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made it. Not until we’re three traffic lights
away do I pull over to the curb. He rolls up beside me on his
low-slung chopper that perfectly suits his huge frame.
    I lift my visor to meet a glacial stare as he asks
angrily, “You wanna give me some idea what all that bullshit was about back there?”
    “No. I don’t. It was my personal business.”
    The muscles in his neck and shoulders go rigid as he
grates out, “Your business, huh? Woman, I about capped three guys
in a packed nightclub just to get us outta there safely, so I think
the very least you can do is give me a fuckin’ explanation.
The cloak and dagger act is wearin’ thin, sweetheart.”
    He’s leaning forward, nostrils flared. Most women
would be terrified, but I’m unbelievably aroused.
    I reply smoothly, “I didn’t ask for your help
back there. I could’ve managed on my own.”
    He shakes his head back and forth in disbelief. “To
hell you could’ve. C’mon, we’ll finish this conversation over at my
place—that is, unless you have more ‘plans’?”
    “I’m not sure whether I like or detest you,
cowboy.”
    “Don’t matter. You’ll be mine soon enough and I
assure you that you’ll more than ‘like’ me then.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “You heard what I said, wildcat. Follow me. I don’t
live far.”
    “You’re impossibly direct.”
    “Real men always are, darlin’. C’mon.”
    I give him a questioning look and he lands me with,
“The least you can do is give me twenty minutes of your time
to explain the shit that’s been rollin’ around in my brain from
that night down on River Street.”
    Turn him down, an inner voice warns. This
can’t lead anywhere good for either of us.
    My emotions drown out the voice of reason. “All
right, just one drink.”
    “Whatever you say, boss lady.”
    I fight a smile while pulling out behind him.
    It’s a good thing I fed two nights ago, which
hopefully will give me a modicum of self-control, because his
unique, all-male scent is already getting to me. Badly. If his
presence alone has this effect on me, I can’t imagine how
addictively luscious his blood would be … not to mention what
moves he could deliver with that gladiator body of his.

Chapter
Five
9:00 a.m.—August
30, 1782
Beauvais
Plantation
    “ O ne hundred and seventy six.
One hundred and seventy seven. One hundred and seventy
eight ….”
    The sharp rap at my slightly open door pulls me out
of my abyss of emptiness.
    “Yes?”
    My grandfather enters with the doctor, who is taller
and lankier than I imagined he’d be. We’ve been waiting for him to
arrive from Boston ever since the accident nearly two weeks ago.
I’ve tried to prepare myself for any diagnosis, but at this point
the unknown is just as horrific as finally hearing the consequences
of my terrible decision to ride Sacred Falls.
    “Cosette, this is Doctor Harden. As you are aware, he
has graciously cleared his hectic schedule and traveled very far to
examine you.”
    He studies me from a distance, and I can’t help my
sudden attack of nerves as I wait for him to proceed.
    “I shall leave you two alone. Cosette, I will be two
rooms away in my office should you need me.”
    “That’s fine, Grandfather.”
    “Very well.”
    My grandfather turns to leave and I catch the
unmistakable look of nervous hope, nearly a plea as his eyes meet
those of the doctor. I want to weep at the stress and unrest I have
caused him. I bite down on my lower lip to stop it from trembling
as the doctor moves slowly toward my oversized cherry wood rice
bed.
    “Hello, Cosette.”
    “H-hello, Doctor Harden.”
    “I’m here to assist you. Please don’t be nervous. I
took the Hippocratic Oath fifteen years ago, which means that first
and foremost I must do no harm and always uphold the highest
ethical standards. If possible, I would never do anything to cause
you distress, Cosette. Now, if it is not too upsetting, can you
tell me in your own words what happened to you on the