Page 44

His mouth curves.

“You’re laughing.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Your mouth moved.”

“A muscle spasm.”

His smile widens.

Oh, damn him.

He’s learning.

I point a finger at his chest.

“Listen carefully. I appreciate you defending me. Really, I do. But I can handle difficult customers.”

“I know.”

I blink.

“You do?”

“Of course.”

“Then why did you intervene?”

His expression grows serious.

“Because being capable of enduring cruelty does not mean you should have to.”

The words hit somewhere deep in my chest.

I look away.

“Well, that’s annoyingly sweet.”

“I have been called many things. Sweet is new.”

“Don’t get used to it.”

He steps closer.

“Would you prefer terrifying?”

“At the moment? Slightly less terrifying would be fantastic.”

He considers this.

“Very well.”

Then he smiles.

A real smile.

Slow and devastating.