Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Most men tried to boost their confidences with stylish clothes, to the point that they ended up looking like overgrown peacocks. But Leandro Christopoulos was different. Even when dressed simply, there was no hiding the aura of danger that surrounded him. It was so powerful it felt like a part of Leandro, something he would never get rid of even if...even if he was, like now, wearing glasses.
When Leandro didn’t answer her question, she asked awkwardly, “I didn’t know you wore glasses.”
He deliberately stayed silent, seeing that Bobby was more prone to talk and maybe even reveal more of herself if he didn’t speak.
Bobby clasped and unclasped her hands, needing something to concentrate on so she wouldn’t end up giving in to her instincts and that was to...well, to throw herself at Leandro and tell him how much she had missed him.
She colored at the thought.
Looking back at Leandro, she could see the wariness in his gaze and her heart softened as she realized one thing. “You’re embarrassed about your glasses, aren’t you?”
Leandro just shrugged. She knew she had guessed right...and that meant she had misjudged him in many ways. It touched her, the way Leandro was so sensitive to criticism like her that he had decided to hide behind a disguise. Sarcasm had been her defense while his had been arrogance. Someone this sensitive couldn’t have possibly seen her only as a challenge and meant to play with her just to while the time away. Right?
When Leandro adjusted his glasses the third time in the past five minutes, Bobby’s heart skipped a beat. That was a sign of unease, of nervousness – emotions that made one vulnerable, and which she would never have thought applicable to Leandro Christopoulos.
Bu apparently, she was wrong about him over a lot of things.
She said stiltedly, “I’m sorry. I just realized I misjudged you and never really let you explain.”
The words stunned Leandro. Never had he dreamt she would apologize to him so suddenly!
He said carefully, “I don’t blame you for thinking the same things others would have probably thought.”
“Don’t.” Bobby felt even more miserable at Leandro’s nice words. “I know when I’m the one who messed up, and this time I did mess up so I’m sorry. I was wrong to assume so many things – like how you only saw me as a challenge and that you didn’t really care about how I felt while you were gone. I thought you deliberately kept me in the dark because you were subconsciously teaching me who’s the boss between us.”
Had he? Leandro tried to think about it objectively. He had not wanted her to know because he did not want to risk her thinking she had enslaved him...and feel duty-bound to return his feelings, the way his parents might also feel the same towards their adopted son.
Slowly, heart beating madly, Bobby made herself offer her hand to him. “I know I don’t deserve this after acting like such a stuck-up bitch with you, but I want to be honest. I want you to know that I want to be your...friend. So...friends?”
Leandro was trying his best to hold his tongue. All of this – just because he wore a stupid pair of glasses?
He took her hand slowly. “Only on one condition.”
His touch was heat magnified a thousand times, and she did her best to keep herself from trembling. But it was no use. And by the way his grip tightened around hers, Bobby knew that Leandro was completely aware of how his touch affected her.
Friends? Ha! Who was she kidding? Friends didn’t tremble just because they were shaking hands.
When it took so long for him to answer, pride came to Bobby’s rescue. She started to tell him it was no biggie – that she could deal with him not wanting to be “friends” with her like a big girl – when he smiled.
The smile had her silently gasping, her eyes widening as that tiny sexy smile transformed his face into something mesmerizing and hypnotic, and those glasses of his only added to his appeal. “You must allow me to take you out.”
Chapter Nine
The “date” was supposed to take place in a fancy restaurant with both of them dressed up, serenaded by great music as he wined and dined Bobby and, if possible, feast on her wonderfully curvy body as his dessert.
But instead, he found himself at the front door of a red-brick building asking for Bobby.
“Are you Leandro Chris-Cross?”
Leandro nearly choked at the way the older harried-looking woman butchered his family’s name, which was one of the oldest and most illustrious in Greece. “I am Leandro Christopoulos, yes.”
“Good. She’s expecting you. She’s in her office – just go straight down the hallway and it’s the last door on your left.”
He was about to thank her when the woman slammed the door on his face.