Lips parting, I turned to give him an ugly look. Pierce’s attention lifted from a rack of preindustrial buttons, his stance stiffening as he eyed Nick from under his loose black curls. “Rachel is a lady, sir, not an adventuress. If I was not obliged to abide by good manners for the turn you gave us, I’d be of a mind to settle this off the reel directly.”

Nick said nothing, no emotion at all. Not watching his hands, he opened his top drawer and raked his arm across his dresser to dump everything in. Turning, he pulled something from his coat, on the bed, and dropped it in there, too, hiding what it was with his body. “Rachel isn’t a lady,” he said as he shut the drawer with a bang. “She’s a witch, rhymes with bitch, randy and ready. Rachel, how many men have you slept with? A dozen? Two?”

“Nick!” I protested as I stood, first flustered, then alarmed when Pierce headed for him. “Pierce, don’t!” I shouted as I got between them, my splayed fingers on his chest and stiff arm stopping him dead in his tracks. I felt a jump in energy between us, and he reddened, backing out of my reach with his eyes down and his jaw clenched.

“This coming from a man who lives in a house of assignation?” Pierce muttered.

Stiff, Nick crossed to the kitchen to put his shoes on again. I was about ready to smack Nick myself, but it wouldn’t do anyone any good.

“What Rachel does is no one’s funeral,” Pierce said. “I’ll allow it takes a coward to invite a woman to his diggings only to cast doubt upon her standing. Apologize at once.”

Nick’s foot thumped down as he slipped his second sneaker on. “I’ll apologize if it’s not true. Rachel? How about it?”

I couldn’t say anything, staring at him with my arms over my middle. Why is he doing this? To hurt me? It was working, and finally Nick turned away.

“I have to go to work,” he said, grabbing a torn coat from the hook beside the door. “There are eggs in the fridge, and some apples. Help yourself. I’ll bring something back about six. If you leave and aren’t coming back, lock the door. Jax can get me in.”

My jaw clenched. He was goading me into leaving, hoping pride would rob me of a good day’s sleep and a chance to shower. “Thanks, Nick,” I said dryly. “I appreciate this.” Bastard.

Pierce was stiff, and Nick’s eyes flicked to him before he opened the door. A faint argument filtered in, and Jax flew out, green sparkles of discontent slipping from him. “I’m not a monster, Rachel,” Nick said, hand on the door and feet in the threshold. “You loved me once.”