Page 82 of Deceived Wrath

What’s that supposed to mean?

Suddenly, my heart starts pounding in my chest.

Maybe I’m not hiding everything as well as I think I am… But then, if Cormac can see through my façade, why bother taking me out for dinner? Unless this is all just a part of his game, a way to throw me off guard and lower my defenses.

I need to get it together. I’m dealing with a Sullivan here. Regardless of the dinner and great sex, Cormac is dangerous. Something I would do well to remember.

“Remind me why I agreed to have dinner with you?” I fire at him.

Cormac smirks as he leans back in his seat. “I can think of one or two reasons…”

“Free food?”

“Ah, so that’s the only reason you’re here.”

“Obviously.”

“I’m not paying you enough?”

“To put up with your shit? No, you’re not.”

Cormac’s shoulders shake with silent laughter, and I find myself genuinely smiling, which is not something I thought was possible in his presence.

Seeing this more relaxed side of him is what’s throwing me off. I’m sure not many people get to witness it, and yet I do.

Either he is one hell of a master manipulator, or he genuinely enjoys my company.

“Consider this an extra bonus. And if you behave, you might even get dessert.”

“So, you’re under-paying me and trying to make me fat? I really need to get the email of your head of HR.”

Somehow, as the meal progresses, Cormac’s lack of answers isn’t enough to make the conversation feel awkward. I find a way to naturally fill the silence by passing comments on nearby customers, and Cormac occasionally chimes in with questions about my life, which I narrowly manage to avoid.

“I’m surprised you didn’t go to grad school,” he comments once our next course has been delivered.

“Oh?”

“You’re clearly a high achiever. I would have thought you would collect degrees like Pokémon.”

“Did you seriously just make a Pokémon reference?”

“My brother was obsessed as a kid.” He looks down at his plate.

“Are you sure it was your brother?” I tease, but Cormac doesn’t appear to be listening.

He’s examining his steak like it’s a rare jewel, looking for any imperfections that, from the look of it, I’m pretty sure don’t exist.

I tilt my head. “So, we’ve covered all of the basics apart from our favorite films.”

Cormac glances up at me under his dark lashes. “Would you like to tell me your favorite film, Fiona?”

I grin. “Why, yes, I would. It’sTitanic, obviously.”

“Obviously.”

I narrow my eyes at the sarcasm in his tone. “Please, for the love of all things Leonardo DiCaprio, tell me you’ve seenTitanic.”

Cormac says nothing as he cuts off another piece of his enormous steak.