to contain.
She wasn’t ready. Whatever this was, it was happening too fast.
In an attempt to regain control of the situation, she said, “Tell me about what happened on the second floor. Then we’ll discuss your favor.”
“You are very tenacious when you want something, cara. I almost pity those wife deserters. They do not stand a chance.”
“Fine.” She turned to the window, done with this maddening conversation. If he didn’t trust her enough to be honest with her, then there was no reason to pester him. He could keep his glower and his secrets. See if she cared.
The brougham crossed Houston Street. Would she really have to ride in silence all the way to upper Fifth Avenue?
Mulligan heaved a sigh. “Christ, you are maddening.” He pounded on the glass behind Rye’s back. “Bond Street instead.”
Rye darted a glance over his shoulder and Justine could see the surprise in his expression. “Are you sure?” he asked. “Because I’m thinkin’—”
“Do as I say,” Jack said calmly. “And watch the street.”
She frowned, unsure about this new direction. “What is on Bond Street? Are we shopping?”
“Do you know how to bowl?”
She opened her mouth to answer—then promptly closed it. Bowling? Was he serious? “Uh, yes. I do. I mean, I’ve been once. With my sisters. When we were young.”
His lips curled into a satisfied smirk. “Good. I’ve decided on my favor.”
“Oh. We’re to bowl one of these days?”
“No. We’re to bowl now.”
“Now?”
“I earned this favor fair and square, Justine. And I’ve decided that bowling it shall be. Right now.”
“On Bond Street?”
“Yes.”
Was there a bowling alley on Bond Street? She wasn’t certain. The area was in the heart of Mulligan’s kingdom. Returning there at night wasn’t exactly wise, even if she had him by her side. Though he was just as dangerous, but for different reasons.
Stay and I’ll make all your darkest dreams come true.
Sakes alive, she’d nearly collapsed at his feet, overcome with lust.
With a mental shake of her head, she relaxed in the plush seat. She was overreacting. It was merely bowling. With other people doing the same on the adjoining lanes. Mulligan couldn’t possibly seduce her in such a scenario.
A pang went through her and she ducked her head, mortified. Goodness, had that been disappointment?
They turned along Bond Street and she peered out the window. “Is the bowling alley on this block?”
“No.”
The brougham began to slow. That made no sense. “Are we stopping?”
He watched out the window, his hand on the latch. “Do you always ask so many questions?”
“Only when others are purposely evasive.”
The vehicle jerked to a stop. Mulligan threw open the door and hopped down to the walk. He held out a hand for her.
This block was residential. There were no businesses here, and certainly no bowling alley. “I don’t understand.”
“Come along, do-gooder.”
With a huff, she accepted his help in getting down. He led her up the steps to one of the largest houses on the block. A beautiful limestone structure with large windows and elegant cornices. Definitely not a bowling alley. When he produced a key from his pocket, she frowned. “Wait, who lives here?”
The lock clicked and he turned the brass knob. “I do.”
Jack hadn’t ever brought a woman here. Hell, he never brought anyone here.
No one knew of his home, except Rye and Cooper. Everyone else believed he lived on the top floor of the athletic club because it was off-limits to just about everyone but Jack. And there was a bed on that floor, one he used often but not for sleeping.
Instead, he resided a block over, here on Bond Street, in the former mansion of a wealthy merchant who’d moved uptown more than a decade ago. Jack bought the place because he’d discovered a tunnel that ran under his club leading to this property a block away. The tunnel had been reinforced and this passage allowed him to travel back and forth at will. Such tunnels existed all over Five Points and Lower Manhattan, but he never told a soul about his.
So, hard to say why he’d brought Justine here tonight. Except he wished to spend more time with her, away from prying eyes. Somewhere they could be absolutely alone.
And his world, his rules. Whatever he wanted, he got.
“Wait a moment.” Justine stepped inside his home, her head swiveling. “You live here. You, Mulligan, the bogeyman of downtown, live here?”
“Yes, though I’m not certain bogeyman is the right word to describe me.”
“What word would you prefer, then?”
“King.”
She laughed, her face full of joy, so heart-stoppingly beautiful,