" Everything you do or say interests me." " Really," she said skeptically. " What about Lord Westcliff's claim that I'm shallow and self-absorbed?" As she faced him, Simon braced one hand on the wall near her head and leaned over her protectively. His voice was very soft. " He doesn't know you." " And you do?" " Yes, I know you." He reached out to finger a tendril of damp hair that clung to her neck. " You guard yourself carefully. You don't like to depend on anyone. You're determined and strong-willed, and you're decided in your opinions. Not to mention stubborn. But never self-absorbed. And anyone with your intelligence could never be called shallow. "