“Not hideous. Just—” she gestured vaguely around his face “—intimidating.”
“And yet you are never intimidated by me enough to do as I tell you.”
Her lips pursed and he caught the flicker of annoyance in her gaze, even in the dim light of a streetlamp. “I will never again do what anyone tells me to do.”
“Never again?” he repeated.
There it was, another hint of her past. He found himself eating up these breadcrumbs, trying to create a meal out of them that might indicate exactly what this woman had experienced when he really should not care. Once they had found out what happened to Julian, their acquaintance would be over.
If one could call them acquaintances. He smirked. He’d certainly never wanted to bury himself between the thighs of an acquaintances before.
“Valentine.” She clicked her fingers in front of his face, forcing his attention back to her and away from picturing an evening of utter debauchery in her arms.
“Yes?”
“I was reminding you that you need me.”
Oh yes. He did.
Her eyes flared. “Not like that.”
He shrugged. “It’s no lie, though.”
“My point is, no one will tell you anything when you look like that.”
“I cannot help what I was born with,” he muttered. “I cannot help being so unappealing.”
“That is not what I am saying.” She rolled her eyes. “And we both know I am much better at talking with people—as proven by my ability to get your servants to talk to me.”
He studied her stance, the point of her chin, the fists upon her hips. Lane would have a better chance of persuading him to shave than he had of getting her to return home.
“Very well. Let us get this thing done.” He reached for her and settled her fingers over his forearm. “But any sign of trouble, and we are gone, do you understand? No matter how much you think you can manage any situation, there are some that even a beautiful woman cannot find her way out of.”
She rolled her eyes. “I have handled you thus far, have I not? I think you are a far bigger challenge than a few drunkards.”
Oh yes. She had handled him very well. Far too well really. He didn’t respond and strode past her. Much longer alone with her and he’d be hauling her over his shoulder, carrying her back to the carriage, and showing her how well he could handle her too.