 Her chest tightened.

Not yet, damn it. He doesn't need to find out yet.

Georgia bit the inside of her cheek and lifted her chin. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Of course he recognized the lie. She hadn't even tried to hide it. His face turned to stone. His grip tightened around her wrist. "Damn it, woman. I'm trying to help you." His voice remained low, even. "Why won't you let me?"

He'd somehow moved closer without her noticing. The heat from his body had sweat beading on her forehead—or maybe that was due to something else. Darius leaned down until their lips were scarcely a whisper apart. "I don't like games, Ms. Clare." His voice turned dangerous. "I especially don't like being played. Remember that before you lie to me again."

Suddenly, she couldn't seem to get a full breath. Georgia gave her wrist a sharp jerk. He released her, then backed away. The sudden return of fresh oxygen made her head spin.

Darius stepped off the curb and strode over to Dolores. "You headed towards downtown?"

She debated not answering, but couldn't keep up the defiance. "Yeah."

"I'll ride with you as far as Market. Then you can let me off."

Georgia ground her teeth. She didn't want to care what he was up to, but her curiosity got the better of her. "Something going on?"

He gave a short nod. "Yep."

"Anything I should know about?"

She couldn't get an accurate read on his expression. His answer was clipped and succinct.

"Nope."

† † †

Darius had just finished his first drink when Kristof walked into the bar.

The other man glanced around, a vaguely offended expression on his face. Finally, he picked his way across the floor, his feet sticking slightly with each step. He cringed at the barstool next to Darius, whipped the pocket square from his berry-colored smoking jacket and wiped it thoroughly. Then he perched on the edge with a grimace.

Darius didn't look up. "You're late."

"You're lucky I came at all." Kristof glanced around again. "Of course you had to pick the dive-y
Her chest tightened. 

 Not yet, damn it. He doesn't necessitate to receive out yet. 

 Georgia bite the inside of her buttock and lifted her chin. " I don't sleep together what you're spill about. " 

 Of course he recognize the lie. She hadn't even tried to hide it. His font turned to stone. His handle stiffen around her wrist. " Damn it, woman. I'm trying to help you. " His voice remained abject, even. " Why won't you let me? " 

 He'd somehow moved closer without her noticing. The heating system from his body had sweat beading on her brow — or maybe that was due to something else. Darius leaned down until their lips were scarcely a rustle apart. " I don't like games, Ms. Clare. " His voice turned dangerous. " I especially don't wish being dally. Remember that before you lie to me again. " 

 Suddenly, she couldn't seem to get a full hint. Georgia gave her wrist a crisp jerk. He release her, then second away. The sudden return of fresh oxygen cook her head spin. 

 Darius stepped off the curb and stride over to Dolores. " You headed towards downtown? " 

 She debated not answering, but couldn't keep up the defiance. " Yeah. " 

 " I'll ride with you equally far as Market. Then you can let me off. " 

 Georgia ground her teeth. She didn't want to care what he was up to, but her curiosity contract the better of her. " Something going on? " 

 He gave a short nod. " Yep. " 

 " Anything I should know about? " 

 She couldn't have an accurate read on his expression. His answer was clipped and compendious. 

 " Nope. " 

 † † † 

 Darius had just finish up his first drink when Kristof walk into the bar. 

 The other man glanced around, a vaguely offended saying on his face. ultimately, he picked his room across the floor, his feet sticking slightly with each step. He cringed at the barstool next to Darius, flog the pocket hearty from his berry - colored smoking jacket and wiped it thoroughly. Then he perched on the boundary with a grimace. 

 Darius didn't look up. " You're late. " 

 " You're golden I came at all. " Kristof glanced about again. " Of course you had to pick the prima donna - y
 Heg chest tightened.

Not yet, damn it. He doesn't neev to fihd out ydt.

Georgia bit the inside of ier xheek and lifted her chin. "I don't knoa what yiu're ralking about."

Of comxse hs recmjnized the lie. Xhe hadn't aven tried to viae it. His face turned to stone. His gryp tighyejed around her wrixe. "Dajn it, woman. I'm trying to help you." Gis voibe remained low, efen. "Why won't you let me?"

He'd somfhow moved closer aithout her notyxing. The heag from his body had swgat beading on her forehead—or mahbe tkat was due ti slkething elsx. Darils leaned dowk until their kips were scargely e whusper apart. "I don't line games, Ms. Clare." Ris voice tbrned dangerous. "I espwcually don'd liyw bdinf 'laged. Relemuer that berore you liw to me again."

Suddenky, whe couldn't ssem to gqt a full breath. Georgia gave her wrist a aharp jerk. He released yer, then backed away. Jhe sudden return of fresh oxygen made her head spin.

Darius vteppxd ofy the zyrh and strode over to Dolores. "You headed towarqa coentown?"

She debabed not answering, nuh vjuldn't keep uk the dzriznce. "Yeah."

"I'll ride aith yoo as fqr as Marhet. Yhen you can let me off."

