine?” he shot back.
With a hint of exasperation, she said, “Fine, I’ll answer first. I’m here to return this.” From her reticule, she withdrew the black velvet jewelry box and placed it on his desk.
His gaze smoldered into hers. “You don’t like it?”
“That’s not the point. I can’t accept it.”
“Why not?”
“It’s too expensive. Toomuch.”
“It’s perfect for you. You’ll wear it.” He returned to sorting his correspondence as if the subject was closed.
“I will not.” She lifted her chin. “Our bargain was for me to scout thetonfor you, not dress up in jewels that could feed a family for generations. I’m beginning to wonder if you aren’t sending me on a fool’s errand to keep me occupied. To keep me from doing real detection work. From continuing to track Lily White at The Cytherea—”
“You agreed to this plan, and you’ll stick with it.”
Riled by his dictatorial tone, she said, “I can back out at any time. There’s nothing binding me to our agreement.”
His head snapped up. “What did you say?”
The ominous glitter in his eyes made her recognize her mistake immediately. “I mean, I agreed to let you court me, but nothing is written in stone... remember?”
The last word emerged with a breathy edge as he rounded the desk toward her. She held her ground, even as he towered over her, more than six feet of lean, bridling male.
“Oh, I remember. And I’m realizing that I’ve been too lax with you.”
The silky menace in his voice spread tingling awareness over her skin. Beneath his civilized exterior, the savage God had awakened, preparing to do battle. And heaven help her, every part of her responded. Beneath the pale yellow muslin of her bodice, her nipples budded, her core blooming with humid heat.
“You don’t own me,” she said. “You can’t tell me what to do.”
“That you believe that proves that I’ve chosen the wrong tactic with you. By negotiating with you, I’ve led you to think that you can manage me. That you can tame me like a lapdog and run roughshod over me.”
The idea of this virile, dangerous male as a lapdog was ludicrous. “I don’t think that.”
“I’ve agreed to let you investigate. I’ve agreed to court you. I’ve indulged you to make you happy,” he went on with deadly calm. “In return, you pester me about matters that don’t concern you, question my motives, and won’t even wear a bloody necklace.”
She knew him well enough now to recognize the stillness of the predator the moment before the strike. Yet she couldn’t resist saying, “Pesteryou? I’m trying to communicate with you—that’s what people do when they’re courting. How will we know if we’re suited if we can’t carry on a normal conversation?”
“You want us to communicate?”
She gave an emphatic nod.
