“That’s rather naïve, don’t you think?”
Of course it was. But a woman was allowed hope. Hope that dangerous men did not appear in one’s courtyard first thing in the morning looking like Hades himself. She straightened her spine. Most importantly. “How did you get into my shop?”
He held up a key.
She gasped. “You have a key to my shop?”
“I have keys to all the shops.”
How utterly disturbing! Heat flushed her neck. Was that even permissible? “Does that mean you should use them as you please?”
“Why not? Who is going to stop me?” he said mildly. “And you locked me up.”
“You seem to have gotten out of your little dungeon just fine.”
His eyes glittered dangerously. “Dismissing your actions rather casually, are you not?”
Violet shot back, “You entered my shop rather casually, did you not?”
“I own this shop.”
Sure enough, arguing with this man was like arguing with a brick. “That does not mean you own me.”
He pushed from the door and stepped up to her, the beat of her pulse tripping over itself as she craned her neck to keep his gaze.
“I think it means exactly that, Violet.”
How could one man be so shockingly arrogant? “I think you should reevaluate the relationship between a tenant and a landlord.”
“I tend to write my own rules about these things,” he said simply, darkly. “You left me there like a fool. Do you think that falls within these supposed bounds you speak of?”
Talking aboutbounds? This rogue. “You brought me to a dungeon!” she hissed, then inhaled deeply, refusing to go around in circles like this. “What are you doing here, Mr. Fury? Seeking revenge?”
“No, and call me Drake, since I believe we are well past any formalities, don’t you agree?”
Did he believe she’d be intimidated calling him intimately by his first name? “If not revenge,Drake, what are you here for, then?”
“For your punishment.”
The word cut like a swift, merciless stroke. The courtyard seemed to tilt a fraction, and a hollow opened in her chest, something vital slipping its moorings. Her brother’s voice, sharp, cruel, too familiar, slid across her memory.
I do not enjoy punishing you, but you leave me no choice. I warned you what would happen if you disobeyed me. You know what happens when you displease me.
Punishment.
Her knees felt oddly untrustworthy.
But then she caught the look in his dark eyes and all the cold turned to instant fire. She didn’t sense any danger from him, even though he looked as dangerous as any devil that ever existed.
He’s not Reginald.
Or her betrothed.Formerbetrothed.
Her breath slowly returned.
“Nothing to say?” he asked with that infuriating calm. “My fiery carnivorous flower, what will you do now?”
What would she do? “I’m considering my options.”
