Page 11 of The Rancher's Vengeful Heart

But just as she opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind—-

"I'm seducing you."

Her mouth closed and opened and closed, and Lucius' lips pressed in a tight line as he sought to contain his amusement. His Tassina was looking at him this time like his conversationwas akin to riding a rollercoaster, and it was all he could do not to yank her into his lap.

If only he could tell her now.

We've only just begun, baby girl.

And this early on, Lucius already had a thousand more ideas on how to torment her in the most delicious way there was.

Chapter Three

TASSY WAS NOT LETTINGherself get so easily fooled the second time around. There was just no telling with this man if he was serious or not. But when seconds had already passed, and the billionaire only continued to gaze at her while his words remained unaddressed between them—-

"Why?" she asked finally.

"There's only one answer to that, don't you think?"

She stared at him in frustration, and the billionaire's lips curved in another smile that seemed designed to seduce, annoy, and tease her all at the same time.

This doesn't make sense,Tassy wished she could blurt out, but since that would only sound like she was fishing for a compliment—-

"You're nothing at all like I imagined," she said warily instead.

"In what way?"

"You've always struck me as someone...unapproachable?"

"I am that. But only to people I don't want approaching me."

"How do you know which people are those?"

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

Tassy nodded immediately. Why wouldn't she?

"It's the same way I knew I wanted you the first time I saw you."

Tassy jerked in shock, and the billionaire's expression turned grave.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

"You didn't." Actually, hekindadid, but for some reason, Tassy had a hard time admitting this.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course."

"Then may I take that as permission to continue speaking to you truthfully?"

"I wouldn't want you to speak to me in another way."

"I'm very glad to hear that, Tassina—-"

Tassy's teeth ground against each other.No, no, no.That was just her imagination working in overdrive. Lucius Young didnotpurr that word out. He was a man, and grown men did not purr!

"Since I've never seen the point in delaying the inevitable."

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