Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath

He-he-he-

Wait a second. Wasn't he always the cold, untouchable type before?

Yeah, that look of his just one icy glance and you'd freeze on the spot. He was the guy who could silence a whole room just by walking in.

That was Susanna's impression of Hull.

Dangerous. Severe. Unapproachable.

He seemed like the kind of man who didn't have feelings. People around him either thought he had some health problem or was just completely uninterested in, well, anything romantic. Zero needs.

And yet, this guy-this absolutely straight-laced, all-business man—just leaned in close and whispered in her ear, "Make sure you're squeaky clean..."

Susanna sat at the kitchen table, stunned into silence for what felt like forever.

By the time she snapped out of it, Hull was already gone.

Her face was burning red-way redder than she'd ever let anyone see.

Of course, that's when Barnaby and Silas walked in. Just perfect timing.

Barnaby couldn't help himself. "Whoa, somebody's got spring fever over here—”

him hard on the back of the head. Loud enough for

"What the hell was

you, if you run your mouth this afternoon, there'll be consequences," Silas warned, giving him a look that could

to Dr. Finley the other day-no one knew what kind of wild punishments the doc would come up with. The boss, for some reason, hadn't signed off on it. Maybe only Hull had the patience for Barnaby. Anyone else would've snapped and "accidentally" lost him a dozen times

didn't even say

sheepish and a

glare, sharp as a slap. "How long's it been since you had

his face clouding over. "Still can't feel

Silas replied, hands on his hips, "and you're still spouting

a lost

Susanna, meanwhile, was still

from Barnaby's "spring fever" comment her face getting ev redder. She joined Silas in glaring at

Barnaby out, he turned to Susanna with

word-ma'am-made Susanna's cheeks flare even

after that, Silas

They'd definitely heard

Susanna "ma'am." Everyone except Barnaby, of course, who insisted on calling

often wanted to duct tape

Silas. Barnaby, though, got nothing

"Boss says Barnaby's supposed to

Susanna blinked. "What? Seriously?"

No, please no.