g shelves of books. There was a large window overlooking the e

against it, staring at her with cool in

clenched at her sides

lver-gray, sparkled. "Y

t. Was this a trick? Wa

aven

ie to me

, gave her the shivers. He was not loud, but the intensity of his p

I did not want t

"You think a maid would be c

inwardly.

stood up from behind the desk and slowly made h

e was standing too clo

ng facility. He reached out, the tips of his fingers grazing the

rigue me

hat she was sure he could hea

you

w she should lower her gaze, keep her eyes downcast like she always did. But

then finally stood back, his

ehind his desk. "You will be directl

ach droppe

Whatever I may need." He regarded her, his voice leavin

ift beneath her feet.

r,

e a problem

cing. Saying no wasn't an

No,

e spread across

od, but panic churned i

ole time trying to s

was part of

he Blackthorn mansion being difficult,

maids at the house, someone whose presence could be easily ignored. Now, she was at his beck and call, being brought

s summoned before breakfast, barely having time to faste

in, she could feel the

s the high windows, casting long shadows that only helped to make him seem even more formidable. In a crisp black suit, with his sil

ting down his papers. "You'r

d. "Sir, what would

ee to everything concerning me. That includes my meals

sured tone with which he had said th

, si

if measuring just how much furthe

cart in the corner of the room. She grabbed a crystal glass and a bottle of

hers as he accepted the glass, his hand lingering a fraction of a m

lowly. "You flinch ev

aught in her

hy

Because he scared her? Because being near him

aid softly, keeping h

ark and amused. "Respect. I

stinctively took a step back, but he was faster, clo

ingers. "You've been running from me since the moment we met," he

to remain still. "B

d. "That's not t

show. But Dylan was reading her all too easily. He tilted h

," he mused. "They fear me. You d

know how

oor interrupted the moment. Vincent's face tra

ter

side. He was a commanding figure, with dark eyes that da

th the shipment," the man

tightened. "I'

uely and left as abr

ion unreadable. "You will stay in my