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I sighed and dug through my silverware for anotherspoon.

Lucien’s wicked chuckle rolled down my spine. “You’re rather grumpy,” hesaid.

I was already sipping my coffee. “You showed up at my house in themorning-”

“It’s past lunch time, youlush.”

“It’s morning for me. Now spit itout.”

“I’ve come to give you fair warning. I wish you were more awake for I fear the news I have for you is notgood.”

“You speak in twisted poetry,Lucien.”

He let out a surprised laugh. “That might be the most oddly positive compliment I’ve everreceived.”

“I’m not so sure it was meant to be positive,” Igrumbled.

“Go get dressed, Helen, please. You’re a distraction and I wish to speak of important business withyou.”

I sipped my coffee. ”That sounds rather cryptic. Should I beconcerned?”

A sad smile peeked from the corner of his mouth. “You should be. Now please, put on somepants.”

I carried my coffee with me into the bedroom and dug through my closet looking for a pair of jeans. After I put them on, I threw my hair up in a ponytail and walked back out. “There. Pants.” I was still wearing my tank top, but at least I had a braon.

Lucien frowned but gestured for me to sitdown.

“We’ve known each other for all of 24 hours. This can’t possibly be tooimportant.”

“Midnight Cove Realty is seeking to undo your purchase of the land, claiming fraud and elderlyabuse.”

The mug I was holding crashed to the floor, splashing hot liquid all over my bare feet. Pain shot through the top of my foot and blood welledup.

Lucien hissed, and I wanted to cry because I’d just done the dumbest possible thing you could ever do in front of a vampire. I’dbled.

“Oh. Oh my goodness,” I said, staring helplessly at my foot bleeding all over thefloor.

Lucien rushed out of his seat and grabbed a kitchen towel. He swung me up in his arms and sat me on top of the counter. He pressed the towel against myfoot.

“Hold it there with firm pressure,” he said, his voice completely neutral and incontrol.

I did as he said and he went to the sink. He grabbed another towel, wet it, and brought that over to replace the dry one. I whimpered in pain as he removed thetowel.

“Oh, Helen. We’re going to have to go to the hospital, mydear.”

“It will be fine,” I said as I tried to get up. I glanced down at my foot. Hugemistake.

“Oh my,” I said right before I passedout.