don’t mistake the flash in his eyes for anything less than fury. His fists ball on the desk. His men all turn and look at me.
I back up, not saying a word, and make a hasty retreat, heading back the way I came. I’ve seen his eyes in various states of fury, but never have I seen them burning that hard. I’m just about to hotfoot it up the stairs when I hear my name being called. But not by him. I turn toward the woman’s voice, finding Esther, the dark-haired lady who showed me to my suite last night.
“You must be hungry,” she says, indicating to her right. “I was just about to bring breakfast to your room, but since you’re here . . .”
It’s the first time she’s spoken to me. She’s English? She’s a very attractive lady, maybe late forties, with a slim body and clear complexion. She’s wearing the same as last night—a gray maid’s uniform. It’s plain. Boring. I look back toward Danny’s office, torn.
“He wants you to eat,” she says, winning back my attention. “The kitchen is this way.” Turning, Esther wanders away, and I resolve myself to follow, perhaps because she’s the only other woman I’ve seen since I arrived. It’s someone to talk to.
Entering the kitchen, an enormous space with more glass doors leading to the garden, I take a seat at the island. Esther doesn’t speak as she putters around, wiping the sides, emptying the dishwasher, putting a fresh pot of coffee on. The silence is awkward.
“How long have you worked here?” I ask, trying to make idle conversation.
“Long enough,” she says over her shoulder, swirling the coffee pot as the machine drips fat drops of caffeine into it. Long enough. That sounds like too long.
“You run the house?”
“I do as I’m asked to do.” She pours the coffee into a cup and passes it over, and I accept on a small smile. “You’ll do well to do the same.”
I say nothing but think plenty. Everyone does what Danny Black asks them to do. I should heed her advice.
“Bagel? Toast?” she asks, reaching into a cupboard.
“Toast, please.”
She loads the toaster with two slices of bread and presses the lever, sinking them. Then she goes about her chores again, as if I’m not here. I spin my coffee cup, wondering if she’s even curious about me and how I’ve come to be in her boss’s mansion. “I hope you don’t mind me ask—”
“You can leave, Esther.” Danny’s voice hits my back with force, sounding as angry as his eyes looked when I fled his office. I don’t turn around, and instead watch Esther scuttle off without another word. Dropping my eyes to the speckled gray and black marble counter, I start studying the various patterns, trying to make shapes and pictures out of them. I know he’s getting close. Every hair on my nape is standing to attention. I shudder, tense. And then his hand rests on my neck. But rather than tense more, I relax.
“Never listen in on my work conversations again.”
“Okay.” I don’t apologize, and I don’t try to explain myself either. It would be a waste of my energy.
His grip tightens. “You’re hungry.” I nod. “Thirsty?” I simply raise my coffee cup, and his grip tightens a little more. You would think with my compliance he would be softening. But his hold of me is getting harder. And I know why. He’s looking for a yelp, anything to show my discomfort. He won’t get it.
“Harder,” I spit without thought, setting my coffee cup on the counter and placing a hand over his on the back of my neck. “If you’re going to do it, do it properly.” I push down, egging him on, and he moves in, his groin pressing into my back.
Dipping, he bites my lobe, grazing it harshly through his teeth. I close my eyes and force myself not to allow our contact to dent my resolve.
“Coffee?” I ask, completely out of the blue. It’s stupid, but there’s a method in my madness. Get him off me before I do something I regret. Like swivel and unzip his fly.
He chuckles in my ear, the sound soft and light.
Just like that.
From growling, angry bear, to cute little cub.
“Please.” He releases me, and I jump off the stool like a rubber ball, taking myself to the safe side of the island as I shake myself back to life. He takes my stool, cocking one foot on the rest and