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But Forest’s hungry stare made it all worth it. His obvious lust revived me, made me feel impenetrable. Of course I deserved to be here.
I’d never felt so studied as I did in that moment. But I didn’t feel exposed. I felt powerful.
The dress had certainly given me powers, it seemed.
I sat down, suppressing a grin. “You have good taste.”
He tore his gaze away from me and cleared his throat. “If you mean the dress, the credit goes to Mrs Jamroz.”
I batted my eyelashes. “Who?”
“My housekeeper. If you mean I have good taste inwomen, well...” Forest paused, then seemed to suddenly realize what he was saying. He beckoned the nearest waiter. “Can you find out where our wine order is, please?”
“I meant the restaurant, of course.” I said it so innocently, but then I smirked into my hand, betraying my tease. “I know we’re technically here on business, but I’m not opposed to playing up our flirtation. Just to keep up appearances, of course.”
Forest looked darkly around the restaurant. “Problem is, I’m liable to get a little carried away.”
I rested my elbows on the table and leaned my chin into my hands. “Why is that?”
When he finally made eye contact, he looked almost wounded. “Ria, you know my feelings-”
I interrupted, leaning back and dropping the act. “Relax. It’s fine. I’m not trying to mock you. I’m just trying to have a little fun with our situation. I want you to join in, but if you’re not up for it, I’ll stop. I wouldn’t want you to feel ‘carried away’.”
He watched me for a moment. The waiter brought over a bottle of champagne on ice. I dreaded to think how much it cost. After the waiter had retreated, having popped the bottle and poured us both a tasting amount, Forest was still thinking.
Then, he seemed to make a decision. “Fuck it.” He slapped the table, and poured us another glass of champagne each. “You’re right. And you’ve caught me in a good mood today. This plan is supposed to be low-pressure, so, sure, let’s have some fun with it. Cheers?”
I looked across at his open, honest face and smiled. He’d dropped a layer of his defenses just like that. I liked that he was willing to change his mind on things – so many men were stubborn beyond the point of foolishness, never wanting to admit that their initial opinion could be altered.
I clinked my glass against his. “Cheers.”
I took a sip, remembering my unfortunate womb problem, which is how I’d taken to thinking about the pregnancy for now. I made a mental note to pour my glass into his while he wasn’t looking and tell him I’d topped us up.
Forest drank about half the glass with an abandon I hadn’t previously witnessed in him. He’d made a decision and by god he was immediately running with it.
“Wow. Do I get to see your ‘wild side’ now?”
Forest raised an eyebrow. “I’m not sure I have one. I suppose we’ll see.”
I smirked again. “I’m not so sure you don’t. I’ve seen inklings of it.”
I had – our sex had been passionate and intense, and his interrogation had been the same, albeit in an angrier fashion. I knew there was something wild in there waiting to get out. I liked Forest, but it was that touch of darkness that I found truly intriguing, underneath the mild-mannered façade. For better or for worse, I found myself wanting to provoke it out of him.
“Get the business out of the way first, then. You saw Apollo?”
“I did. At his own office, no less. He’s bought our story. Or at least, he seemed to. I’m not psychic, but I’m fairly intuitive, and I didn’t feel like he was lying.”
“Good.” Forest nodded, thinking it over. “Good. I don’t know if he was ever a great liar.”
“I’ve already got some intel, too.”
“Go on.”
“What do you know about Jenni, your receptionist?”
“Not much, personally. But I have everyone strictly vetted before hiring them, to try and filter out Apollo’s agents. He’d do that a lot, in the old days – send in his spies as our employees. We have methods now of keeping them out.”
“Did you know she has a twin sister?”
