Page 109 of Riordan's Revenge

“Why are you here? What’s wrong?”

She raised her tearstained face to his. “I wish I’d never met you.”

“You’re breaking my heart. All I want is to keep you. I agreed to a time limit of a month in the hope that you’d fall in love with me, like I have you. Please tell me why you can’t.”

Alexia stilled. “No. You can’t love me.”

The show cut to a montage of their secret dates, their sexy evenings, their steamy messages. Eduardo tumbling into love with the beautiful Alexia. Inevitable. Laid out for us all to witness.

My fork stalled.

Riordan and I had a time limit. Ten days, we’d agreed. I’d almost forgotten. What were we on now, maybe day seven? Eight? I’d lost track.

Likewise, Riordan had stopped eating, though he was near the bottom of his bowl. His gaze slid to me. “It’s your birthday at the end of the week.”

Day ten. The end of our agreement. I inclined my head.

His hopeful gaze held mine. “Can I give you a present?”

“Ye just bought me furniture. A blanket.” I plucked at the dark-blue fleecy material behind my head. It blew my mind. I had exactly zero idea of what things cost and how much he got paid, but I was suspicious that it must’ve wiped out his bank account.

“I have something else in mind.”

“Okay,” I breathed. I’d make Arran give him a raise.

His lips quirked in a boyish smile, and he returned his gaze to the screen. The lamplight made him golden. I couldn’t have loved him more if I tried.

Alexia finally gave her explanation to her lover. “Our time is up because my husband is coming home today. He’s in there now, debriefing from his trip.”

Eduardo’s thick eyebrows merged. “My father works in there.”

Alexia stayed quiet.

His eyes widened. “They work together? Your husband and my father?”

Deathly pale, Alexia shook her head. “They’re the same person.”

“That’s impossible.”

“It’s the truth.”

“It’s impossible because he’s married. He has a wife and two young children. They live abroad. That’s why I hardly ever see him, but we video called a few days ago and he was with them.”

Alexia’s eyes showed her shock, and her mouth opened but no words came out. Abruptly, she fainted. Eduardo caught her.

Another man ran over. “Take your hands off my wife.” His words dried up. “Son?”

The programme went to adverts, and I leapt up and took my half-eaten food to the kitchen, putting it in the fridge. Riordan’s empty bowl went in the sink to be dealt with later. Then I returned to him.

Like in Alexia’s startling moment of realisation, my hands shook.

As soon as I was near enough, Riordan reached for me and settled me on his lap, my knees either side of his hips. I held his face, staring into his eyes like I could see what I was suspecting. Arran’s game allowed thirty days for a couple to fall in love. I’d settled on ten so I didn’t risk Riordan’s heart. It was too soon. Then again, I’d fallen in love at first sight.

And I still hadn’t fallen out.

“What’s going on behind those blue eyes?” he asked, low and sweet.

A whole lot of soul-searching over what I had to do next. Instead of voicing any of it, I kissed him. The rest of the night vanished into showing him with my body all the things I couldn’t say.

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