Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 234281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1171(@200wpm)___ 937(@250wpm)___ 781(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 234281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1171(@200wpm)___ 937(@250wpm)___ 781(@300wpm)
“Let’s just cut to the chase,” he said abruptly.
In the act of walking towards her seat at the table, Mairi stilled at the words and slowly turned to face Leon. Even when he was handcuffed and in jeans, even though his appearance made him stand out in his luxurious surroundings, there was nothing pitiful about him. He was still as imposing as ever, and his attractive Italian looks only served to enhance it.
He wasn’t just attractive. Now that she allowed herself to look at him, really look at him, she realized that he wasn’t just that. He was beautiful, in the way Damen was beautiful, too. He was beautiful, enough to mesmerize her yesterday, enough to make her lower her guard and give him a chance to kiss her.
But it just wasn’t that.
And she finally realized it.
In a short span of time, she had recognized in him a kindred spirit. Someone she was just born to get along with like a house on fire. It was in the way he had helped her when she had tripped, in the way he had made his classmates welcome her.
In just one day, he had made her care for him. It probably wouldn’t make Damen happy, but it was the truth. It wouldn’t have probably made Leon happy either since the way she cared wasn’t exactly what he wanted. Her affection towards him would always be that of a teacher, a mentor.
The realization had her relaxing and ignoring his words, she asked with a smile, “Shall we have a meal first?”
The smile Mairi sent him was beautiful, and despite himself, Leon couldn’t help reacting to it. The smile knocked him sideways, but he strove to hide it. Shrugging, he said indifferently, “If that will make you feel better.”
“It will,” she reassured him.
He gave her a suspicious glance.
Pretending not to notice, Mairi gestured towards the place prepared for him, which was at the foot of the table. When he took a seat, the cuffs were immediately removed, but they were then placed around his left ankle, chaining him to the chair.
He was grudgingly impressed. “Smart.”
“He is, quite,” Mairi said not so modestly.
The twinkle in her eyes made him frown. “Something’s changed.”
Attendants started serving them soup. After thanking them, she looked at Leon, meeting his gaze directly. “It was wrong of you to kiss me.”
The bald-faced declaration took him aback. He hadn’t expected that from her, and now he was even more convinced something had changed. “If you’re waiting for me to apologize, I won’t.”
“I know. I’m not holding my breath for it, but I just wanted to say it all the same. You were wrong, but I was also wrong for letting my guard down.”
The words made him frown. He didn’t like hearing the professor blame herself. “It’s not your fault. You’re right. I was wrong. I’m sorry I took advantage.”
Silence.
He looked up.
“Sorry,” Mairi said quickly. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I made you apologize.”
He grunted. “Don’t expect it to happen often.”
She nodded. “Yup.”
Leon finally realized what was wrong. “You’re no longer nervous,” he said. “Why?”
“Tell me first. Why are you after me?”
“You’re sexy and beautiful and cute all rolled into one.” He laughed when she turned red.
“Just so you know,” she said severely, “I’m blushing because I don’t handle compliments well. It’s not because I’m attracted to you or something.”
“Or something.”
She shook her head, unable to stop herself from grinning at the suggestive look the younger man sent her way. “You’re helpless.” Before he could answer, she went for the kill. “But I know it’s not the truth.”
Leon stilled.
“There’s nothing that remarkable about how I look or act, Leon. So why don’t we both quit beating around the bush. It wasn’t that at all.”
They didn’t speak for a while, both of them concentrating on finishing the first course. Only when the plates were taken away did Leon finally speak. “Why does it matter? We both know now that I don’t stand a chance.” His lips twisted. “Probably never did.”
The way he pointedly looked around him made her say quietly, “I know you know about my past. Everyone probably does. If you also think I was – am – a gold-digger, I would really appreciate it if you say it to my face.”
The ever-so-polite rebuke shamed him. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.”
Mairi inclined her head, but she said evenly, “I’ll only forgive you if you tell me the truth. Why did you choose to target me?”
He winced. “You make me sound like a serial killer.”
She shrugged.
“Now who’s calling names?”
“You said it, Mr. Arlotta, not me.”
Somehow, the lighthearted banner cut him to the quick. He didn’t deserve her to be so damn nice about everything when they both knew what he had done could have ruined her marriage.
“You remind me of my mother,” he heard himself say.