Total pages in book: 189
Estimated words: 178200 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 891(@200wpm)___ 713(@250wpm)___ 594(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 178200 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 891(@200wpm)___ 713(@250wpm)___ 594(@300wpm)
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.
“Umm...” Mairi bit her lip very hard. This was like a scene straight out of Fifty Shades. She only realized she had said the words out loud when Leon started to laugh.
“The fuck did you say?”
She turned red. “Sorry, but I couldn’t help thinking it—-”
He shook his head, amusement still underlining his voice as he said, “It’s definitely not that, trust me.” He winced at the thought. “I know about the books. My sister told me about it. And it’s not that.”
“Umm, sorry?” she said weakly.
“My mother is more like...Esther Leventis.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh.”
“I know about your mother-in-law. I’ve read about you two in the papers.”
“Yeah, she totally loves talking about me,” Mairi said miserably.
He snorted. “I guess you could say that.” He sobered. “My mother’s from the same mold. Bitchy as hell, rich as fuck, and unfortunately – beautiful, too. She fell in love with my father, who hadn’t a euro to his name. She gave birth to me, didn’t find his life that nice, so in the end, she dumped my father and me and married the man her parents had chosen for her. End of story.”
“Oh.” She asked slowly, “Does that mean, you thought by...with me, maybe you could turn the tables around and hurt me?”
A short hard laugh escaped him. “I wasn’t that diabolical. Actually, I thought the opposite. I thought maybe I could show everyone that with me, it could work.”
“But I’m married,” she protested.
“So was she when she fell for my father.”
“Ah.” She gave him a disconcerted look. “I’m in love with my husband, though.”
He said flatly, “I know.”
“Super in love.”
“You don’t have to super stress it out,” he returned mockingly.
“Sorry.”
When Mairi flashed him a peace sign, he had to shake his head in amusement. She was such an intriguing mix of maturity and childishness he didn’t know what to make of her. And to think, the Greek billionaire had to deal with this every day. Something to envy and pity him for, definitely.
By the time desserts were served, they were both at ease, and no mention was made again of what had led to this meeting. There was no need actually. Mairi only had to talk about Damen or her daughter, and it was there for him to see.
The love they had was unshakable.
If his parents had the same thing, they would never have separated either.
Mairi excused herself afterwards, telling him she had to feed her daughter. When she came back down, it was to find Leon waiting for her by the entrance hallway, clearly ready to leave.
“I wouldn’t want to overstay my welcome, Ms. Yay.” Again, a look at the CCTV.
She rolled her eyes. “He’s not watching, I told you.”
“Probably not now but in time, he will. And I’d like him to know from here on, you will always be Miss Yay to me.”
“It was nice talking to you, Leon,” she said dryly.
“It was my privilege, Professor.” He held out his wrists, and the cuffs were removed.