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She sucked in a breath. “Really?”
“In one particular home. The foster father felt compelled to discipline unruly teen boys.” My gut hardened. I rarely talked about Harvey Tucker. He was part of the past.
Anger hit London’s face, but thankfully, I didn’t see any pity.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“It wasn’t all bad, but that was the worst. He liked to beat each of us, but he picked on Reath the most. He’s African-American, and I think Tucker was a racist, as well as just an asshole.”
“What happened?”
“Eventually we fought back, and we became brothers. We left and made our own way. They are the best men I know, and I know that they always have my back.”
“That’s a good thing. It’s just me and Lexxie, so I understand.” She twisted the box and a part of it opened. She laughed.
That sound. I felt it deep inside, and realized that this woman could be a danger to me. At first, we’d been enemies; now, I wasn’t sure what we were.
But I damn sure knew I wanted her.
I wanted to see under the complex layers. I wanted to see all parts of London. Especially the ones she kept locked up and protected, just like that puzzle box she liked.
She kept working on the box, then let out a frustrated breath.
“Stuck?” I asked.
She shot me a sharp look. “I’ll get it.”
After a few more minutes, her frown deepened.
“Want a hint?”
She eyed me. “All right.”
“What will you give me in return?”
She cocked her head. “Are you bribing me?”
I just smiled. “I’m a businessman. It’s important to negotiate.”
She considered for a moment. “What do you want?”
“You can start by letting your hair down.”
She rolled her eyes, but she reached up and pulled the band out of her hair. The dark silk of it washed around her shoulders.
“Well?” she said.
“That’s a good start but I want more. Tell me a secret. Something you’ve never shared with anyone else.”
She stilled.
Ah, my lovely agent didn’t like revealing her secrets.
“Or—” I toyed with her hair again “—you can open a few buttons of your shirt.”
“I see you’re very used to negotiating.” She eyed me for a beat, then flicked open the top three buttons on her shirt. I saw a tantalizing hint of lace and skin under the sensible cotton.
And just like that, I went hard.
