“Oh. Yes.” A pause. “Sorry, I write a lot of reviews.” Her gaze sweeps over me again, more intent now. “I recognize you, Rusnak.”
Then it clicks.
Her brows draw together. “Wait,” she says carefully. “Were you the one sending all those letters?”
Her expression tightens, suspicion creeping in where curiosity had lived.
I don’t answer immediately. I tilt my head, studying her the way I’ve done from a distance for weeks—only now she can feel it.
“I was hoping you’d ask,” I say calmly.
The frown deepens.
“Should I be concerned?” she asks.
I smile again, slow and unreadable.
“That depends,” I reply, lowering my voice just enough to make it intimate, “on whether you believe curiosity is dangerous or necessary.”
“In this case,” she says coolly, “it’s very necessary.”
Interesting.
I lift her hand before she can pull it back and press a kiss to the back of it.
“Yes,” I say. “I sent the letters.”
Her eyes sharpen immediately. “Why?”
“Because,” I reply evenly, “no one has had the courage to be honest with me in years.” I straighten slightly, studying her face. “And now I’m interested.”
“I don’t want your interest,” she says without hesitation.
I smile faintly. “You already have it. You don’t need to want it.”
Her jaw tightens.
“Mr. Rusnak,” she says, voice clipped, “I don’t take bribes or whatever this is. If you think you can woo me into changing my review, you’re sorely mistaken.”
“Ah,” I say softly. “Miss Roth.”
I lean in, close enough that my breath brushes her ear—not touching, not quite. A calculated inch.
“With all due respect,” I continue, “your review changes nothing for me. I’ve been an artist longer than you’ve been talking.”
Her eyes flare—bright, furious, offended.
Good.
I step closer still, invading her space just enough to make a point, my voice low, controlled.
“I’m here to woo you, yes,” I say. “But not for your words. Not for your influence.” My gaze locks onto hers. “I’m here because you caught my interest.”
I pause.
“And I don’t intend to take no for an answer.”
The air between us tightens, charged and dangerous.
