Page 106 of The Romance Library

My thoughts jumped to what I’d said to him this morning when he’d given me all those treats from the bakery. About wanting to marry him.

I’d felt stupid as soon as I’d realised what had flown out of my mouth. I’d said I was joking because I didn’t want to make him feel awkward, and obviously I didn’t mean it literally. We barely knew each other. And yet, if I was going to spend the rest of my life with someone, based on what I knew about Theo so far, I’d want it to be with someone like him.

That surprised me in so many ways. Just a few weeks ago I never thought I’d ever want to kiss a man ever again. Never mind sleep with him or want to spend all my days and nights with him.

But in walked Theo and changed everything.

I was glad that we’d met. Glad that we’d got together. And I was trying to tell myself to just enjoy the moment and not worry about what would happen next, but I couldn’t help it.

Realistically, once this pitch was over, Theo would go back to his fancy office and penthouse and forget all about me. And if I lost, I’d go back to my shitty life.

It wouldn’t be long before some lucky woman snapped him up. A woman that was better suited to his world. And I’d be just a memory of the time he’d hooked up with a pauper.

‘So are you feeling more relaxed now?’ Theo said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

‘Much more,’ I exhaled. ‘How are you so good?’

Not many men would be confident enough in their abilities to make a woman come that they’d offer to do it on a whim in public.

‘Practise,’ he said like it was no big deal.

‘So you’ve been with a lot of women, then? That’s a point. I don’t know anything about your dating history.’

‘Not much to tell.’ He shrugged.

‘No? So there’s no high-society lady waiting for you back in London?’ I asked, trying to sound bright and breezy, despite my heart thudding against my chest. If Theo was ever going to choose to be with someone, I knew it wouldn’t be someone like me.

Theo paused. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it before opening it again.

‘I don’t really date. I’m always working, so it’s difficult. Work has always been my focus.’

‘So then how do you practise?’ I raised my eyebrow.

‘I sleep with women, but it’s never anything serious.’

My stomach bottomed out. Looked like I’d got my answer about what would happen with us after the pitch: absolutely nothing.

‘Right,’ I said.

‘That doesn’t mean… I didn’t mean…’ Theo winced. ‘I wasn’t talking about us, or you. This is… different.’

‘Why? Because I’m your competitor? Or because I’m not the kind of woman you’d normally date?’

‘I…’ Theo paused like he was trying to find the right words. ‘It’s true. You’re not like the women I normally date.’ My stomach twisted again. All the stress that had disappeared started to creep back. ‘You’re better.’

My head bolted upwards.

‘Better?’

‘Yes. This is different, in a good way. In case it wasn’t obvious, I like you, Jess. A lot. I don’t have all the answers. I don’t know what happens after the pitch or what this is and what it means. All I know is that I enjoy spending time with you. I hope that’s enough for now.’

My heart bloomed.

I appreciated his honesty. He could’ve made up some bullshit and sworn that we’d continue afterwards, but he didn’t.

As much as I liked him, I didn’t have all the answers either.

‘One step at a time, right?’ I repeated what we’d said this morning.

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