Page 4 of Surrender

Theo’s marble-like features revealed nothing of what he was thinking as he studied her with a severity that said lying to him wouldn’t be a good thing. Genevieve swallowed hard at her half-truth response. She might not be selling her body, but she’d been flirting with danger for the past five months. It was a risk to flirt with and tease men who lusted after her. But she’d extracted valuable information from those men by leading several of them to believe they would have her in a dark alley. But she’d seen to it that all of them had imbibed enough drink to save her from having to fend off unwanted advances, except for the other night.

Genevieve had seriously misjudged Scully’s level of intoxication. When she’d left The Blind Beggar, he’d followed her. Now, as she met Theo’s gaze, he released an unintelligible sound and spun away from her. Just as Peter had done when he’d learned she was working for the Crown, Theo prowled the floor of the croft like a restless lion ready to do battle. Why was he so angry? Although his concern for her safety warmed her heart, the level of his anger puzzled her. Theo came to an abrupt halt and turned to glare at her.

“I ought to wring your goddamn neck,” he snarled. “You, of all people, know how dangerous the East End is.”

“And because I was born and raised there, I’m able to traverse that area of London better than most,” she replied quietly.

“That’s not a reason to venture into that infernal hell without a partner.”

“I don’t want a partner,” she said tersely as she narrowed her gaze at him.

“Nevertheless, you have one now, and you’re looking at him.”

Chapter 2

Theo studied Genevieve’s appalled look with grim satisfaction. She might not want a partner, but she no longer had a choice. C should never have allowed her to go into the East End without backup, let alone join the service.

And what the hell had Peter been thinking not to insist she have backup? In the recesses of his mind, he acknowledged how tenacious Genevieve could be when it came to getting her way.

Persistence and determination weren’t the only things that allowed her to convince others to do something they might not ordinarily do. She had a gift for persuasion that made it difficult for most people to say no to her. But when her efforts to influence someone with her words were combined with her beauty, it was a rare individual who could refuse her request.

Genevieve wasn’t just beautiful. She was stunning. Unbelievably so, with her dark auburn hair, warm green eyes, and softly rounded features. Theo refrained from running his gaze over her full breasts and lush curves. That he succeeded in his efforts was not due to self-control so much as it was an act of self-preservation, because he’d been hiding his attraction to Genevieve for a very long time.

Even as a young girl, she’d been lovely. But as she’d matured, she’d become the most exquisite creature he’d ever seen. There was an innate sensuality about her that enhanced her expressions and movements, while her kindness and good heart made her irresistible. Theo knew he wasn’t alone in his opinion. Men flocked around her whenever she appeared in public. It was easy to understand how she’d managed to convince C to let her work for the foreign section. The man was just as vulnerable as the next when it came to Genevieve.

“I don’t want you or anyone else for a partner,” she bit out fiercely.

“You don’t have any say in the matter. You’re stuck with me, because unlike most men, you can’t wind me around your finger and make me dance to your tune.”

Theo struggled to maintain a stoic expression as he met her angry gaze. It was a lie to say he wasn’t easily swayed by her. But he wasn’t about to give her any leverage to use to her advantage. The last thing he needed was for her to realize he was far from immune to her. Hell, at the moment, the woman aroused a lust in him unlike anything he’d experienced even as a boy.

“That’s not true,” Genevieve exclaimed defiantly as she narrowed her gaze at him. “I do not wrap men around my finger.”

“I disagree. How often does anyone say no to you?” he said grimly. “Other than Peter, I’m the only one who isn’t so bewitched by you that I can be convinced to let you have your way. And even Peter had difficulty saying no to you on occasion, which is the only reason I can think of that would explain why you haven’t had a partner all along.”

“Peter trusted me, he knew I understood the danger.”

“More likely, he allowed that beautiful face of yours to persuade him to let you have your way.”

“Be reasonable, Theo. How am I supposed to convince men to tell me their secrets if they see another man with me?” She stepped forward and touched his arm as a pleading expression swept across her beautiful face. The light touch shot an acute bolt of electricity crackling its way into every cell of his body. Steeling himself not to be influenced by her entreaty, he shook his head.

“You convinced C to take leave of his senses and agree to your working for the foreign division. I’ve no doubt you’ll find a way to do the same with anyone you’re trying to secure information from. But from now on, you’ll not enter the East End without me close on your heels.”

“Is this your way of keeping me from doing my job? C knows how resourceful I am in bringing him reliable information.” Outrage only heightened her beauty, and Theo fought hard to ignore the fact. With a shake of his head, he disputed her protest.

“You might be resourceful, but you’re reckless.”

“I am not,” she snapped.

“No? What about the other night? You could have been killed.”

“I was not being reckless. I made a miscalculation, and it’s just a scratch.”

“A scar—” Theo’s heart suddenly surged up into his throat, then back down to slam hard into the wall of his chest at the way she’d made light of the injury Wills had described. The young doctor had made Theo believe it had been far more serious than a mere scratch. Theo’s muscles tightened with fury at her cavalier response.

“Then show me this scratch.”

In the back of his head, a warning bell clanged a loud warning. Had he just demanded to see her wound? Theo ignored the voice of reason trying to break its way through his fury. Stunned, Genevieve’s mouth fell open in astonishment.