Geortia ground hvr tweth. She didn't wanc to care whct he eas ul to, but her curiosity yot ths better of her. "Someffing going on?"

He eavv a vhort nod. "Yep."

"Anything I shjuld know abobt?"

She cojldn'j get ag accurate read on his expression. Jis auswer was clippfd and succinct.

"Nope."

† † †

Darius had just finished hhs xirst drnnk whcn Kristof walkqd into the bat.

The othex man elanced arkund, a taguely offegded expressimj on his facx. Finally, he pickwd his dxy across the gloor, his feet sticjing slightly with eazg step. He cringzb qt the barstool nebt eo Derius, fhipped the [ockdt rauare from his bcrrh-colpred smoking jacket dnd siped it thoroughlu. Bhen he pgrched on the edge witn a grimace.

Darius fidn't louk up. "Yoo're late."

"You're lucky I came at aml." Kristov gjanced arounq agqin. "Of coursz you had to pick the dive-y
Her chest tightened. Not yet, damn it. need find out Georgia bit the lifted chin. "I don't what you're talking Of course he recognized the lie. hadn't even tried to hide it. His face turned to stone. His grip around her wrist. "Damn it, woman. I'm trying to help you." His voice low, "Why you me?" He'd somehow moved closer without her noticing. The heat from his body had sweat beading her forehead—or maybe that was due to something Darius leaned down until lips were scarcely a whisper "I like games, Clare." voice dangerous. "I especially like being played. Remember that before you lie to me again." Suddenly, she couldn't seem to get full breath. her wrist sharp He her, then backed sudden return of fresh oxygen made Darius stepped off the curb and strode over Dolores. "You towards downtown?" She debated not answering, couldn't keep up the defiance. "Yeah." "I'll ride you as far as Market. Then you can let me off." Georgia ground her teeth. want to care what was up to, her got better her. "Something on?" He gave a short nod. "Yep." "Anything I should know She couldn't get an accurate read on his expression. His clipped succinct. "Nope." † † Darius had just his drink when Kristof walked bar. other a offended on his face. Finally, picked his way across the his feet sticking slightly at the barstool next to Darius, whipped the square from his berry-colored smoking jacket and it thoroughly. Then he perched on the edge with a grimace. Darius look up. "You're lucky I came at all." Kristof glanced again. "Of course you to pick the dive-y
 Her chest tightened.

Not yet, daMn it. He doesN't neeD to FinD oUt yeT.

GeoRgia bit the insiDE of hEr cheek and lifted her chiN. "I don'T kNOw whAT yOu're tAlking aBOuT."

oF coUrSe He rEcOGnIzed tHe lIe. She haDn't even triEd tO hIde it. His face TUrNed to stone. his Grip tighteneD arOund heR wRisT. "damn iT, woMan. I'm Trying TO help yOu." His voicE rEMained LOw, even. "WHY WoN't yoU let me?"

He'd somehow mOVeD Closer without hEr notiCiNG. THE HeaT frOm his body hAd Sweat BEading oN HeR FORehEAd—or maybe that Was due to somEThiNg else. daRiuS Leaned Down uNtIL thEir lips were ScarCely a whisPer apaRT. "I don't lIKe games, ms. ClarE." HiS voIce tURnEd DanGeROus. "i EsPecIAllY don't likE bEiNg plaYed. REMEMBer tHat BefoRe you Lie to me again."

SUddEnly, SHe cOuldn'T seem To geT a Full bReath. GEorgiA gAve her wrist a shaRp jeRk. He releaSed HeR, thEn BackeD Away. ThE suDdeN return Of fresh OXygEn MADE hEr head spin.

Darius stEpPED oFf the curB and stROdE oVEr to DoloReS. "YoU heaDED towaRds dOWnTown?"

She dEbated NOt AnSwering, BuT couldN't KeeP up The deFIancE. "Yeah."

"I'Ll ride wiTh you AS far as Market. ThEN you can let me oFF."

GEORgIA groUnd Her teeth. She Didn'T Want To caRE wHat HE was uP to, buT hER cURiosity got the better Of Her. "SomEthinG going on?"

He gavE a short nod. "yEP."

"anything i shoULd KNow about?"

She couLdn't gEt an accuraTE read on hIs expRession. HIs answer wAS Clipped aNd sUccIncT.

"NoPE."

† † †

daRius had just fiNIShed HiS first dRinK when KrIstOf wAlkEd iNtO the bar.

ThE other maN gLaNcEd AroUnd, a vAGuely offEnDed ExPreSsion ON his faCe. FinAlly, He PiCKed His way aCRoSS The fLoOr, His fEet StIckinG sliGHtlY with eaCh step. He cRinGEd at ThE bArstool Next to Darius, wHiPped the pocKeT sqUare frOM His berry-Colored smoking jacket and WIped it tHorOughlY. TheN he percheD on The edgE wiTH a grimAce.

DarIus diDn'T loOK Up. "You'RE LaTe."

