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He leaned toward her, gesturing her close as if he wished to ireat secret

She couldn’t help herself She leaned in

"You know," he said sireeable, I could have charh her, a flush that was half ement of the truth A beat passed while his eyes held hers Oh, he was good at that--at giving her just that hint of attraction Not so ue her

Free refused to be intrigued "You could have," she told hi"

"I’m dishonorable and disreputable I lie and I cheat, and I a you plainly that you are only ayou the truth, but overall, I’ you false You may not know the exact cards I hold, but you will know the score I promise you that much"

She didn’t trust hiht be a dishonestelse It was a curious sort of honor

"I a to ruin your reputation Delacey intends to do far, farconsequences Tell me the truth, Miss Marshall If you had the opportunity to beat Delacey, would you take it?"

She thought of her editorials, so painstakingly written--stolen from her, her heartfelt words twisted and butchered to serve causes that she hated She thought of all the things that she’d heard Delacey say about her, coly letter she’d received, every cowardly anonymous threat that she’d shoved in her rubbish bin, every sleepless night after he’d propositioned her

She couldn’t lay all those terrible letters at Delacey’s door But if he planned even a fraction of what Mr Clark clai to take as hers He was trying to beat her down, to make an exaht, "Well, she did it, so why can’t I?"

And he’d singled her out because she’d said no

"Do I want Delacey held responsible?" she heard herself say "Yes Yes, I do"

Mr Clark nodded "Then, Miss Marshall, you’re in need of a scoundrel" He spread his hands, pal Miss Marshall conte Those things should have signified unease, but paired with the clear, calave hiht she would be easy to read Ha He had thought she’d be easy to manipulate Another ha She’d not bent an inch He’d been wrong on both counts, and as confounding as this conversation had beco

Miss Marshall, he silently ad