Page 31 of Devil in Her Details

“Only one? For three months of protection?”

He nodded. That was all he would allow himself. More would be . . . bloody foolhardy. “Just one.”

“And you’ll be at my beck and call until I return to London?”

“I’m not a dog.”

She grinned. “No. You are not. Do you wish to receive payment now?”

“No,” Dagger said, stiffening at the thought of her lips on him at any second. “When I said a kiss of your choosing, I meant a kiss freely given at a time of your choosing, but when I least expect it.” If his brothers heard him now . . . Thankfully, the hallway with Reaper’s disturbance had long since quieted.

“When you least . . . heh. How interesting.” Her eyes sparkled. “Very well, Dagger Fury, I accept your terms.”

“Don’t be so quick to accept,” Dagger added. “I do have another condition.”

Her look turned skeptical. “Oh?”

“I do things my way, not your way. Protection wise.”

“Which means . . .?”

“I work from the shadows. Don’t expect me to stand guard at your door.”

“That’s fine with me. I wasn’t expecting you to do that anyway. But now that we’re on the subject, what happens if you fail to protect me, mmm? I shall expect compensation.”

He couldn’t argue with that. Not that he had any intention to fail in his mission. “Sounds fair. What did you have in mind?”

Her eyes took on a contemplative light. “I’m not sure yet. I’ll let you know if you fail.”

“She of so little faith.”

“Oh, I have an abundance of faith,” she countered. “I’ve faith that things rarely turn out the way we plan.” She suddenly stuck her hand out to him. “Shall we shake on our deal then?”

He glanced at her slender hand, the one bearing bruises beneath her sleeve. He hadn’t exposed her lie earlier. That would expose himself. But a cauldron of rage still brewed low in his gut. That marquess best never set foot in Brighton again.

“What? Scared to seal our agreement?” she challenged. “Deal or no deal?”

Dagger enveloped her hand with his own, careful not to brush the tender skin there. Neither of them was wearing gloves, and the unexpected warmth of her touch struck him like a shot of hard gin on an empty stomach.

“Deal.”

Chapter Seven

Thoughts of the man hadn’t left her all morning.

So much so that she had moved her work to the front of the shop, where she was now measuring the pockets for Dagger’s daggers.

Quite a ring to that.

She supposed they should be easy to slide into place, easy to remove, all while firmly secured against the body. Her gaze couldn’t help but dart in the direction of the street, ensuring Calvington’s carriage hadn’t returned. It had not. Nor, despite her best efforts, could she catch sight of Dagger.

The man really must keep to the shadows.

Rather disconcerting, given that he might have eyes on her shop at that moment. Still, that very fact caused a delightful thrill to move along the length of her arms when she thought about it.

You’re really not afraid of me at all, are you?

Oh, she was afraid, all right. Afraid of how he had so thoroughly commandeered her focus. Afraid he’d settle there permanently.