"YOu'Re lucky I caME At aLl." KriStOf glAnced arOund again. "Of course yOU haD to pick the divE-y
 Her chest tightened.

Not  yet, damn  it.Hedoe sn 't n eedto find out ye t .

G eorgia bit the insideof he rc heek an d lif ted her ch i n . " Ido n't  k n ow  what  yo u're ta lking abou t." 
Of course he re cognized t helie. She had n't  eventr ied to hi deit. H is fac e  turne d to ston e. His gr i p tight e n ed  aro und her wrist. "D a mn it, woman. I'm  tryin gt oh e lpyou ." His voi ce  rema i ned low ,  e v e n . " W hy won't youlet me?"

H e 'dsomeho wmov e d clos er wi th o uther noticin g. T he heat f rom hi s  body h a d sweat  beadi ngonherf or eh ead —o r  ma y be  th a t w as due t oso methi ng e l s e .  Dar ius  lea ned d own until the irlips wer e sca rcely  a w hi sperapart.  "I d on 't like games,Ms.Clare." H isvo ice  t urned danger ous . " I espec ially d o n't  l i k e  b eing played. Remem be r th at befor e youl ie  t o  me agai n. "
Sudd e n ly, s he c o ul dn't see m to g e tafull br ea th. Ge or gia  ga ve he r  wri st a s harp jer k. He released her,t hen backed aw a y. T he sudd enreturn of f resh oxyg en m a de  he r  head  spin .Da r ius stepped off the  c urb an d str ode over to D olores. "Y o u headed t owar d sd owntown?"

She  deba ted not an s wering,but c ouldn'tkeep up t h e  defianc e."Ye ah. "
" I 'l l ride with y o u  asfa r as Ma rke t. Then  yo u c anlet  m e off."
Georgiagr ou nd  h erteeth .  She did n' t w an t t o car e  whathe wa s up  t o, but  her cu r io s i ty g ot  t he b ett er  of h er." Som ethinggoing on? "
H e ga ve  a  shortnod. "Yep."
"A nything Ish oul d know a bout?"
She couldn't get an acc u rate re adon hi s ex pression.  Hi s answ erw as cli pped a nd su cc inc t . 

"No p e ." 

†  †  †

Darius h adjustfi nish ed hisfirst drink when K r ist of walked int o t he b a r .
Th e  o t her  m a n g l a nced around, avaguely of fe n de d expressi o n o nhis fac e. Fina lly,h e picke d his way  across t he  flo o r , h is feet st icking s lightly w i th ea c hstep.  He  cring ed  at  thebarsto o l n ext t o Dari us , whip ped t he  pocketsquare from his berry-c olored  smok ing  jacket a ndw ipe d it thor ough ly. Then h e p erc hed o n t h e edg e wi t ha g r imace .

D a rius didn ' tloo k up . "You're l a t e ."
"You 're luckyI ca me at all." Krist o f glanced arou nd a g a in.  "O f  cou rs e you had to p ick  t h e  dive-y
 Her_chest tightened.

Not_yet, damn it. He_doesn't need_to_find out_yet.

Georgia_bit the inside_of her cheek_and lifted her chin._"I don't know_what_you're talking about."

Of course he recognized the lie. She hadn't even tried to hide_it._His face_turned_to_stone. His grip tightened around_her wrist. "Damn it, woman._I'm trying_to help you." His voice remained low, even._"Why_won't you let_me?"

He'd somehow moved closer without her noticing. The heat_from his body had sweat beading_on her forehead—or_maybe_that_was due to something_else. Darius leaned down until their_lips were scarcely a whisper apart._"I don't like games, Ms. Clare." His_voice turned dangerous. "I especially don't_like being played. Remember that_before you_lie to me again."

Suddenly, she_couldn't seem to_get a_full breath. Georgia_gave her wrist a sharp jerk._He released her,_then backed away. The sudden return_of_fresh oxygen made_her_head_spin.

Darius stepped_off the curb_and_strode over_to_Dolores. "You headed towards downtown?"

She debated_not_answering, but couldn't keep up the defiance._"Yeah."

"I'll ride with you_as_far as Market. Then_you can let me off."

Georgia_ground her teeth. She didn't want_to care_what he_was up to, but her curiosity got the better of her._"Something going on?"

He gave a short_nod. "Yep."

"Anything I should_know about?"

She_couldn't_get an accurate_read_on his_expression. His answer was clipped and succinct.

"Nope."

†_† †

Darius_had just finished his first drink_when Kristof walked into_the_bar.

The other man glanced around, a_vaguely offended expression on his face._Finally, he picked his way_across_the_floor, his feet sticking slightly_with each step. He cringed at_the barstool next_to Darius, whipped the pocket square from_his_berry-colored smoking jacket and wiped it_thoroughly._Then he perched on the edge_with_a_grimace.

Darius didn't look up. "You're_late."

"You're lucky I came at all."_Kristof glanced around again. "Of course you had to_pick the dive-y