Brazen and the Beast: The Bareknuckle Bastards Book II

I also let him go.” Augie shot to his feet, wincing with the movement. “Why would you do that?” “Because he was in my carriage, and we had somewhere to be.”

They both looked to Nora in the wake of the question. Nora, who had moved to fill the teakettle. “Don’t mind me. I’m barely paying attention.”

And there it was. Her answer. “That’s what this is; you keep me safe from him.” He met her eyes. “Until my dying breath.”

“You will tell Father you don’t want the business.” Augie’s eyes went wide as Nora let out a low whistle that Hattie ignored, frustration and determination and triumph coursing through her all at once. “You’ll tell him to give it to me.” It seemed today was the beginning of the Year of Hattie, after all.

Her jaw dropped. “I did not!” She narrowed her eyes on his. “Though you certainly would have deserved it, you bastard.” Devil laughed, low enough that only Whit could hear him. “Now I know why you like her so much. She’ll run you ragged.”

Nora gasped, and Nik was out the door for the doctor, and Hattie tightened her hand in his, and said, “That was a very tempting offer.” He laughed at the words, unable to keep the tears from spilling down his cheeks. “I’m very happy to hear it.” Her hand came to his head, her fingers tangling in his hair, weak, but there. “Tell me,” she whispered.

“I should have told you how beautiful you are. I should have said it more. I should have said it until you forgot there was a time when you didn’t believe it.”

“I’ll never not be hers.”

“It’s no place for ladies,” Augie said. If there were any five words that would catapult a woman into motion, they were surely those.