The latch clicked, and the door creaked open, and Calliope saw a shadow fall across the floorboards of her chamber.
A heavy step.
A dark coat.
A booted leg.
Without thinking, she let out a wild cry andswungthe boot with all the force she had, slamming it directly into the man. To her utter shock, and surprise, he crumpled with a pained grunt, folding to his knees with a groan so raw she flinched.
She stared at him, wide-eyed, panting, heart in her throat.
Why did he look so . . .?
Furious eyes met her.
“Maxen?”
*
Pain boomed throughevery part of Maxen’s body.
A gut-splitting, soul-leaving,what-the-devil-just-happenedkind of pain. It exploded from his groin and spread like fire through his stomach, his spine, his very teeth. He couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. Could barelysee.
Just stars, burning, blinking stars.
And her.
“What the bloody—?” he choked out, cupping the site of impact. Sweet Christ. Every instinct screamed for him to topple, curl, and protect. He swallowed the string of curses working their way up his throat and forced himself to focus, jaw locked hard enough to crack his damn teeth.
A boot dropped to the floor before him.
Ah. So he’d been assaulted with aboot.
Calliope bloody Turner.
She stood staring at him bright-eyed, her breath ragged, her cheeks flushed with either terror or fury—or both. Her dog growled behind her like a guard summoned straight from Hades. But he did not attack him.
He ought to be grateful for small mercies.
Maxen squinted up at her. “Good aim, love.”
She blinked at him as if dazed, then hurriedly said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hit something vital. That is, I did, but I didn’t aim forthat. I just hit.”
“If I stand, will your dog attack?”
“Uh, no.” She glanced to the hound. “Prince.” The dog instantly settled. She patted his head. “Good boy.”
Maxen slowly rose to his feet. Well, mostly. The nauseating throb still pounded at him. “Thank you.”
“You’re the one with explaining to do, Mr. Landlord. Is it customary to break into tenants’ shops? Should I call for the authorities?”
Authorities? Maxen couldn’t hold back a laugh. “I am the authorities.”
Her eyes rolled heavenward. God help him, what a sight. He almost reached out to snatch a strand of her hair, which tumbled over her shoulders to her waist, drawing his attention to her near-transparent nightgown.
He should have thought this over.
“You believe my words arrogance.”
