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‘Sorry,’ she muttered. ‘I didn’t mean to criticise your friends. I’m sure they’re lovely people. It wasn’t their fault. If you drop a baby elephant into the middle of a flock of elegant swans, you’ve got to expect to startle them.’
Leandro’s eyes glittered dark in the candlelight. ‘And are you supposed to be the baby elephant in that analogy?’ He sounded stunned. ‘That’s how you felt?’
Unsettled by his prolonged scrutiny, Millie shifted in her chair. ‘How did you think I felt?’
A muscle flickered in his jaw and he toyed with the stem of his elegant wineglass. ‘Honestly? I didn’t think about it. Unlike you, I don’t look for hidden meanings. Clearly I should have done.’
‘Not all communication is verbal, Leandro.’
‘Evidently not. But given your talent for reading me incorrectly, I think we’d better stick to the verbal sort for the time being. Tell me why you’re not eating tonight.’
‘My stomach is churning. I feel…sick.’
His dark brows met in a concerned frown. ‘You’re ill?’
‘No. Just nervous.’
‘Of what?’
‘You, of course.’
His eyes held hers. ‘I make you feel sick?’ The incredulity in his tone made her wish she’d kept her mouth shut.
‘Just a little bit.’ Her cheeks turned pink. ‘Well, quite a lot, actually.’
Leandro put the glass down on the table. ‘Why?’
‘I don’t know. I’m not a psychologist. Maybe I’m seriously screwed up about you. But I think it’s probably just the effect you have on me. Billionaire marries farm girl. It’s pretty obvious that farm girl is going to have some major insecurities.’
‘Billionaire marries farm girl,’ he countered, ‘and her insecurities vanish.’
‘They double.’
‘The way you think is a mystery to me.’
‘Obviously.’
He rose to his feet and dropped his napkin onto the table. His mouth was set and determined, his eyes never once leaving her face as he stood next to her. ‘Come.’
Millie looked at his outstretched hand. ‘Why? Where are we going?’
‘To put your insecurities to rest once and for all,’ he purred, drawing her to her feet in a firm, decisive movement that brought her into contact with his hard, athletic frame. ‘I intend to closely examine every curve of your fabulous body—and I mean fabulous, not fat,’ he breathed, covering her lips with his fingers so that she couldn’t interrupt, ‘and by the time I’ve finished with you, your insecurities will be in a puddle on the floor along with your clothes.’
But that wasn’t what was going to happen, was it? Millie’s heart pounded. She thought of her body. Thought of what he didn’t know. ‘I really wanted an early night.’
‘For once we agree on something.’ His eyes gleamed with sexual promise. ‘An early night followed by a lie-in. And another early night. The two might actually run together.’
Millie swallowed, her nerves almost snapping as she thought about the inevitable fallout of him taking her to bed.
‘I can’t—I just can’t—I need some time.’
‘I gave you time, Millie.’ His voice was steady. ‘I gave you space. And it was a mistake. All it did was widen the gulf between us. This time around we’re doing things a different way. My way.’
‘So I don’t have a choice.’
His eyes shimmered with amusement. ‘No, agape mou,’ he murmured. ‘There is no need to take on that martyred expression. I’m going to get to know you. Inside and out. In the past two days you have revealed more about yourself than you did in the entire time we were together. I am starting to realise that I didn’t know you at all, but that is going to change from this moment onwards.’ He trailed a finger over her flushed cheek. ‘From now on I want to know everything in your head. And I won’t let you shut me out.’
Standing in the bathroom, Millie pulled the robe tightly around her.
