Page 19 of Seduced By Contract

Before I can ask who these dangerous people are, she gets into the car and fastens her seatbelt.

Madison

CHAPTER ELEVEN

After givingmy address to the driver, I feel a bit embarrassed. The man will have to drive for about fifty minutes to where I live in New Jersey.

"Agreeing to the ride doesn't mean I'll accept your dinner invitation," I say to fill the silence, because just being in such a small space with him gets me very flustered.

"I don't recall inviting you again."

I feel my face heat up. "Don't try to play me for a fool. Why would you wait for me if you didn't want to go out with me?"

"I didn't say I won't go out with you, just that this isn’t another dinner invitation. As for why I waited for you, I don't like the idea of you traveling alone on the train at this hour."

I sigh, a bit annoyed, a bit . . . I can't explain. Warm inside, perhaps? When was the last time someone cared about me? I'm usually the one who cares about everyone else. "I've been doing it ever since I can remember. Taking the train alone, I mean."

"How old are you?"

"It's not polite to ask a lady's age."

He falls silent, and it has the same effect on me as if he were trying to persuade me. How does he do that? I don't usually yield so easily.

I turn to look at him. "Nineteen."

"Where are your parents?"

"Is this an interrogation, Mr. Kostanidis?"

"Are you a rebellious girl, Madison?" he counters.

"Is being rebellious not bowing to someone? Because if it is, you can bet your life on that."

To my surprise, a slow smile, though still preserving a hint of cynicism, forms on that perfect mouth.

Oh my God, he's so handsome.

"Why are you asking me these things?"

"To get to know you. It's what I do when something piques my interest. I study it until there are no more secrets."

"Why?"

"To decide if it's what I want."

"Jesus, you're so arrogant."

"Honest, I would say. I don't sugarcoat or wrap my words in silk to make them more pleasing, Madison, but I play fair one hundred percent of the time."

More than what he says, it's the promises his eyes make to me that, even in my inexperience, I can understand. They make it clear what they want with me, but they also tell me that if I say yes, I won't regret it.

I feel my skin prickle, and I try to change the focus of the conversation, or I risk succumbing to temptation.

"What did your brother say about you . . . hum . . . coming after me? Because now I understand why they sent me home after just one dance on stage. It was because of you."

"I didn't make any trouble for you, if that's what you're thinking. I left a generous tip for the private performance."

"I didn't check. I was happy to be able to go home early."

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