Long Rose Hart — he liked that name. It made it sound as if she were the pirate, and in many ways she was.

But he didn't think much of her next move. Shrike wasn't the type to be stung by such a joke, for "Long Rose Hart" knew very well that this was no innocent who'd swept her into his lap. But the Scot didn't quite get the purpose of suddenly pretending he was a wee lad. To Shrike, nothing was less seductive than the suggestion of virginity in a cathouse.

He merely quirked an eyebrow.