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She cleared her throat and did just that, busying herself with the crisps once more.
My phone started to ring, and I pulled it from the pocket of my slacks. It was Finnan. Probably checking up on his future bride. Sliding my finger across the screen, I answered the call.
“Finnan, we’re in the car.”
“Torin told me you had to stop.”
“Sloane wasn’t well. She needed to clean up.”
“How’s she doing now?”
I glanced over at her. She was watching me, worrying at her bottom lip with her teeth. “Seems better.”
“Good. I’ll meet you when you get here.”
I hung up, sliding the phone back into my pocket.
“Was that myhusband-to-be?” she asked mockingly.
“Yes, it was. He’s looking forward to meeting you.”
“He couldn’t get a woman to marry him without throwing abduction in as foreplay?”
I tried to hide my smile. The woman had a sass mouth—something I wasn’t sure Finnan would like, but I sure as hell did. “He’s got plenty of women to choose from, but he’s not marrying for love. Or sex.”
“What’s he marrying for then?”
“Power.”
She blinked her dove-gray eyes at me. “How is he going to gain power off marrying me?”
I scrutinized her face. She didn’t seem the least bit concerned that she was being married off to a stranger.
“Why doesn’t this bother you?”
“Definethis? Getting sick then being forced to walk barefoot on a disgusting public restroom floor? Enjoying these damn prawn cocktailcrispsso much?” She brandished the bag at me. “Or is it that I’ve been sold to a man like a piece of property?”
In the front, Torin cleared his throat like he was trying to disguise a laugh.
I ignored him and said, “The last one. The property one.”
“My father taught me to always expect something like this to happen to me one day.”
I couldn’t help it. I arched a brow. “Arranged marriage?”
She rolled her eyes. “Abduction. By the time I was thirteen, there had been two attempted kidnappings and one attempt on my life. My father started going through abduction drills after that.”
“What else did your father do?”
“Taught me how to shoot. How to use knives. Martial arts. Jujitsu. Kickboxing.”
Damn, all of that was a fucking turn-on.I stroked my stubbled jaw.
“Since you won’t tell mehowthis betrothal to Finnan came about, at least tell me a bit about him.”
“He’s a fair man but ruthless. If you cross him, expect the retribution to be swift and fatal. He doesn’t share his things, so when you become his, I recommend you avoid staring at other men too long or engaging them in conversation. And for the love of all things holy, don’t flirt with someone else.”
In a sugary voice, she replied, “He sounds like a treat. Anything else I should know?”
