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Okay. Since I m the House s gatekeeper, that sounds legit. The elevator doors opened when
she hit the button. How did you know where I live?
The internet is an amazing thing, and I m highly motivated. With House Of Payne unveiling
its 3D art as the latest, hottest trend in tattooing, now is the time for me to strike.
She grimaced, well aware through her own troubleshooting sessions online that just about
everything was up for grabs if a person looked hard enough. Thanks, at least, for not continuing to
pass off being in my neighborhood as some freaky coincidence. Anything less would have been
insulting.
I believe I have insulted you enough. His accent deepened, and when she glanced up at him
she could have sworn she saw a hint of genuine regret. I want to make it up to you. You lost your
coffee when you were mugged, yes? Allow me to buy you another and we can start over.
It was tea, and I m so freaking done talking about anything work-related. I told you, I m on
vacation. You know, the thing that you go on to escape from your work?
As much as it pains me, I promise I will not mention my project again, came the solemn
vow. I too, would be angry if anyone reminded me of work if I were on holiday. I promise to be on
my best behavior, while at the same time doing all that I can to make up for my poor choice of
words.
I& She was sorry she d lost her tea, but she could easily make more for herself, despite
Leo s suspicion that she was incapable. The fact was, she simply liked the social connection of going
out for it, and grabbing some tea with high class eye-candy like Ivar Fournier was a social connection
to be wished for by any female with a pulse.
Not to mention if she got him to relax his guard, she might be able to figure out why he set off
her trouble alarms&
Okay. As long as we can stop by a flower shop along the way, I m game.
Chapter Three
As he watched Scout roam through the displays of fresh-cut flowers, Ivar studied her every nuance.
He d almost ruined everything.
The moment he d seen the storm rise in her eyes, he realized his mistake. Scout wasn t like the
women in his world; so many of those women were spoiled, vapid brats who were used to being
revered. They assumed that every word spoken had to be a compliment to their greatness, even when
it wasn t.
Scout Upton was the exact opposite. She believed every word he spoke was an attack.
She didn t trust him. That was new, and he didn t like it. Nor did he understand why she was
so on guard with him. With the exception of his family, he d been able to charm every female he d
come across from the time he d learned to smile on command. His grandmother had forced him to
show the world what she called the Fournier charm, and no one had ever seen past it.
Trying to look past his charm was all Scout ever did.
He couldn t allow that to happen. No one got to see the monster behind the mask.
These hyacinths are gorgeous. She plucked up a bundle of conical flowers on long stems
that looked like giant purple, pink and white Q-Tips. She buried her face in them and inhaled deeply.
Wow, that s heaven right there. You just can t beat springtime for flowers.
So those were hyacinths. She knew their name on sight. I thought most women preferred
roses.
She slid him an unimpressed side-eye. First off, puh-lease. Stereotypes show a decided lack
of imagination, so I m not even going to go there. Secondly, I do love roses just as much as I love
honeysuckle, lilacs, cherry blossoms and tulips. Or, in this case, hyacinths.
Ah. Again, she d been less than bowled over by him. What the hell was with her? A nature
lover in the heart of one of this country s largest cities, eh?
I don t know about the entirety of nature, but I m totally gaga for flowers. As she wandered
nearer, she absently brushed her fingers over the flowers inked across her upper chest and around her
neck in a lei-like pattern. Do you remember the first time you ever saw a flower?
The first time? He thought of the formal gardens of his grandmother s estate he d been able
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