Page 81 of Playboy Boss

“I don’t think you know what trouble is, Konrad Korr.” She narrowed her gaze.

But playtime was quickly over. He grew serious and pensive.

Scottie wanted to know more. She wanted to know what had moved him so much in that moment. “Where did you go?”

“I just thought about my Mutter—mother.” His answer was quick, but the explanation was put on hold as the waiter set down their drinks.

“Your first course will come out shortly. Are you on the three-hour dining experience?”

Konrad glanced at Scottie. “Can you make it two?”

The waiter nodded. “Of course.” He was gone again.

Scottie took her martini glass, her tongue touching the sugared rim. The sweet liquid eased down her throat. Her gaze was still on Konrad, who also had his gaze on her.

“You’re waiting for me to finish, aren’t you?”

“Yes. If you want to tell me. It’s up to you.”

He sipped again, dragging the gulp down. She hung on his every move. “I was noncompliant as a youth. Shesaid to me ‘you don’t know what trouble is, my son.’ Siewissennicht, was das Problem istmeinSohn. That was the last time I talked to her. She died not long after.”

Her heart clenched up. “Oh.”

“Your words … it just reminded me of her.”

“Oh no. I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”

“It’s okay. How could you know?” Konrad dropped his gaze a moment. Scottie didn’t believe that for one second. He continued on his own accord, “She overdosed on her medication. That’s what I was told.”

Oh God. Scottie’s eyes welled up. Konrad’s mother committed suicide? Maybe intentionally? She wanted to go to him and ease that tortured look off his face.

He drank again, this time draining the glass and leaving nothing but a ball of ice. “She had depression.”

“That’s awful.” She was breathless.

“Yeah, it really is.”

“Were you close to her?”

His eyes darkened to almost black. The man looked like he was in agony talking about it. It passed quickly though. She wondered how long he’d been suppressing his feelings about it.

“Not as close as I should have been. My father made sure of that.” There was a bitterness in his voice.

Scottie’s heart could burst with all the emotions she felt. She didn’t blame him anymore for who he was. How could a person get close to someone else when the prospect of losing them was all too possible? Scottie knew the feeling. Her own father might as well have been dead.

“Does your father live in Germany?”

He shook his head, looking done with the heavy stuff. “No. That bastard lives six feet under in Austria.” Konrad lifted his glass to their passing waiter.

“I’m sorry. I hope I haven’t ruined this evening with my questions.” She reached out to touch his hand and get his full attention. “I just wanted to know.”

He smiled, weaving his fingers through hers. “I know. That’s what I love about you. You want to know me.”

She did. She wanted to know everything.

****

Thursday morning arrived too fast. She woke in Konrad’s arms, warm and comfortable. She was sore all over from their perfect night. Konrad stirred, pulling her tighter into him, his thick leg slung over her hip. There was no escaping him.

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