Devil's Pawn (Devil's Pawn Duet 1)

“I wouldn’t leave any five-year-old alone in or near a pool.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“Shouldn’t she be going to school anyway? Kindergarten? She’s five. I think that’s when they start.”

“Thanks for your expert opinion which means nothing to me. She will be educated at home. If you’re above spending time—”

“That’s not why I said it. She’s a sweet girl. And a very nervous little girl. It might help her—”

“Don’t dictate to me how I raise my daughter,” I tell her in no uncertain terms.

“I just think it would be good for her to be around other kids her age,” she says, tone and expression serious and possibly a little concerned.

“Don’t think.” My gaze doesn’t waver from hers and a few moments later, she blinks away.

“Your mom’s sick,” she says. It’s not phrased as a question.

“She was. She’s better now, although not as strong as she likes to let on.”

“Chemo?”

“That’s really none of your business. You just take care with my daughter.”

“You don’t have to tell me to take care with her. I would anyway. With any child.” She walks to the door.

“Use this one,” I tell her, opening the other door. It’s the one that connects our rooms.

She peers into her room then turns back to me, eyebrows raised.

“Easy access when I require use of you.”

“Jerk,” she mutters under her breath as she walks toward her room.

“What was that?”

She looks back at me. “Nothing.”

“Good girl. You’re learning.”

She sucks in a deep breath, nostrils flaring, hands fisting at her sides.

I smile. “We have a party tonight at the compound. You’ll be ready to go by seven o’clock. I’ll have a dress sent up.”

“A party? What kind of party?”

“Dinner. Drinks.”

“You don’t strike me as the mingling type, and I definitely am not. Is this to rub my brother’s nose in your acquisition of me?”

“Would that bother you then? If that were my intention, which it’s not.”

“Carlton isn’t losing sleep over me not being in his house. He took me in because he had to. That’s all. What you’re doing to me, you hurting me, he won’t care about that.”

“You think I don’t know that? He doesn’t care about you, Isabelle.” Her expression changes infinitesimally although I know I’m not telling her anything she doesn’t already know. Still, it’s kind of a jerk move. I check my watch. “Maybe my brother’s right.”

“Right about what?”

I glance back at her. “You really aren’t a match for me, are you?”