Page 143 of Deception

“Wow. Nope. I mean. No. Definitely not.”

Her smile is fucking sunshine, but she hides it quickly, covering her mouth. “Sorry, that was rude.”

“It was?” I may be jaded from years of spending time with Ero and Ciro. “Do you need this seat?”

Geeze. Ciro would have a heyday busting my balls for fumbling so hard.

“No, thank you. I was just passing by and noticed you seemed…”

“Totally discombobulated?” More like unhinged.

“Not the word I would have used,” she taps her chin thoughtfully. “Distressed?”

“Adriano, actually.” I want to slap myself so hard.

“Intrigued, but Gloria, actually.” She thrusts out her hand.

Did that … work?

Not that I was trying to ‘work’ anything.

Jackass.

Shake her hand, stupid.

“Drink?” I blurt out, standing and probably assaulting her hand with my clumsy grip. What the hell is going on with me?

“Do I! Mostly on weekends, never on school nights.”

“Um. You?—”

“University.”

“Uh.”

“A place where people take classes and learn things.”

“I’ve been.”

“Good for you!” She’s not mocking me, not exactly. But she is.

And I like it.

“Were you going to get one?” She points toward the doors.

“A degree? They don’t offer those on this train.” Why.

“A drink.”

“With you? I’d love to.” Insert grin like an idiot and follow her toward the bar car.

Gloria bites her lip, a twinkle in her eye over her shoulder. A little toss of her head and those deep red locks have my head spinning.

“So, Adriano, what do you do? Besides confusing and/or charm wayward women on trains.”

“I certainly don’t charm, but I do confuse, mostly myself. And not just on trains.” Whoever is piloting my brain needs to let me off at the next stop.

“You’re afraid of flying too?” She gapes, picking a seat at the bar. “Hodophobia is more common than most people think.”

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