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Annabelle swallowed. She already knew too much. She knew he was impossibly beautiful, like a dark angel, and every time she was around him her body felt tight with her heart in her throat. She knew he made her feel the warmth of sunlight and a soft sultry breeze of awareness every time he was near. “I think you’re a playboy who toys with women’s hearts.”
Frowning, he leaned forward.
“I do not toy with anyone’s heart,” he said sharply. “Women who come to my bed know it will be for a short time. I am always clear. If a woman deceives herself into believing our affair will last, she has only herself to blame.”
Annabelle sucked in her breath. “So you actually admit you’re a womanizer.”
Stefano’s gaze traced slowly over her in the candlelight. Prickles of heat spread across her skin beneath her linen suit. “Does it bother you?”
“Morally, you mean?” Setting her jaw, she shook her head. “No. Why would it?”
“It frightens you.”
“Frightens?” She forced out a laugh, and then told the biggest lie of all. “I’m not the least bit frightened of you.”
“But you are.” His dark eyes glimmered. “I can see that. What I don’t quite understand is why.”
“Don’t think you know me. We just met,” she bit out. “You don’t know anything about me!”
He swirled his goblet, making the red wine gleam like rubies in the candlelight. “I’ve already learned a great deal by watching you.” Tilting his head, he observed her. “I know, for instance, that you always behave rudely when someone’s getting too close.”
“Don’t be idiotic!”
Stefano’s black eyes burned through her.
“Exactly.”
Annabelle’s cheeks went hot.
“You’re being ridiculous,” she mumbled, looking away.
He leaned his elbow against the dining table, looking at her in the candlelight. “Why are you so defensive? What have men tried with you?”
She stared at him, then said stiffly, “I don’t see how that’s any interest of yours.”
“Oh, come on,” he said with a cajoling smile. “Just this morning, Afonso Moreira was complaining to me on the phone, saying you were quite impossible to seduce. An ice queen, I think his words were.”
“Moreira is a fool,” she retorted. “His idea of seduction was to make smacking sounds with his lips every time I passed him in the hallway. When I ignored him, he slapped my backside.”
Stefano’s eyes widened. “What did you do? Slap his cheek?”
“I had no need to resort to violence,” she said uncomfortably. “I simply let him know that his attentions were not appreciated.”
His smile spread into a grin that made his eyes twinkle. “Yes, I bet you did,” he said.
“I can only imagine. He’s probably still frozen solid in a chunk of ice from your response.”
Annabelle felt a lump in her throat at the criticism. “You think I’m cold and horrible, then?”
“To the contrary, señorita.” His dark eyes met hers. “I think you’re magnificent.”
Her breath caught in her throat. She looked at the floor. “So what has worked with you?” she mumbled. “With women?”
He took another sip of wine, then glanced at her with a playboy’s careless smile.
“Usually this is what works. Flirting, asking questions, drinking wine. Why?” His smile spread to a grin. “Is my charm starting to get to you?”
She felt her cheeks grow hot. “That’s not what I meant. I know you think no woman can resist you. But what about you? Has any woman ever gotten under your skin?”
