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“They build and manage them all across the world. I’m technically in business with Cordelia’s parents in the Caribbean, for the new resort.”
She blinks a few times. “Seriously?”
“They aren’t involved with the day-to-day, and the CEO isn’t a member of the family,” I say, and shrug. “But yes. There was a fair bit of speculation at the time, if it was…”
“If you two were getting married for the companies.”
“Yes,” I say. “Wasn’t true.”
Her smile softens. “Not even a little bit?”
I narrow my eyes at her, but she narrows them right back. “No,” I say again. “Although… you’re not wrong, either. I did consider it a perk.”
She shakes her head. “You’re ruthlessly ambitious.”
“Ruthless?” It’s not a description I’ve strived for.
“With yourself, I mean. You’re ruthless with your own happiness.”
I have nothing to say to that, my mind blank. That’s not a perspective I’ve ever applied to my own life before. Her gaze is warm on mine, and beautifully honest.
“I’m sorry about the way it ended,” she says. “No one deserves to be cheated on.”
“No. I’m sorry about the way your marriage ended, too.”
Her mouth tips up. “This got more serious than I suspected.”
“You’re the one who asked the question.”
“I did, didn’t I?” She sighs and rests her head in her hand. “You know, I can’t believe I’m here with you.”
“Hmm?” My hand moves on its own, finding the curve of her elbow. I smooth my thumb over the soft skin beneath the short sleeve of her dress.
“Just last weekend, you were in my apartment,” she murmurs. “Eating at my table and taking a shower with me.”
My smile widens. “Yes. Is this when the more intrusive questions start?”
“It might be. Brace yourself.”
“I’ll consider myself warned.”
“Last Sunday,” she says. “You were… very controlled.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Was I?”
“Yes.”
“Didn’t feel that way,” I say. The need for her had been a second pulse beneath my skin, my shorts painfully tight around my erection. “Is this because I left?”
“Might be,” she says. “It was pretty… abrupt.”
I chuckle. “Trust me, it needed to be, or I wouldn’t have left at all.”
“Oh.”
“I told you I wanted to buy you dinner first.”
“That was it? I thought it had to do with the lack of a certain… garment.”
