Page 56 of Sinful Escape

“The food.” He sniggered as did a few others.

His answer was exactly as I’d anticipated.

“Speaking of food, I know you’re as full as a goog.”

“Full as a what?” Mike bellowed.

“Full as a goog. It’s an Aussie term. Goog as in googy egg. An egg is full to the limit. Full as a goog.”

“Aussies are weird.” Mike grinned at me.

“Not weird. Fun.” But if my last half hour was any way to judge, then this Aussie gal was more than just weird—she was totally looney. “Anyway, I know you don’t want to think about food right now, but I need to inform our lunchtime restaurant of your meal choices. You have three dishes to choose from: fish, beef, and vegetarian. The fish is my favorite.” I described each dish in detail. “Okay, hands up who wants beef?”

After recording their meal choices, I switched the conversation from where we’d been to where we were going: Lyon. I rambled for ages, sprouting facts about Lyon and its interesting history. Not long after we left the château, people began yawning. Food comas were setting in. My plan to talk the entire way was foiled when, one by one, they dropped off to sleep.

Dammit. Before my speech became completely pointless, I hooked up the microphone, and with a cursory glance at Roman, sat in my seat.

“Well, aren’t you a wealth of knowledge.” Roman swooped his gaze toward me.

“Yeah, always.”

“I know what you’re doing.”

I scrunched my nose, acting confused. “Me too. My job.”

“You’re trying to avoid talking to me.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because we didn’t finish our conversation.”

“Ahhh, yeah we did.”

“No, we didn’t. I asked if you and Luca were horsing around.”

“You didn’t ask; you stated it. No reply required.” I poked my tongue out at him. Tick. One for me.

“Don’t give me that Miss Innocent look. I know a post-shag grin when I see one.”

Oh, God. I pressed my palms into my eyes until pretty little dots scooted across the blackness.

“Am I right? I know I’m right. Just admit it.”

I huffed. “All right. Yes, we horsed around.” There, that wasn’t a lie.

“I knew it. Fantastico.”

I raised my brows, giving him a what-the-hell look.

He grinned with ridiculous excitement. I had no idea why.

“I’m impressed, Red. I didn’t think you’d go through with it. Especially not this quick. What’d you do? Walk up to him and say, ‘Hey, sexy. What’re you doing for the next half hour?’”

I shrunk lower in my seat. “No.” I scowled. “It wasn’t like that.”

“How was it then?”

“No way.” I shook my head. “This is not open for discussion.”

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