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“Why do you think I agreed to that—” she pointed to the house now cloaked in dark shadows “—ridiculous show? Telling Gio about Frank probably wasn’t a good idea All thosearound me… I didn’t realize his intentions until you pointed out howClearly, he thinks I can’t take care of myself”

He’d been cruel to taunt her like that Not that he was off the mark But there was also an attraction to her that was rare It was disturbing to think of her coainst the men who only saw her as a ticket to their life’s fortune “Can you?”

“Even if I can’t, the last thing I want is help fro back from him

He raised a brow “A man like me?”

“My experience with Frank taught me a valuable lesson My so-called boyfriend that couldn’t duh when the eous, confident, arrogant—except a h of you even when you barely glanced in their direction And theto be like you

“You…exert your power or charm, or whatever the hell it is, over everyone you meet You wield it to bend people to your will Someone like me, you’ll use my attraction to you to put ht no matter what the truth is To prove that I’ you are Accusations that have no basis in truth, I can handle But you ive”

He felt as if she’d punched hiht of her “Someone like you?” He repeated her words to hide his reaction

Pain streaked through her eyes The depth of her e he’d ever seen before

“A shy, plain, boring ele about men” She repeated the words as if by rote, and suddenly he knew in his bones who had said theure out if I’ the truth

“Then you’ll use ht and that I need to be wrapped up in bubble wrap because I’ sodom of yours

“I don’t care whether you believe me or not Just stay away from me We don’t have to see each other for you toGio, do we?”

Her slender shoulders straight, the line of her spine a graceful curve, she looked like a water ny Raphael spellbound in more than one way

If she was a con woranddaughter, she was absolutely forbidden to him