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‘Of course, but there’s more.’ It wasn’t a question. It was a statement of unwavering certainty.
Normally, prying from his date was a turn-off. But he found himself answering her, while reminding himself that this wasn’t a proper date. This was a charade to get him what he wanted. What Maria wanted.
‘Carla Nardozzi and her father are thinking of renewing her contract with Tyson Blackwell for another three years. I intend to make sure that doesn’t happen.’
Surprise sparked her blue eyes. ‘But Tyson is one of the most highly sought-after trainers out there. I worked with him in a group programme myself a few years ago.’
Renewed fury flamed through him, but he banked it down. He was supposed to play the part of a besotted lover, not an angry one, exhibiting bewildering signs of jealousy. ‘I’m aware of that. Why did you part company?’
She shrugged. ‘I think he had his eye on bigger fish. Carla Nardozzi, I expect.’
‘Consider yourself lucky. He’s known to push his trainees beyond their limits.’
She smiled at the waiter who delivered her coffee, before she met his gaze once more. ‘And that’s a bad thing?’
Regret and bitterness locked a vice around his chest. ‘It is when they eventually break.’
Her eyes shadowed with sympathy, an emotion Draco wouldn’t have associated with the flighty, self-obsessed creature he knew her to be. ‘This happened to someone you know?’
The vice tightened. ‘Yes.’ He forced the word out.
She nodded, then picked up her coffee and blew gently on it. A different sort of tightening took hold of Draco. He wasn’t sure whether to be resentful of the reminder that his libido was alive and kicking or welcome the distraction from trying to grapple with the diverging personalities of the woman sitting across from him. A sympathetic listener and narcissistic thief. Was there such a thing?
‘I’m sorry that happened to them. Were you close to this person?’ she pressed.
Draco decided that he preferred to tackle the subject of his libido. Discussing matters that ploughed through rough and disturbing memories wasn’t what he’d intended for this dinner. And yet the box that resided in his jacket pocket remained there as he lifted and tossed back his double espresso.
‘Did you take care of the matter of your other liaisons as you promised?’
Mocking laughter spilled from her lips. ‘First of all, I made no such promise. Secondly, where on earth did you get the idea that I had liaisons, plural?’
His teeth ground until pain lanced his jaw. ‘There have been several photographs of you cavorting with a certain rock band for the last few weeks.’
An emotion flicked through her eyes, one that resembled hurt. ‘And that automatically means I’m dating all of them?’
Tension gripped him. ‘Are you?’
‘No. Cole, the lead singer, used to be into snowboarding when we were younger. I met him again at an event a few weeks ago, and we just hung out for a bit.’
‘In the pictures you seem to be hanging out in his lap.’ The words emerged in a rumble that thoroughly irritated him.
Arabella shook her head. ‘I swear, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were jealous.’
His tension increased, along with the irksome need to probe this subject. ‘This is nothing more than due diligence to ensure there are no surprises down the road.’
She held his gaze, hers bold and clear. ‘There won’t be.’
For the second time in under an hour, tension eased out of Draco. For whatever reason his instinct was to believe her. Or perhaps on a subconscious level he knew this was a minor problem, easily resolved once the world knew she belonged to him. His gaze dropped to her bare fingers, a sudden need sparking through him.
Confirming she’d finished her coffee, he stood and held out his hand.
After a tiny hesitation, she slipped her hand in his and stood. The few diners remaining glanced their way. One or two acquaintances tried to catch his eye, but he avoided them. He’d achieved what he came here for. He wasn’t sure why he’d decided to take the next step away from prying eyes but he was tired of being on show.
The maître d’ materialised with Arabella’s wrap. Draco draped it over her shoulders and caught her faint shiver as his fingers brushed her skin.
He’d effectively debunked her denial of their chemistry at her flat last night. But little had he known that he would be caught in the tangle of chemical reaction so strong that he’d spent the night fighting lurid dreams.
She murmured her thanks and walked beside him, her hand once more clasped in his. He stared down at her profile, forcing himself to stay removed from the ever-growing tendrils of attraction grabbing at him.
