He grunts in response, dragging a hand over his face as if it never occurred to him. I roll my eyes but try not to let him sour my mood. Santiago finally agreed to let me come to the manor before we all leave for the trial, and I have no intentions of anything raining on that parade. Not today. Judge, however, has other plans.

“Are you going to tell me why your friends have been over almost every day?” He brushes my hair over my shoulder, his fingers settling onto the nape of my neck.

“I know this is a foreign concept to you, but my friends actually like me,” I tell him. “They enjoy visiting with me.”

“And that’s why they suddenly seem to be glaring at me every time I cross paths with them?” His thumb skates over the empty space reserved for my future husband, and I shiver.

“Perhaps you need to take some charm lessons,” I suggest. “Solana and Georgie love everyone. You must be the exception.”

He doesn’t respond, but I can feel his gaze burning into me as I apply another smidge of powder I don’t really need.

“Perhaps until they can learn to be polite, I need to limit their visits to the house.”

I turn around to glare at him. “Do you get off on making me miserable? Is that it?”

His jaw muscle ticks, and he shakes his head. “I don’t want you to be miserable, Mercedes. Quite the opposite.”

“You have a funny way of showing it.” I slam the compact on the vanity table shut and stand, shrugging his hand off my neck.

I try to escape into the bathroom, but he grabs me by the wrist and tugs me back to him. I’m expecting another argument, but when I look up into his eyes, there’s a softness I almost wish he wouldn’t show me. It makes it so much harder to maintain my emotions around him.

“Today will be difficult enough.” He strokes along my jaw, his eyes moving over my features as if he’s trying to memorize them. “Let’s call a cease-fire for now.”

I release a staggering breath, and he leans in, surprising me with a kiss. It’s different from his other kisses. He’s not branding me with his intensity like I’m used to. This is something softer. Something he’s taking simply because he feels like it at the moment. And goddammit if that doesn’t feel like another dagger to my heart.

“Don’t be nice to me,” I beg him as he releases me. “Please.”

“Why?” His brows crease together.

I square my shoulders and shake my head. “Because. I just… don’t want you to.”

The vein in his neck pulses an angry beat, but he doesn’t argue. At least for now.