Page 208 of In Love with a Ruthless Man

I didn’t!

As I tried to convince myself of this, I managed to smile brightly at Sergei, asking, “So...do you want, uh, anything to drink?”

“Coffee would be nice.”

I nearly gawked at him while blurting out,Really?I was a caffeine junkie myself, and depending on my mood, I’d have either tea or coffee even at night. That I actually had something like that in common with Sergei Grachyov made me feel so, so—-

Giddy.

The realization made me blink.

Giddy?

I wanted to kill myself over it. I was 29 years old, for heaven’s sake. I had no right to be giddy like a high school girl. Clearing my throat, I muttered warningly, “I only have instant.”

“That’s more than fine with me.”

“Oh. Okay.”Shit.I had hoped he’d prove himself a snob and turn my offer down.

I took a step forward, but he remained where he was, blocking my path. “Umm...excuse me?” When he still didn’t move, I looked up—-

SHIT.

That lookwas back in his eyes again.

That I-want-to-fuck-youlook.

“I’m sure we can fit,” he murmured lazily.

Yes, we would...but only if I allowed our bodies to touch.

And he knew that.

“Why don’t you just move?” I demanded.

“Why don’t you just walk?” he countered easily.

Because!

Instead of answering him, I just glued my back to the wall and ignoring his raised eyebrow, I slowly walked sideways to inch past him, even holding my breath to make sure not a single part of our bodies would come into contact.

Sergei Grachyov burst into laughter.

Even as my cheeks reddened, I continued inching past him, telling myself I didn’t care that he was laughing at me.

If anything, the sound of his laughter, which was as sinful as it was mellifluous, was even more proof that I was right to play it safe. I was way, way, way over my head with this man, and the sooner I got rid of him, the better.

Dashing to my tiny box of a kitchen, I tried to ignore the way his near-black eyes followed my every move, tried to stop my heart from racing so fast, like speed was a matter of life and death.

You’re a sensible, reasonably intelligent 29-year-old lawyer, Fredericka Spears,I groaned silently to myself as I opened the cupboard and reached for the coffee and sugar canister.Just because Sergei Grachyov’s hot doesn’t give you an excuse to act like an idiot around him.

As I bent down to take out a carton of milk from the fridge, I heard him murmur, “Just one teaspoon of sugar for me, please.”

Straightening, I nodded without looking at him, muttering, “Gotcha.” But all the while I was thinking,Sergei Grachyov had a sweet tooth.It was yet another new discovery, and I was attacked by another silly bout of giddiness.

I bit my lip hard to keep myself from smiling like a fool at this unexpectedly cute side of the billionaire.

Stop obsessing over the guy, Fredericka Spears!

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