“Kidnapped?” Nina interjected, winding her arms around his neck. “Hog-tied and carried through a tunnel?”
“You got a smart fuckin’ mouth.” But she pressed that smart mouth to his, and he abruptly lost his train of thought.
“So why haven’t these other women stuck around?” Nina continued, watching him carefully. “Was it the smoking? The whiskey? Did you drive them away?”
He dug his fingers into her waist so that she squirmed. “I never wanted any of ’em to stay. Partly because I never cared for anyone enough to try. But mostly I knew what I’d be tyin’ ’em to. All those secrets. All those enemies. It isn’t a life any woman wants, Nina. You should know that.”
She watched him carefully, confusion marring her features. “But… you asked me to stay.”
Patrick nodded. “I did. And I’m a selfish ba
