Page 39 of RAKEish

Scott dropped his chin and raised a brow, his demeanor earnest. “That’s because, up until now, you haven’t had a full arsenal of flirting tools at your disposal. With these new techniques, you might be surprised at how many men ask to buy you a drink, whether you’re decked out in makeup, or just flaunting a swipe of lip gloss. Take my friend, Rose, for instance. She might not be the first one you notice when you walk into a bar, but she can captivate anyone she chooses, simply because she’s mastered the art of flirting.”

“Even you?” Lux probed, intrigued by the mention of a woman in his life.

Scott’s eyes narrowed slightly, a faint crease forming between his brows as if he was deciphering a cryptic message. “Even me what?”

“Would she be able to catch your attention? Or do you only go for traditionally beautiful women?”

Scott’s smile faltered, just for a moment. “I’m not only interested in beautiful woman.”

“Prove it,” Lux challenged, half-joking, half-serious.

“How?” Scott asked, a spark of interest in his eyes.

“Show me a photo of someone you dated this year who isn’t traditionally beautiful.”

Scott’s pause was a beat too long. “Our ideas of beauty might differ.”

“Because I’m a plain Jane, and my standards are lower?”

He ran a hand through his hair, a silent admission of discomfort.

“Forget it,” Lux cut in before he could formulate a reply. “I wasn’t looking for flattery.” The last thing she wanted was a pity compliment. “Tell me about this friend of yours who’s a great flirt despite not fitting the classic beauty mold. How long were you two together?”

“We didn’t date. She’s a friend from back in Shiretopia,” Scott clarified.

“A friend?” She knew very little of his prior life.

“Yes, a friend. Nothing more. Nothing less,” he said, with an air of finality that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

Lux’s stomach dropped. “What you’re saying is that despite your assurances—when faced with the chance to pursue someone who wasn’t a classic beauty—you chose to stick her in the friend zone?”

“Her appearance had nothing to do with that decision,” Scott said, his jaw tightening.

“Then why?” Lux pressed.

“I can’t discuss it.”

Lux wasn’t ready to obey the silent order to change the conversation. “Can you at least tell me her secret? How she manages to enchant any man she sets her sights on?”

Scott smiled. “She calls it playing the subtly alluring card.”

“Why subtle?”

“She believes there’s no need to overdo it for anyone’s attention,” Scott said. “And it works for her.”

Lux leaned toward him, eager to hear more. “I need to learn how to pull off this low-key thing, because it sounds way more doable than all of this.” She did jazz hands around her face.

“It’s a matter of being interesting enough to arouse their curiosity while leaving them wanting to know more,” Scott said.

“Kind of like how you’ve kept your followers guessing about why you left Shiretopia.”

Scott smirked. “Exactly. When a guy hits on you in a bar, leave him guessing if you’re a one-night stand kind of woman. Queer or straight. Smart or dumb. Vanilla sex or if you’re the kind of girl who knows what S. T. F. U. A. T. M. C. L. A. G. L. G. stands for. It’s all about the intrigue.”

Lux blinked and quickly glanced away before he could read her face. According to his lesson in mystery, he did not need to know that she knew what all those letters stood for.

Once she felt composed, she asked. “And when am I allowed to put all these questions to rest?”

Scott’s eyes darkened slightly. “Once he’s invested in you. When you’re actually dating.”

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