Page 6 of Sinful Lies

He honestly thinks there’s a competition here?

“No, but it only took one date for me to know she’s it for me. I’d happily put a ring on her finger tonight if she’d let me, but you know Zara. She wants to focus on her career before we start thinking about planning a wedding. This girl is something else.” I almost laugh at how easy it is for the lies to fall off my tongue.

Zara lets out a nervous laugh as she glances between me and Giovanni.

I stroke my hand up and down her waist to try and soothe her nerves.

“She sure is.” He eyes Zara with such hunger that I take a step forward, angling my body so that she’s slightly behind me.

I don’t give a fuck if this guy is her boss. If he keeps looking at her like she’s a piece of meat, I will have no issue sending my fist into the fucker’s jaw.

“I can’t believe I get to call her mine.” I reach out totuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear before cupping her cheek.

Zara leans into my touch, her eyes fluttering closed for a second, and for a moment, I forget that we’re not alone.

Giovanni clears his throat, and I flash Zara a wink.

“Do you work forSpencer & Meyerstoo?”

Why is this fucker still here?

I brush my thumb over Zara’s lower lip before dropping my hand and turning my attention back to her boss.

He has his arms folded across his chest, his shirt sleeve lifting enough to flash his watch.

Is he for real?

“They work for me. I’ve found the lawyers at this firm to be the most…discreetwhen it comes to certain business ventures.”

Giovanni’s gray eyes narrow. “What sort of business ventures?”

I don’t miss the way Zara tenses against me, so I give her waist a reassuring squeeze.

“My family likes to dip their toes in many waters. But we’re Russian, so our main business is a vodka distillery back in Moscow.”

“Is that so?”

I plaster an easy smile on my face as I let Giovanni piece together the puzzle. “Like I said, we have many business ventures.”

“It seems your girl has more of a champagne taste rather than vodka.”

Zara forces a laugh as she leans in closer to me.

“I’ll give her whatever she wants. Whatever she needs. Meeting her changed my life. I still remember the first time I sawher.”

“You do?” Zara whispers, glancing up at me, her green eyes wide as I look down at her.

“It’s carved into my memory.” I let her hear the sincerity in my voice.

I watch her throat bob and her cheeks redden, and I know she remembers it too.

She wouldn’t give me the time of day. That mixed with her smart mouth and sexy curves had me almost on my knees, drooling with need.

It’s rare that a woman doesn’t throw herself at me the moment I flash her a smile.

But not Zara. She wasn’t impressed by my charm or my wealth. If anything, she was repulsed by it.

“She’s going to be working long hours over the next few months. You probably won’t be seeing much of her.” Giovanni raises his eyebrows at me in challenge.

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