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“A booty call.”

Oh, Lord. If you’re planning my demise, do it now.

“Listen, lady⁠—”

“Mrs. Han.”

“Mrs. Han.” I take a deep breath. “I am not, and will never be, that—or anything else—to your little Stephen. I’m here for work. That’s all.”

She waves a dismissive hand.

She did not just dismiss me.

“I’m serious.”

“I understand, pretty girl.”

“You do?”

She nods.

“I do.”

She absolutely does not.

I narrow my eyes.

Nothing.

She doesn’t even flinch.

Huh.

I may have finally met my natural predator.

I pinch the bridge of my nose. This is going terribly.

Still, I’m many things, but I don’t mistreat genuinely kind people. And Mrs. Han seems to have a good heart.

Damn it.

Sometimes softness sneaks up on me. I blame my mother.

“I don’t mean to be rude.”

“I know.”

Her smile never wavers.

I can practically see the winter romance novel forming inside her head.

Chapter One: Snowed In with the Western Belle.

Chapter Two: My Little Stephen Brings Home The One.

Chapter Three: Wedding Bells in the Middle of Winter.

I shiver.