Tycoon's Delicious Debt

“You had plenty of opportunities to come forward with this so-called evidence,” he said. “Why now? Why not two years ago?”

She wished she had acted two years ago but she hadn’t felt ready. She knew she needed more. More information, more power, more courage. She was facing a giant alone. She had no support and no one was watching her back. Her parents were too afraid, too traumatized, to even discuss the idea of vengeance.

“I’m not reckless like you,” she finally said, clasping her evening purse and shoes against her. “I made my fortune by being methodical.”

“But you are not diabolical,” Cooper pointed out.

“You don’t know that.” For all he knew she could be on her best behavior.

His eyes narrowed as he studied her. “You know what I think?”

She looked away and stared at the crashing waves on the shadowy beach. “I’m breathless with anticipation to find out.”

He took a step closer and her muscles locked. Serena felt as if she was in fight-or-flight mode. She truly didn’t know which choice she would make if he reached for her.

“Either you don’t have the proof,” Cooper said softly, “or you don’t have the killer instinct.”

Serena turned her head abruptly. Why was he taunting her? Did he think she would unsheathe her claws the moment he questioned her determination? She had more control than that. “And you make this assumption on what? The fact that I’m a woman?”

“Not at all. I’ve known women who could be dangerous and vengeful.”

She was sure every one of them had been an ex-lover.