Page 74 of Ruthless Oath

“I’m not imagining anything.” I squeezed between him and the screen and gazed into his brooding eyes. “If you want to talk about her, we can.”

“What?”

“It seems like this is a topic that you might need someone to listen to you about,” I said.

“Are you a shrink now? Did you learn that at NYU?”

“I’ve noticed how you get when your mother comes up in conversation.”

“I don’t get any way about the conversation.”

“You do, and maybe if you talked about it, you might feel better. After my parents got divorced, I was upset. Talking about it helped me.”

“My parents didn’t get divorced.” He shook his head. “We’re not having this conversation.”

“Why not?”

“Because there is no need to have it.” He held up his finger. “Do not press me on this.”

His tough exterior was one of the first things I noticed about him. He didn’t have to pretend to be scary. He just was. But this was different. When I looked into his eyes, I saw a man trying to be strong. One who was running from the truth.

“When things calm down, I’ll have Milo reach out to your mother and let her know you’re okay. Don’t make me kill you before that happens.”

I rolled my eyes.

“If I can’t have a phone, I want other things.”

“Like what?”

“Makeup and skin care.”

“Why do you need that?”

“Because I’m bored, and it will give me something to do.” I pressed my palm to my cheek, then glanced at my nails. “I need a facial and a manicure.”

“You can do these things on your own?”

“Am I a woman?”

“I’ll get you whatever you want.”

“Thank you.”

“But I don’t think you need all that makeup.” He reached out and stroked my face. “You’re beautiful without it.”

A compliment?My stomach fluttered. “That’s really nice of you to say, but makeup makes me feel pretty. I like filling in my eyebrows and contouring my cheeks, you know?”

“No.” He ran his hand along his jaw. “Tell me what you want, and I’ll have it delivered.”

“I’ll work on my list.”

“You can do that while I work. I want you to sit in the study with me.”

“Why?”

“Because I said so.”

“Didn’t you work all night?” I asked. “When you weren’t in bed with me?”

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