Page 14 of Her Red Hot Secret Royal Fling

“You were too polite to refuse.”

He laughed then, a gruff sound. “Or, perhaps I didn’t really want to refuse?”

She hoped that was partly true.

“You’re actually a welcome distraction.”

Her heart lifted a little. “Yeah?”

He made a noise of agreement.

“Distraction from what?” The second she asked the question, she knew she wouldn’t want to hear the answer.

He held another tree branch out of the way and as she walked close to him, their eyes met and held for a moment, and she felt the truth of the confession that was coming.

“Your breakup?” She preempted, careful to keep her tone neutral.

He dragged a hand through his hair. “I shouldn’t be flirting with you.”

“Is that what you’ve been doing?”

“I think what I’ve been doing is actually way less appropriate than simply flirting. Sofia—I don’t want to lead you on.”

She felt her breath leave her body. His honesty was refreshing, and confounding. “I don’t think you are.”

His lips pulled to one side. “I’m really not in a place to get involved with anyone…”

She nodded slowly. “I get that.”

“I mean, Louisa and I just broke up.”

“I know.”

“And you’re great, but?—,”

She pulled her ponytail over one shoulder. “I’m basically a Santoro.”

“Right.”

“Ares—I’m not looking for a relationship either.”

His brow furrowed at that. “No?”

She shook her head. “I’m just looking to seduce you into giving us the contract.” She batted her lashes to make it clear she was joking. He tilted his head back in a small gesture of amusement.

“Seriously, I wasn’t expecting…I mean, there’s obviously something here,” she said with a grimace. “But it doesn’t have to be a big deal. I’m here to work, primarily. Salvatore and I will be leaving the country at the end of the week, and other than a professional relationship when you award us the project, you and I don’t have to have anything to do with one another.”

He reached out and caught a clump of blonde hair, tucking it behind her ear slowly, so his fingertips brushed across her skin and lingered there. “You’re very pragmatic about this stuff.”

“Yep.” There was no point denying it; she’d learned to be this way. She wasgladshe was this way.

“Why?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I know why I’m being so practical about this, but why are you?”

No one had ever asked her that before. In fact, no one had ever perceived it. In her experience, most of the men she ‘dated’ were relieved that she was so non-committal. Sofia was no-strings, up for a good time, not a long time, and that tended to suit everyone, in her experience.

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