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I’m not an idiot I knohere you were and who you ith Not s Behave Your h to worry about

Not tostarted in her brain, so loud she almost threw her hands over her ears

“What are you doing here?” Sheto reconcile the e boy he’d been The heel of her over-polished white boots caught on the runner near the door As slid from under her

In a flash, David’s ared down her spine as her back hit his rather solid chest “Protecting you From yourself, apparently, as well as outside threats” The words vibrated into her body from his

“Outside threats?” With a jolt, A happened? Is h both her parents used their co heiress mother bore the b

runt of the public consternation Before the war, the anti-abolitionists threatened to tar and feather her if she ventured south of New Castle County and after, in Europe, well, over there the caricatures were a million times worse than in America

“Your parents are fine This is about you, not theh he hadn’t completely lost his accent, David’s voice was louder and his manner much steadier than the last time they’d spoken The knot in her chest loosened, but she still couldn’t quite find her voice

“Were you expecting someone?” He brushed past her and peered around the roo He narrowed his eyes behind his spectacles

“No Well, h traveler that the staff anticipates ht perhaps so to eat” She squeaked the words before winding a still bouncing ringlet around her fingers Why hadn’t he answered the “threats” question?

“You should check before you answer the door” David lifted her bag and opened it, poking his fingers about

She marched over and snatched the case back “I have my own car and select staff They don’t permit just anyone back here” She clutched the leather to her chest as tight as she could He’d have to pry it fro You cannot poke through ue reference to ‘threats’”

“Why don’t we settle down and talk about this rationally” David stepped forward, his legs shoulder-length apart, his hands on either side of his belt buckle A mistake If he used the word “hysterical,” she’d sock him, or better, knee him

He held up his palm and his lips softened into an almost sheepish expression “Sorry, that was a bit” He ran a hand through his thick, slightly overgrown hair “Let’s just do this without hostility We’re hardly strangers We were once friends, used to enjoy each other’s colish”

“Do you?” She whipped around as the ghosts of the past swirled—all the lost innocence, the war that changed them, and the stolen kisses ainst her corset

Friends?

Ha Her friendships didn’t coed in was a temporary liaison based on mutual need for release He’d made that quite clear once upon a time

Amalia flipped her hair over her shoulder “Our indecorous dalliance was years ago We’re strangers, in many ways, and this is my train car, so I think I’m entitled to so You owe et back here”

A shadow cast over David’s features He raised a finger, but dropped it andback, his face once again neutral

“I told the line the truth The Pinkerton Agency’s nae of his nose with an arrogant quirk of his lips “Your brother dismissed the staff and instead hired my team to protect you Thad would’ve come himself, but he’s occupied with the new baby”