Bird-witted, man. Of course, it meant something. She just had no clue what that was.
“I’ll grow a beard so that you won’t even have to look at my face for the rest of this house party. It’ll be as if I’m not even here.”
What an addle-pated fool. Despite her vexation, a chuckle bubbled up in angry amusement. As if a beard would change anything. But then she shuddered at the thought of him growing a beard. There was a chance it could do the trick. A slim chance. A risky chance. Maybe…
But he was still talking, “We should laugh about it. Have out with it. Don’t worry your pretty little head about it.”
At the nonchalant phrase, she snapped. Pop, went the bubble. Something crackled inside of her.
“My pretty little head?”
“Uh…”
“My pretty little head, Isaac?”
“Umm…what I meant—”
“My pretty little head, really?” Her tone was rising with each word and each repeated phrase. “I’m not just some silly, pretty bauble or trophy. Is that what you think of me? Is that what you think this is about?” She scoffed. “Don’t flatter yourself.” She let her eyes run the length of his body, hunched over her as it was. “I’m crying because, like an absolute idiot, I doused my eyes with the perfume that was on my fingers.”
“Oh.” He stood. “Well, um…in that case. Has the stinging subsided?”
“Yes. I’m fine. You may go.”
And she thought he might have left then, but he must have seen something in her eyes. Or more accurately, on her desk.
“What’s this?” He picked up the note. It only took a second to read, so before she could yank it out of his hands, she witnessed his eyes widen. “Hope. What is this?”
“It’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing. It’s a threat.”
“I’ve had plenty of them. It’s nothing. Really.” She tried to snatch it from his hands.
“I told them not to all leave you at one time,” he muttered, shaking his head. She watched him take a chunk of his hair and grip it. She wondered what it would feel like if he did that to her.
“I told them,” he mumbled again. This time his fist slammed down on her desk, startling her.
“It’s fine, Isaac.” She stood and rested a placating hand on his chest. Oh…that chest. The one with the tickling hairs. The one she had…never mind. She stuttered over her next words, but didn’t remove her hand from his warmth. “J-just let it go.”
He took a step closer to her, and his hands were cupping her jaw. With an intense stare, his eyes drilled into her, burrowing closer and closer to her hammering heart. She thought he might kiss her again.
How would she feel about that? Her heart hammered out a reply but she couldn’t interpret it. Was it fear? Trepidation? Yearning?
It didn’t matter. He pulled away.
“I’ll keep you safe.” His eyes were stone. His words a sword. It was a vow unlike she had ever heard before. Who was this man? And what was his motive? Did he think one kiss changed everything between them? It hadn’t. She wouldn’t let it. Or was he just acting as her friend? As he had always been. Up until now she had only really seen the light, playful side of him. The reckless side. But this…was entirely different. A profound intensity. Depth.
“Have no doubt, you will remain unharmed. No matter the cost.”
Chapter 6
AFEWHOURSLATER,the guests that had arrived were all out on a nature walk. But it didn’t matter how much Hope tried to smile, or not smile too obviously, her mother immediately noticed that she was out of sorts. Perhaps the moment that gave it away was when Mavis (not so subtly) suggested that Hope and Isaac walk together, and Hope had glared at her. Since Hope was not the glaring type, her mother casually arranged new couples, claiming she needed a quick word with her daughter.
“Are you going to tell me what happened?”
The mother-daughter pair were walking just out of earshot of the group. Talking none too quietly, Isaac and his sister were ahead of the amblers, including Michael who walked in silence.
“Nothing happened.”
