Page 6 of Stolen

“Are you always on?” My question came out quietly.

“What do you mean?”

“I assume it’s part of your job, right? Always being on. People expect their PR person to be an extrovert. To always be the life of the party. A source of constant entertainment.”

“You could say that, sure.” Leo shrugged. “Doesn’t mean that I’m faking it, though.”

“Except you are.”

“Come on, Jacob. You’ve known me for what? Five minutes?” Leo filled his glass with water again. “Maybe spend less time trying to psychoanalyze me and just enjoy the conversation?”

“We both work with people, Leo,” I replied. “It’s your job to make sure people are comfortable. That’s my job, too. Except I think we’re tuned to different things.”

“Oh?”

“I’m tuned to fear. I have to know if someone’s faking it because I need to know if they’re afraid. We have people book some pretty extreme camping experiences, and I need to be able to tell if they’re the real deal or if they’re going to end up hurting themselves.”

“And? What do you think I’m tuned to?”

“Happiness. You have to keep people happy or else. Isn’t that how it works?”

“You’re not wrong,” Leo quietly admitted. “Still, it’s kind of presumptuous to think you can read people, just like that?—”

I suddenly moved from sitting in front of the bar to standing a few inches away from Leo. As I moved closer to him, I could tell that his breath hitched in his chest, surprised at the quickness of my movements.

“Hi,” Leo murmured, his cheeks turning a deep shade of red.

“Hi,” I said back, feeling my own heart starting to race inside my chest.

I’d never been with a man before, but I recognized what I was feeling as attraction.

I knew that there were sparks between us.

“What are you thinking?” I asked, still staring over at him, enjoying taking in his features this close up.

“Nothing.”

“No, you’re thinking something. You think I don’t see this?” I brought a hand to the side of his face, my fingers trailingalongside his cheek. “Your body’s going to give you away every time, you know.”

“Fine. If you know so much, what do you think that I’m thinking?” Leo pressed, his hand coming up to meet mine, soon resting his fingers on top of mine.

I leaned down closer to him, our faces inches away from each other’s. “I’m thinking that you want to meet me in the sauna later, after dinner.”

“And why would you think I want anything to do with you, Jacob?”

“Because you like that I’m a challenge.” I smirked. “You like that I don’t respond to your usual PR personality that you put on. You like that I know there’s something more to you.”

“There you go, assuming you know everything about me again?—”

“Bradley and I are going to make dinner tonight,” I cut him off, my eyes still fixed on his. “Assuming the kitchen staff isn’t able to make it. And I have a feeling that they won’t.”

“Jacob—”

“It’ll be our treat.” I shifted away from him, heading away from the bar. “I’ll see you at the sauna later, Leo.”

“Hey! You can’t just—you’re not the one running this show—you don’t make the rules!”

“Oh, Leo.” I sighed, without turning around. “I think we both know that I’ll be making the rules around here, for as long as you’ll have me.”

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