Page 10 of Ruthless Reign

Swinging the bathroom door open, I step out, only to stop short.

Roman is there, looking all hot and annoying, casually leaning against the wall. A slow, teasing smile unfurls on his lips. “Liza. Funny running into you here.”

A hand lands on my hips. “It’s really not. I live here.”

He chuckles, and the sound does something weird to my insides.

“True.” He pushes from the wall and steps towards me. “Still, it feels like you’ve avoided me all night.”

“Maybe you’re the one who’s avoided me, too busy chatting away with Katerina.”

Damn. As soon as the words fall from my lips, I realize my mistake.

Way to show your cards, Liza.

He raises his dark eyebrows. “Yes, well, I was fascinated listening to Katerina about her many hobbies. She’s a woman of varied interests—shopping, lunching, working out.”

I cross my arms in front of my chest, but a small flicker of warmth spreads through me. Despite my intention of playing it cool, a smile creeps onto my face. “She’s certainly one of a kind.”

Roman tucks his hands into his pockets as his gaze drifts over my face. He always looks at me like that, as if he’s trying to figure me out.

I point towards the door I just came through. “Well, we’re about to sit down for dinner. I imagine you wanted to use the restroom.”

He doesn’t move a muscle. I’m about to push past him when he makes a noise in the back of his throat. “You don’t like me, do you?”

My gaze burns into the floor. What am I supposed to say? ‘That I don’t like how my body reacts to you?’ I shrug because it seems like the safest response. “It’s not personal. I didn’t like you spying on Kira and me.”

“First of all, it’s always personal when you dislike someone. And second, I was never spying on you.”

“Doesn’t make it any better.”

He raises the drink in his hand and takes a long, lazy sip. I watch the tendons in his throat as he swallows. “Seeing as I’m working closely with your fiancé, maybe we can call a truce.”

My chest tightens at the reminder that he and Anatoly are now on the same side. I purse my lips. “And what would that look like?”

“It would mean we’re civil to each other. It shouldn't be so hard. You're perfectly agreeable to everyone else.”

That's because everyone else is not Roman. Everyone else lacks his cool confidence, fast wit, and easy charm that fascinate me and get under my skin at the same time.

“I’m always civil to you,” I point out.

“The looks you were throwing me across the room earlier were anything but.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. That had a lot to do with Katerina hanging off his every word. “I have a resting bitch face.”

Roman chokes out a laugh. “You only have a resting bitch face when it comes to me.”

I offer a small smile. “Just part of my charm.”

“Does that mean we’re friends?”

Friends? Roman and I have never been friends. Nor would I describe my feelings towards him as particularly friendly, but it seems safer to agree.

“Friends.” I nod.

We seal it with a handshake, but the moment his hand touches mine, little sparks jolt up my arm like I've touched a live wire.

Damn him and his electric touch.

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