Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 68858 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68858 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Her gaze dipped to the table, and I had to refrain from grabbing her face to make her look at me again. “I’d much rather discuss whatever it is that has you suddenly interested in me and why we’re here.”
Thank fuck. In truth, I didn’t give a damn about her losses. How could I when they were my gain? But the last part of her statement didn't sit well with me. “My interest is anything but sudden, anjinho. And a man taking a woman to breakfast isn’t all that unusual.”
Her brows furrowed. “Right…but you aren’t just any man, and this isn’t just breakfast. You’re very Baron von Rotten-ish.”
I didn’t know who the fuck that was, but they sounded important. The fact she realized who sat across from her had me fighting back a grin.
“And what would that make you, Elena?”
She grew quiet once more. I watched her struggle to find words and as something else slithered into her gaze, poorly veiled curiosity joining an emotion I was well acquainted with.
Fear.
Perhaps of me or what I could do to her. Maybe both. If only she knew what I inevitably would do to her.
It was all so stimulating.
With a slight clearing of her throat, her mask was back in place. It was amusing that she believed I couldn’t see right through it. “How much do you know about me?”
“The better question is what don’t I know about you?”
“I imagine there’s not much you haven’t already figured out.”
There was a silent but in there somewhere. I was eager to learn what she thought I didn’t know. However, I wouldn’t reveal my full hand and ruin the fun.
“You’d be correct in that assumption. But why don’t we get to why I really brought you out here?” I began, pleased when her attention didn’t waver. “You need me,” I stated plainly.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
She slowly shook her head. “I don’t understand why you’d think that. If anything, what I need is to stay away from you.”
“Is that why you got into my car and allowed me to bring you to this rural diner?”
“You make it sound as if I planned this. You didn’t give me much of a choice.” She tucked some of her hair behind one ear and then reached for her orange juice.
“I allowed you to choose. For the record, you choose wisely.”
“I don’t…” she trailed off and took a breath to try and conceal her frustration. “I don’t want to talk in circles.”
“We have that in common.”
I could feel the anger radiating off her as I continued to toy with her.
"What do you want?" she asked, her grip tightening on her fork. I could tell she wanted nothing more than to stab me with it, and I wouldn't have minded seeing her try.
"Do I really need to spell it out for you?"
"Can't you just tell me?" She dropped the fork, causing me to chuckle at her frustration. We were going to have so much fun together.
"Let's get back on track," I said, trying to focus on the task at hand. My phone had been vibrating nonstop in my pocket since we sat down, so now wasn't the time to push her too far. There would be plenty of opportunities for that later.
"I assume this isn't about what kind of person my sister was," she said quietly.
I kept my expression neutral. Most people knew exactly what kind of person her sister was; it wasn't a secret.
The only one who seemed oblivious was Elena. But that wasn't what I was asking her, and she knew it. Trying to deflect or redirect wouldn't work with me. If she wanted to play games, she'd quickly learn that I always had the upper hand. I was always steps ahead. And most importantly, I always won.
“I know you’re naïve, Elena, but not to the extent that you have no idea what’s happening around you or what I could possibly mean.”
She scanned the diner, pausing on the elderly gentleman who was now peacefully asleep, thanks to Paula's spiked coffee. We couldn't afford any loose ends. "Do you really want to discuss this here?"
I tilted my head. "I thought you might feel more comfortable here than alone with me at my house. But we could always go to that other room I mentioned." Neither location would necessarily be safe for her, but for now, I needed to create a trap with sweet lies and half-truths. It would be for her own good.
"Right," she sighed. "I assumed this was about Eva, but I wasn't sure what your intentions were."
"There was never anything between your sister and me," I interjected quickly. She sounded resigned, which I didn't like. It wouldn't be far-fetched for her to think I only pursued her because of the disaster that was her twin. That wasn't entirely true. "My interest has always been in you, Elena."