Page 76 of Bitter Secrets

Far from being offended by her father’s plans to ruin him, his tone was admiring and, if she wasn’t mistaken, a tad amused. She wasn’t sure how to take that.

“I’ve heard about his methods, but even I didn’t see that coming.”

“No one does. Dad’s…” She realized there was no good way to end that, so she asked, “Did he say anything to you after he returned to the ballroom?”

“No, he didn’t even look at me.”

She was pleased on his behalf, but anxious over what further punishments she would receive when her father learned that Roth managed to snag a deal with Don Langdon. Her fingers drummed the table restlessly as she sipped her chai and allowed her eyes to sweep around the bustling café for a moment before she looked back at her table companion. Her heart slammed against her ribs.

“What?”

“If you’re a disappointment, I’d hate to find out what you’re capable of if you meet his expectations.”

For a second, she was stunned speechless, and then she threw her head back and laughed.

“That’s the best compliment I’ve gotten all month,” she wheezed as she wiped at her streaming eyes. “But Dad’s not the only who thinks I’m hopeless. My professor told me I have a lot to work on.”

“He’s wrong.”

“She,” she corrected with a grin.

“She’s wrong,” he parroted.

“I wish that were true,” she said as she slumped in her seat.

“Tell me why she said that.”

She cringed. “You don’t want to hear about that.”

“I have time.”

“Your meeting…”

He patted his pocket. “He’ll call me when he’s here. Talk.”

It went against everything she’d been taught to discuss her weaknesses, but for some reason, she found herself spilling about not just her terrible day, but her whole graduate school experience. She had no idea she had so much bottled up inside her.

He didn’t nod or smile as she talked; he just watched her with an unwavering intensity that made her nervous, yet elated. She wasn’t sure why. It was a strange experience to have someone focus on her to the exclusion of all else. People always looked through her. Their interest was briefly captured when they learned who her father was, but once they realized she didn't possess the charisma or abilities as her family, their attention wandered. Roth’s didn't. He didn’t look at the student who claimed the table beside them, or the constant stream of people who passed through the door behind her. She should have felt foolish for confiding in him, but the longer she sat with him, the more at ease she became.

Even though she was rambling, she couldn’t stop. It was only when his mouth quirked that she stumbled to an awkward halt.

“I’m sorry,” she groaned as she buried her face in her hands.

“There’s nothing to be sorry for.”

She lowered her hands to stare at him. “I just talked your ear off about school.”

“I like listening to you talk.”

She wondered if her cheeks were as bright as they felt. He couldn't be flirting with her, could he? No. He was just indulging her like a sister… or a little kid.

She shook herself and propped her chin on her hands. “Ignore everything I just said. Tell me about your deal with Langdon.”

“If your interest isn’t business, what is it?”

She stiffened. “What makes you think it isn’t?”

His smile deepened, bringing her attention to the scar on his lip. Her fingertips tingled with the need to trace it. What the hell was happening to her?

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