The skin on the back of Sylvia''s hand stung from the heat, making her jerk away instinctively—but the man''s grip only tightened, like he was trying to crush her fingers.

She frowned and tried to pull free, about to snap at him, when she caught sight of the bandage wrapped around the base of his thumb.

She hesitated, ncing up-and met Rupert''s pitch-ck eyes dead-on.

The warm glow from the chandelier spilled across his face, but it didn''t soften his gaze, not even a little.

Sylvia stared straight at him. "Mr. Rupert, is there something else you want? If the Garcia family insists I take the rest of those nineshes, I''ll go back right now. As long as it gets me away from them."

"Do you have to talk to me like that?"

Rupert''s voice was cool, but there was something raw and unsteady beneath it. Sylvia gave a sharp, bitterugh. "Are we even close, Mr. Rupert?"

She looked away, cold and distant, determined to keep as much space between them as possible.

Rupert watched her retreat, and for a moment, his carefully controlled expression fractured. He forgot the promise he''d made to Lester, forgot theposure he always kept.

Anyone else could treat him like this-he didn''t care. But not her. With her, he just couldn''t take it.

As Sylvia tried to step back, his arm shot out and pulled her against him. Her waist was pinned tight, his face buried in her hair, breath hot against her ear. The sensation sent a shiver straight through her.

She turned her face away, refusing to meet his eyes.

Rupert pulled back just enough to see her face, his fingers brushing her chin, still tinged with the scent of cigarettes. His presence seemed to hang around her, inescapable no matter how hard she tried.

He leaned closer, eyes flickering as he squeezed her chin. "Your ears are turning red."

Sylvia''s hands flew up to cover her ears before she could stop herself.

Rupert''s lips curled into a smirk—he''d said it just to tease her, and she''d fallen for it.

"Mr. Rupert, what exactly do you want from me? I''ve lost my memory. Please stop doing things that''ll give people the wrong idea."

She tried to yank her hand away, but he held her wrist tight, pulling her up onto her toes, forcing her even close Their breaths mingled their noses almost touching.  s

Was it just her imagination, or was he actually smiling?

Rupert''s voice was low and steady. "Sylvia, memory or no memory, Garcia family or not-you''re not

getting away from me

want you

you could be the most stubborn mule in Kentucky and I''d still drag you back."  s?novels

"Who are you calling a mule? You''re the mule! You''re shameless! You have no decency!" Sylvia snapped.

Rupert shrugged. "Look at the things I''m doing. You really think I care about decency?"

"You-!"

She red at him, furious, but at a loss for words.

Suddenly, she winced, her face twisting in pain. "Ow..."

Rupert''s eyes narrowed. "Sylvia, who exactly do you think you''re fooling with that act?"

Her heart skipped a beat. She was about to argue when he finally let go of her hand.fn8148 Follow current nov?ls on FindN()vel/fn8148

She shoved him away and scrambled back onto the bed.

Normally, trying to get away from Rupert was like trying to move a brick wall. But

today, he''d let her go easily, even stumbling back a little himself.

Orson, hovering nearby, hurried over in rm. "Mr. Rupert, your—"

Rupert''s face darkened. "It''s nothing. Just give it to her."

Orson nced at Rupert''s clenched fists and the sweat beading at his hairlin then quickly stepped forward blocking Rupert from view to give him a moment to recover."  s

"Ms. Lloyd, this is from the Garcia family''s chef."

Sylvia''s attention snapped to the insted container in Orson''s hands. She eyed

it suspiciously. "What is it?"

Orson popped the lid, and the rich aroma of a steaming chicken pot pie wafted

out.