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had melted against him. She discovered that she was tilting her face up to his . Oh damn—those deep green eyes … She caught herself, silently demanding, What the hell are you doing, Shawna?
    She shoved him hard. He didn’t budge, but she had managed to put a small space between them. He was like a stock as he stood his ground and grinned at her.
    His attitude infuriated her. “Get out. I don’t know you. I don’t trust you, and you have no idea who I really am. I am not your concern, and if you want Pentim Rawley dead, you won’t find me in your way. I want you out of here because I don’t want or need your help. I work alone.”
    He sighed and put a caressing finger to her cheek, but she pulled away roughly and her silver eyes glinted daggers at him. “OUT!”
    His grin vanished. He had not anticipated this kind of resistance from her. His eyebrow arched, and he said softly, “Am I wrong about you then, lass? I thought ye didn’t want to fall in with your… father .”
    She gasped, and then fury took over as she jumped away from him. No one knew that Pentim Rawley was her father. How could he know that? Was he in league with the hated vampire? Was this all a ploy to get her to go with him?
    She took a fighting stance, her face grim. “How dare you. I don’t know how you know what you think you know, and I don’t care. I want you out of my place. I want you out of my life. I have been taking care of myself for a long time, and I know what I am doing.”
    He stepped closer to her, and his voice was low as he bent his head to whisper, “Och, lass, ye haven’t a clue what ye be up against.”
    She stepped away from his intoxicating scent. What was it? Pine and something musky she thought. “How do I know you aren’t one of his clan?”
    “You know I’m not one of them.” His eyes raked over her.
    “I don’t know anything. Why should you help me?”
    He ran his hand through his tawny mass of hair, and his green eyes took on a steely expression. “Because I want Pentim dead, and I think you are my way to get what I want. He won’t stop until he finds you, lass. He won’t give up. You are running helter-skelter . You think you know what you are doing. You don’t have a clue what you are up against. He has the advantage, he has numbers, and some of those numbers have developed special talents over the years. When they find you, they will surround you. Some will come up quickly from behind, others right up into your face. They won’t give you a moment to think. Then what, lass? All your magic won’t help against their combined power. What then?”
    She stared at him in disbelief for a moment. How did he know about her magic? Who the hell was he?
    She had to think. She turned away from him and stared out the window. “They won’t find me. Pentim doesn’t even know my name.”
    “ I found you .”
    She grimaced and folded her arms. “What really is in it for you to help me?”
    “I told you I need you to draw him to me. When the time is right—after I’ve trained you—we will let him find you. We’ll let him come to us, and we will have the advantage.”
    “Ah—now I get it. You want to set me up as bait. You have some beef with Pentim and think you can use me. No. You’re crazy. You are the one that will get me caught. I’ve been doing okay on my own, so just please…get out. Leave me alone.”
    He reached out for her, and she struggled against his hold as he pulled her into his arms. “You’re wrong, but I’m no getting through to ye, lass, so I’ll be going. When you need me— find me .” He bent and pressed his lips gently to hers.
    She fought him and wiggled, but for no good reason she found her lips parting beneath the pressure of his. Everything vanished as the air sizzled all around her. She felt a vibration fluctuate throughout her body as his tongue dipped and caressed hers. He molded her suddenly, she realized in mortification, pliable body to his. She heard a low,