Page 20 of Forbidden Pawn

I curve my lips into a smile. Of course, I’ve had a drink before. I’m not even underage. Grace Reid may be nineteen years old, but I am twenty-two. He just can’t know that.

“I didn’t say I never had a drink before,” I argue. “I just reminded you I’m not allowed to have any officially.”

“Well, and your brothers aren’t allowed to steal and betray, yet they do it anyway,” he says. “What’s a little underage drinking compared to that?”

Once again, I wish I could tell him I’m not like them. I’m a good person, a law-abiding citizen, and I never thought it would be this hard to pretend otherwise.

Instead, I bite my tongue and send him a sweet smile.

“I guess you’re right,” I say. “I’ve always been the goody-goody of the family.”

“You’re their little nestling, aren’t you?” he responds. “I’ve been told they’re very protective of you.”

“I’m the youngest and the only girl. What do you expect?” I retort.

“Fair point,” he says. “I’m still surprised they were so willing to hand you to me.”

He keeps saying that, and I wonder if there’s more to his words than he lets on. Is he suspecting something? Is he worried about me not being who I say I am?

Or am I just paranoid?

“It’s not like we had much of a choice,” I remind him.

He arches an eyebrow at me, and I don’t know what to think of it. Maybe I’m paranoid, or maybe he just doesn’t like the element of surprise that came with me.

“You really expected to get paid that day, didn’t you?” I ask.

He scoffs. “Of course! The money is all I want.”

“And you don’t like it when things don’t go your way,” I go on — to which he responds with a stern look.

“Of course, I don’t,” he says. “No one enjoys when things don’t go according to plan.”

I take another sip of my wine, letting the warm, tingling sensation spread through me. My cheeks feel a bit flushed, and I can tell that the alcohol is loosening my inhibitions. I lean forward, resting my elbows on the table, and let my gaze linger on Ryker. He’s watching me with that ever-present, calculating look in his eyes.

“I’ve always wondered,” I say, letting my voice drop to a more sultry tone, “what makes a man like you tick? You seem so... in control. Is that just an act, or is there something more behind the façade?”

Ryker raises an eyebrow, a slow, amused smile curling on his lips. I can see that he’s not entirely immune to my advances. He leans back in his chair, stretching his long legs out beneath the table, and takes a thoughtful sip of his wine.

“Do you really want to know?” he asks, his voice low and steady. “Or are you just trying to distract me from your brother’s lack of payment?”

“Maybe a bit of both,” I admit, letting my fingers brush lightly against his as we both reach for another slice of pizza. The touch is fleeting, but it’s enough to send a shiver up my spine. I can see the slight shift in his demeanor, the way his eyes narrow slightly.

“What do you think you know about me?” he asks, his voice taking on a more intimate tone. “What have they told you?”

I pause, holding the slice of pizza close to my mouth, but not yet taking a bite. This is a delicate moment, and I need to choose my words carefully. I look him straight in the eye, trying to project sincerity even as I weave my web of seduction.

“I know that you’re not just a criminal,” I say. “I’ve seen glimpses of something else, something... more complex. You have this way of hiding behind a mask, but I can see the cracks in it. And I want to know what’s behind them.”

Ryker’s gaze sharpens, and for a moment, I wonder if I’ve gone too far. But then he leans in closer, the warmth of his body almost palpable. His fingers brush against mine again, and this time, he lingers. There’s a tension between us now, thick and electric.

He studies me for a long moment, his expression inscrutable. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, he reaches out and tucksa stray lock of hair behind my ear. The touch is surprisingly tender, and it sends a wave of warmth through my body.

“Or maybe you’re imagining things,” he whispers. “Maybe you’re looking for something that isn’t there.”

“Maybe I am,” I say, my voice trembling slightly with the weight of the moment. “Or maybe you’re just afraid.”

Ryker’s gaze lingers on mine, and for a heartbeat, I feel as if the world outside this room has faded away.

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