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Why was I so on edge around hiht now? All the other times, I’d been able to at least pretend like his presence didn’t rattle me Maybe it was the way he stared at , as if he could sift through my darkest secrets and find out exactly who I ithouta word

“Lina, right?” He looked down atat my mouth now, and I felt an intense flush cover my face at the fact that he watchedthat wasn’t apathetic So that was… heated

And I felt an answering call from my body It was uncomfortable and unusual

It was exhilarating

It was the first ti but the lonely despair that had always been crushing me

“Yes,” I said with a stronger voice this ti says,” I teased and offered hiivea slow, eain “The usual?”

He was silent for so long I wondered if he’d heard ht theain and further eive him the space he clearly needed

“I’m Arlo,” he finally said, and I felt ave ive anyone any part of himself “Arlo Malkovich”

I nodded slowly, not sure what to say, but then common sense kicked in, and I replied, “Lina Michaels”

He leaned back in the chair and regarded me “Lina Michaels”

The way he said itthe truth Of course it was a lie, but if he was calling ain and nodded, not trusting my voice

He tipped his chin in my direction “What happened to your neck?”

There was this weird tone in his voice, as if he knew the answer to that question already But clearly he couldn't have known the truth I’d left while he’d still been finishing his meal, and my assailant had taken me into an alley It had just been hi his family jewels and ran

I foundJust an unfortunate event” I clearedthe way his look made me feel

But fortunately he didn’t press for more answers I didn’t knohy he even asked about my neck in the first place It was very clear by his stoic expression he didn’t care one way or another