Is this how you treat women now, Kev?” Everything stopped. The world halted on its axis. Her skirt hem dropped, and she was seized in a fierce, hurtful grip and spun around. Caught helplessly, she looked up into his dark face. Merripen was expressionless, save for the widening of his eyes. As he stared at her, a flush burned across his cheeks and the bridge of his nose. “Win.” Her name was carried on a shaken breath.