Page 17 of Scarlet Angel

“Absolutely.”

She stands, eyes wide, disbelief etched on her porcelain skin. She’s truly gorgeous. Shiny copper waves and green eyes. Kryptonite for any warm-blooded male.

“Should I select a place?” She sounds impatient.

“You’re good here for a bit, right? The bit about going through Willow’s personal effects, it was true, correct?”

“Yes.”

“All right. Good enough, then. Let’s meet tomorrow after breakfast and get a plan together.”

“Not today?”

“I’ve got to head into the city. Meeting. I’ve a business to run. The meeting was scheduled a while back. Didn’t anticipate you’d be here.” Why am I rambling? I don’t owe her an explanation.

“I understand. Tomorrow.”

“Lina will come and find you for dinner.”

“That’s… I’m not hungry.”

“Chef’ll have something. Lina will get you.”

“I’ll rest in my room. Until dinner.”

“All right, then.”

She fumbles with the doorknob. The door rattles so long she sounds like a prisoner wiggling a lock.

“Need some help?”

A click sounds and the door opens.

“Are you afraid of me?”

“No.” She pushes her shoulders back, and the action draws my attention to her breasts. Or hell, it’s nothing to do with her posture and everything with me being a horny perv. Her fingers curl into her palms, and her chin lifts, defiant and fiery. “I’m not afraid of anyone.”

“I believe you,” I say, lying.

She exits immediately.

She’s a nervous bird. Is it all blokes? Or just me?

My gaze follows her arse, and I grind my teeth. It’s a good thing I’m stopping off at the club tonight. It’s been too long since I’ve had a release. Makes me a horny fucker, which makes it hard to think around the woman, and I need my head on straight with this one.

She’s got gumption. I head to the guesthouse in search of Dorian.

“You didn’t mention Scarlet Gagliano is staying with you,” he says in greeting.

“Saw her, did you?”

“Lina mentioned it.” Ah, my sister.

I scan the quaint cottage. “This place okay for you?”

“You know it is.”

It’s curious he showed up at the funeral. More curious that he wanted a place to crash.

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