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In the center of the rooreen coe set beside the s There was also a hand-carved ar of being the King of Va her best not to be intih that Roke had est loser to ever walk the earth

"I couldn’t possibly have been trapped with a worse oing to be overawed by ain a hot bubble bath so on Styx’s lovelyShe chose a pair of black spandex pants that she matched with a white muscle shirt

It was the perfect outfit for the hours of meditation she would need while her spell continued to simmer in the kitchen

Or at least, that had been the plan

She’d barely pulled on the clothes and run a brush through her damp hair when the silence was destroyed by a sudden knock She stiffened, already knoas on the other side of the heavy walnut door

She could actually feel Roke As if there was a physical connection between the in the center of the room, she wrapped her arms around her waist It would be futile to try and pretend she was asleep Roke was a vampire He could no doubt hear the sudden increase of her heartbeat and the rapid rasp of her breath

Besides, he’d already proven he didn’t give a crap about her or her feelings Even if she was sleeping, he wouldn’t hesitate to wake her up

While she dithered, there was another ih the air "Open the door, Sally I need to speak with you"

Co the creep into a slilare at the unwelcome intruder "Why?" she asked in sweetly sick tones "Did you have a few more insults you wanted to share?"

"No I did--" His words broke off as his gaze took in her ski pants The pale eyes darkened to ser she didn’t need their bond to sense

His lengthening fangs would have been the first clue

Sally blushed, feeling ridiculously exposed beneath that searing gaze Stupid considering she’d worn far less in public

"You did what?" she pro not to do her own share of staring The arrogant vaeous He didn’t need her drooling to stroke his ego

Hetoo low for her to catch before he was retreating behind his facade of stoic self-control

"I did some research on the warehouse," he finished, his voice s not to have to deal with the renegade excitement that fluttered in the pit of her stomach

"What warehouse?"

"The one where the book was hidden"

She frowned, not sure where this was going "Why?"

He shrugged "I don’t likefully honest There was some other reason for his sudden interest in the warehouse Still, the sooner this conversation was over, the sooner he would leave Why press for an answer he didn’t want to give?

"What does this have to do with erated reluctance she stepped back, allowing hi past her, he glanced around the rooe bed

"You’re co almost aard as he turned to study her heated cheeks "You like the roo she was quite ready to disguise behind a surge of annoyance "Don’t try to be polite, Roke," she htened "Do you want an apology?"

"Just say what you have to say and get out"

There was a tense silence, as if he were battling against so, he flipped open ain his hand

"The warehouse was previously owned by Lacombe Industries," he said, his voice carefully neutral "Do you recognize the name?"

She frowned "The cosmetic company?"

"No" He studied the file "They were listed as an import-export firm"

"Never heard of theht, her bare feet barelya sound on the expensive carpet "Why?"