There she was.

After days of silence, lies, and two million dollars missing from my accounts—she was standing in front of me like a ghost that didn’t have the decency to haunt me properly. Still beautiful. Still infuriating. Still mine.

She looked nervous, too nervous to meet my eyes. Those pretty hands clenched at her sides as she turned her back to me, probably trying to find her courage.

So I gave her something to focus on.

Smack.

Her ass jolted under my palm, and she spun around with wide eyes.

“Ow!” she barked. “What was that for?”

I didn’t hesitate. “Stealing from me. Lying to me. Pick one.”

Her mouth opened, then closed. Smart girl. She knew better than to pretend she didn’t deserve it.

But I wasn’t here to make her cry.

I sighed and closed the distance between us, wrapping an arm around her waist and tugging her into me. Her cheek pressed against my chest, like it belonged there, and before I could tell myself not to want this—her arms slid around my back.

That was the problem with her. She burned the house down and still made me want to build her a castle.