and it seemed to pander to his male ego. “I’m glad you see it my way.” He forced her arms behind her and bound them with a rope. “Maybe you’ll stay tied this time.”
She felt the rough hemp biting into her wrists and managed to gasp, “Okay, tie me up. I don’t care. Just keep your hands off of me.”
“Don’t worry.”
His disdainful tone cut her to the quick. Not that she was experiencing Stockholm Syndrome or attracted to this guy in any way, shape or form, but she’d always felt unattractive to men. And his rebuff just confirmed her innermost perceptions.
He quickly shoved her away.
She stumbled a step as immediate quiet settled in her mind. Her heart slowed. The normal rhythm of her own thoughts fell back in place. She locked stares with him.
He was a towering shadow above her, long hair flowing wildly about his shoulders, his breath heaving, fists gripped tightly at his sides. He looked ready to attack, as if the beast would emerge any second. He raised one long finger and shook it at her nose. “A warning. If you try to leave again, I won’t be as accommodating next time.”
“Why are you keeping me here? What have I done to you?” She stepped back from him.
His arm snaked out and grabbed her shoulder, bringing her up short. “Don’t move, unless I tell you.”
“Okay.” She couldn’t see his expression clearly in the darkness, but his resignation and detachment and iciness railroaded through her mind.
“Please, let go.” She shrugged off his touch.
He dropped his hand and stepped back from her. “Do what I tell you, and you needn’t worry about me getting close to you again.”
“Fine.”
“Turn around, and get moving.” He pointed at the doors she had come through only moments ago.
She walked that way, feeling tropical leaves brushing her face and body. She scanned the conservatory for an escape route and felt him so close behind her the tips of his boots almost touched her heels. He’d definitely carry through with his threat, and this time he could lose the tenuous rein he had on his beast. She’d have to bide her time, if she had any to bide. “Where are you taking me?” she asked.
“To a more secluded spot. I’d hoped to keep you here for a while until I’d had time to decide what to do with you, but you’ve proven that’s impossible.”
“Please, I won’t try to escape again.”
“Right, and if you’re selling bridges, I’ll buy one.”
“Okay, so I lied. Please let me go.”
“No.”
So much for reasoning with him. He’d kill her for sure. Fear edged a line down each one of her vertebrae.But it didn’t stop her from asking, “Why didn’t you kill the gleaner when you had the chance?” Now that she thought about it, he had shown a surprising control over his beast in that moment that she had to admire. Still, she wished he had ended the gleaner problem.
“That’s none of your business,” he grumbled.
“I’m sure your pride wanted the gleaner destroyed. You guys risk exposure otherwise.”
“Be quiet. You talk too much.”
Nina clamped her mouth shut. She was certain Kane Van Cleave was harboring a gleaner. But why? This gleaner had to be stopped. If she got away, she’d find it and destroy it herself. But first she had to escape a more immediate threat: Kane Van Cleave.
Kane forced Nina to go out the servants’ entrance and into the garage. He flicked on the garage light and herded her down an aisle past antique Porsches and Bentleys and Rolls-Royces.
He couldn’t help but watch the sway of her coal-black hair that cascaded down her back. Blue highlights danced along the straight strands that almost touched her bottom, which was hidden by a bulky sweater and baggy corduroy pants. He decided he liked it down better than the tight bun she’d worn the first time he’d seen her. She was way too petite for his taste, her head hardly reaching his chest. Her hair was by far her most attractive feature.
“Jeez, these all your
She felt the rough hemp biting into her wrists and managed to gasp, “Okay, tie me up. I don’t care. Just keep your hands off of me.”
“Don’t worry.”
His disdainful tone cut her to the quick. Not that she was experiencing Stockholm Syndrome or attracted to this guy in any way, shape or form, but she’d always felt unattractive to men. And his rebuff just confirmed her innermost perceptions.
He quickly shoved her away.
She stumbled a step as immediate quiet settled in her mind. Her heart slowed. The normal rhythm of her own thoughts fell back in place. She locked stares with him.
He was a towering shadow above her, long hair flowing wildly about his shoulders, his breath heaving, fists gripped tightly at his sides. He looked ready to attack, as if the beast would emerge any second. He raised one long finger and shook it at her nose. “A warning. If you try to leave again, I won’t be as accommodating next time.”
“Why are you keeping me here? What have I done to you?” She stepped back from him.
His arm snaked out and grabbed her shoulder, bringing her up short. “Don’t move, unless I tell you.”
“Okay.” She couldn’t see his expression clearly in the darkness, but his resignation and detachment and iciness railroaded through her mind.
“Please, let go.” She shrugged off his touch.
He dropped his hand and stepped back from her. “Do what I tell you, and you needn’t worry about me getting close to you again.”
“Fine.”
“Turn around, and get moving.” He pointed at the doors she had come through only moments ago.
She walked that way, feeling tropical leaves brushing her face and body. She scanned the conservatory for an escape route and felt him so close behind her the tips of his boots almost touched her heels. He’d definitely carry through with his threat, and this time he could lose the tenuous rein he had on his beast. She’d have to bide her time, if she had any to bide. “Where are you taking me?” she asked.
“To a more secluded spot. I’d hoped to keep you here for a while until I’d had time to decide what to do with you, but you’ve proven that’s impossible.”
“Please, I won’t try to escape again.”
“Right, and if you’re selling bridges, I’ll buy one.”
“Okay, so I lied. Please let me go.”
“No.”
So much for reasoning with him. He’d kill her for sure. Fear edged a line down each one of her vertebrae.But it didn’t stop her from asking, “Why didn’t you kill the gleaner when you had the chance?” Now that she thought about it, he had shown a surprising control over his beast in that moment that she had to admire. Still, she wished he had ended the gleaner problem.
“That’s none of your business,” he grumbled.
“I’m sure your pride wanted the gleaner destroyed. You guys risk exposure otherwise.”
“Be quiet. You talk too much.”
Nina clamped her mouth shut. She was certain Kane Van Cleave was harboring a gleaner. But why? This gleaner had to be stopped. If she got away, she’d find it and destroy it herself. But first she had to escape a more immediate threat: Kane Van Cleave.
Kane forced Nina to go out the servants’ entrance and into the garage. He flicked on the garage light and herded her down an aisle past antique Porsches and Bentleys and Rolls-Royces.
He couldn’t help but watch the sway of her coal-black hair that cascaded down her back. Blue highlights danced along the straight strands that almost touched her bottom, which was hidden by a bulky sweater and baggy corduroy pants. He decided he liked it down better than the tight bun she’d worn the first time he’d seen her. She was way too petite for his taste, her head hardly reaching his chest. Her hair was by far her most attractive feature.
“Jeez, these all your
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