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Page 103
"I'm saying so now." His tone was level but allowed for no contradiction.
"Fine." She was in the wrong, and she knew it. But she didn't want to admit it to him. She walked slowly toward him, for his body barred the only exit she saw. Nervously, she tossed her head so her hair swayed away from her face. "I only came to ask if you had any clothes you wanted me to launder."
"That was no reason to enter uninvited."
"I thought you invited me," she found herself arguing, then amended, "I mean, I heard a sound that I assumed was you, so I opened the door. There was a squirrel in here. You'd better check to make sure he didn't chew on something you care about."
"He only chews the nuts and grains I leave him." Thorn's voice had softened almost imperceptibly. Mariah felt her eyes widen in amazement. This hard, unyielding man apparently kept a pet squirrel.
"Then he belongs here," she said. "And I chased him away. I'm sorry."
"He'll be back when he's hungry."
Nearly at the entry, Mariah stopped. Thorn hadn't budged. His body still loomed ominously in the doorway. Was he going to punish her for violating his privacy? He'd seemed calmer when talking about the squirrel. Had his mood shifted again? "If you'll excuse me . . . " she managed.
He stalked into the room, closing the door behind him. His boots thumped on the wooden floor. He drew even closer. "I thought you washed my dirty clothes."
Mariah felt trapped as he stopped a scant foot away from her. She could smell his aroma of smoke and leather. All she wanted now was to get out of there. "Sure," she said brightly. "You can bring them to me outside. I've been doing washing in front of the inn." She pointed in the general direction in which she'd been working, wincing a little at the pain as she moved her fingers.
Before she realized what be was doing, he'd reached down and lifted her hands in his. He used them to tow her closer to the window. He tugged her hands into the golden light

 
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