AllFreeNovel
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“But will you?”
I stay silent for a long beat. “No.”
I know the concession is enough to lose the battle, possibly the entire war, but that darn impossible man has worn out my defenses.
I drop my backpack to the ground and sit on the blanket. “But I want the record to show I’m staying only because I’m thirsty and hungry.”
Gabriel shrugs off his own backpack and sits next to me, our legs touching. He opens one basket and unloads a series of culinary treats: freshly baked focaccia bread, unusual cheeses, salamis and different cured meats, heirloom tomatoes, fresh berries, crisp apples, and crunchy celery sticks, along with a potato salad.
Ooooh, and there are chocolate mini cakes.
My nose twitches with interest. I’m starving.
After he’s set out everything, Gabriel looks at me and winks. “Help yourself.”
My stomach growls audibly, but I don’t move a muscle. “How did you even organize all this?”
“I have people.”
I frown at that. “So the treasure hunt was all a sham? You already knew the solution to everything?”
“No. I just told Mila where I wanted to end and she organized the how-to-get-here part.”
“Poor woman. How much of a forewarning did you give her?”
MGM smirks, gesturing at the display. “Enough, as per the perfect picnic evidence. Any other questions?”
“Yeah. Where are we and whose cottage is that?”
“That’d be mine.” He tilts his head backward toward the building. “I like to come up here to relax and unplug from time to time.”
“And you always have food and wine stocked?”
He grins. “Yes.”
My stomach growls again and I finally pluck a focaccia sandwich from the basket. “Why did you bring me here?”
“To eat, of course.”
“And what’s in the other basket? Your torture instruments?”
MGM lets out a barky laugh, a rollicking, sexy sound that has my toes curling up in my boots. “No, just a few refreshments.” He takes a peek in. “Fresh, organic lemonade, white wine, beers, and, of course, water. What’s your poison?”
“I’ll take the lemonade, thank you,” I say, having a look inside the basket myself.
MGM catches my gaze and quirks an eyebrow.
“Just making sure you didn’t forget to mention the spare chainsaw you keep in there.”
His eyes crinkle irresistibly as he uncorks the lemonade bottle. “Nothing funny in here, I promise.”
I take another bite of the sandwich and it’s so delicious, I scarf it down at an undignified speed.
The rest of the food is equally heavenly. We eat in silence, watching each other the whole time. I wonder if he can tell how much of the hostility I show him is really fear.
He breaks the ice by asking, “What’s your favorite food?”
“I have so many, I can’t pick. You?”
