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Scarlett kept pace with es There was only one cottage eht "How did you get in?" I asked conversationally Yelling at her wasn't going to getere stuck together

"Get in to where?" Scarlett gave me an innocent smile

"The cottage," I said through clenched teeth

I was trying for nice, but this woman could test the patience of a saint I am not a saint If Royal were here, he'd make a joke or flirt He'd find some way to diffuse the tension and win her over

I wasn't a saint, and I wasn't my brother I could be a soft touch when it ca Royal was finesse, and I was the blunt hammer

Scarlett gave hter in her eyes I tried not to notice the way areen I'd bet she was heart-stopping when she laughed

Not that I cared

Herto the side, she said, "Hypothetically, if I had broken into a cottage—not that I' I did, because I didn't—"

"But if you had?" I proes

"But if I had," she ht have picked the lock"

I raised an eyebrow at her "You can pick locks?"

A shrug of one shoulder "Or I found a bathroomthat had been left open"

"Impossible The staff wouldn't have left aopen"

"You never know Do you have an eye on every single thing that happens here?"

"Yes," I answered, knowing it was a lie There were tooparts to the Inn at Sawyers Bend I had an eye on ninety-five percent of ent on in s slipped my attention

Her steps picked up their pace as we neared the last cottage, the one that was supposed to be en anyone had broken in Scarlett came to a stop at the bottom of the porch steps and raised one eyebrow

"What?" I asked

"Aren't you going to open the door?" She shoved her free hand in her pocket, apparently prepared to wait me out