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Chapter 12
♥?♥?♥
Paula
“WHY DID YOU LIE?” PAULA DEMANDED, leaning back in the seat as Bastian pulled the car into reverse. She’d been lost in a fugue since the unexpected turn that confrontation had taken.
They’d left immediately after Bastian’s good-night. A stout man in a chef’s apron had intercepted them briefly to bizarrely shove a white plastic bag at Bastian.
Bastian gave the man a friendly slap on the back and guided Paula out. The white bag was sitting now in the back seat of the car, giving off delicious smells.
Who was the man and why had he just given Bastian food like that? she wondered.
But the bigger question pressed ahead.Why did you lie?
He said nothing while he pulled into traffic. When she repeated herself, he finally replied, “I didn’t.”
“Yes, you did. You told her I was your girlfriend. Going to be your girlfriend. Whatever the words were. You actively made this claim despite the fact that you only introduced yourself to me today.”
“Because you will be.”
She stared. “Is this some strategy?” At his quick glance, she clarified, “To get back at your mother. Who is a royal bitch, can I just say—I’m sorry but I do not know how you keep from strangling that woman. Is she always that bad?”
“It’s nothing to do with my mother.” His hands fisted on the steering wheel. “And no. That was worse than usual.”
She waited, but he didn’t add anything. Which left alotof open questions. “What did she mean,” she asked, “you’ve never had one?”
“I haven’t.”
“Bastian, there is no way you haven’t had a girlfriend. No way. None. You’re all over theFunTimes. In fact, now that I think of it, I’ve seen shots of you all cozy with a tall redhead. That was Georgette, wasn’t it?”
He glanced at her. “A dating arrangement is not the same thing. I’ve avoided using the term girlfriend, and my parents are aware of that.”
“Were you exclusive?”
“When? With Georgette?”
“Any time you dated long term.”
“Not on purpose.”
“But you were.”
“I suppose so.” He adjusted the rear-view mirror and made a smooth turn.
She nodded. “Everyone on this planet but you would call that having a girlfriend.”
“You’re a stubborn woman.”
“I’m a right woman.”
He chuckled, the sound low and pleasing. It eased her tension a bit and allowed her to settle back against the car seat. Although her hands kept fiddling with her coat buttons. One masculine hand left the steering wheel to reach over and touch her restless hand. “Paula Raymond,” he said in that low, deep voice.
“Bastian Spencer.”
“I like you.” His thumb swirled in the center of her palm. “I like you very much.”
“That’s nice.” She was too wound up to reciprocate, though the truth was, she easily could. Which was disturbing. Because what had happened back there had left an unpleasantly sour feeling in her gut. And that was more important than his use of words likegirlfriend.
