Page 3 of Ballrooms & Blackmail

I follow his eyes down, realize I’m clenching them together and immediately drop them to my sides.

“Get in the car, River,” he murmurs.

I huff out an aggrieved breath. “I’m trying to.”

“It’s late. And you’re cold.”

Why is he still talking? “I’m fine,” I snap.

“You’re shaking.”

Immediately, I shove my hands into my coat pockets. “I’m fine.”

“Except you’re shaking.”

Ugh. “Do you have to argue with everything I say?”

“No.”

He pauses. Then—because apparently the man doesn’t know how normal human conversation works—he says, “You haven’t been sleeping.”

I blink. “How could you possibly know that?”

His green eyes search mine. “You have dark circles.”

I gape at him. “Seriously?”

A shrug. “It’s true.”

The thing is?

He’s not wrong.

I haven’t slept properly in weeks.

Not since Brooks—my boss—and Briar’s—the woman he loves—mess escalated. Dangerous criminals and an FBI investigation and too many things that don’t add up will do that to a girl.

So no, I haven’t been sleeping.

I’ve been staring at my ceiling and searching shadows and…noticing this man far too much.

And apparently he’s noticed me right back.

Which definitely shouldn’t send a curl of heat through my belly.

Because, seriously, haven’t I learned my lesson about men?

I clear my throat. “Well, thanks for pointing out I look like crap.” I hitch my head toward my open car door. “I’ll just be going now.”

His eyes narrow faintly and he takes a step toward me, wafting his spicy scent forward, filling the air around me. “You’re beautiful, River.”

“Right,” I mutter. “I’m leaving.”

The corner of his mouth hitches up.

It’s not a smile. Thorn doesn’t smile—at least not that I’ve seen. He glowers and watches and glares people into submission.

But that little twitch of his mouth just now?