Page 39 of Broken Deal

“I’m opening a restaurant here next month. As?—”

“Wait, wait. Let me get my recorder,” I interrupt, opening the overnight bag he made me pack. I don’tthink I have a single good outfit, but it’s just one night, so I’m not too worried.

He stops me with a firm hand on my arm. “Okay. I think it’s time to talk about my rules.”

With an eyebrow raised, I look at him. And I instantly wish I hadn’t. The more time I spend with Lorenzo, the more things I notice about him. His brown hair is soft and always falls perfectly into place without any effort. The way it catches the light, it almost seems to have a faint golden tint. Memories of me fisting his hair as he was giving me the orgasm of my life flood through my mind involuntarily, and I look away, trying to calm these stupid, racing thoughts.

I start picking at my nails, trying to regain my composure. “Rules? You have rules now?”

He runs a hand through his hair absentmindedly. And what do you know? His hair falls right back into place. “Yes, rules. For one, no tape recorder.”

I shake my head. “Absolutely not. I need it for work.”

“Hear me out first. The rule is simple—you’re going to live in the moment. Get to see everything I do. You’re going to write down notes and questions you may have for me, and at the end of the day, you’ll pick your question—onlyonequestion,” he explains.

I gape at him. “Onlyonequestion?”

He nods. “Oh, and I get to ask you a question, too. That’s my second rule.”

I squint at him in suspicion. “I don’t understand why you have to ask me questions. I’m writing an article about you, not the other way around.”

“Because it’s fun. It’s a game we can look forward to at the end of the day,” he replies with a boyish smile that makes my stomach flip.

“Does everything have to be a game with you?” I ask, exasperated.

“Is that your question of the day? It’s kind of early, if you ask me. You may want to reserve it for later.” He grazes his upper teeth with his tongue before flashing me another one of his perfect smiles.

I hesitate for a moment.Wait. Why am I hesitating? Do I actually want to play this game? That’s ridiculous. The last thing I should be doing is entertaining someone like Lorenzo. Iknowmen like him. For them, everything can be turned into a game. They treat people like their personal little circus.

“I’m not playing this game,” I state firmly.

“Why not?”

“Because it’s stupid,” I retort.

“No, it isn’t,” he counters.

“Yes, it is.”

“Blue,” he warns.

“Ace,” I reply, raising an eyebrow.

“Come on, live a little.” He nudges my arm with his elbow gently.

Would it be the worst thing?

It’ll allow me to be in the moment, observing his every move, how he interacts with people, and how he works behind the scenes. I can narrow down the questions and focus on the ones that will truly help me write this piece. I typically journal everything down at the end of the day on my work laptop and start forming my own opinion as I continue to research, anyway, so it’s really not a big deal.

I can’t lie to myself, it does sound fun and harmless—as long as I don’t let him ask any deep personal questions. I’m not about to spill all of my darkest secrets to him.

I extend my hand. “You’ve got yourself another deal.”

He takes my hand and shakes it, a small laugh escaping his lips. “Now that’s what I call living.”

The SUV makes a stop in front of a villa, and as I’m stepping out, my breath hitches at the sight. The white walls stand out against the bright-blue sky, and the flat black roof adds a sleek touch. Floor-to-ceiling windows invite the sunlight into the house. The yard is filled with white, purple, and bright-pink Madagascar periwinkles. The cement path is lined with white and light-gray rocks around the bushes, and soft lights surround them that I almost miss because it’s still broad daylight. Lorenzo opens the door, and I’m greeted by a beautiful, open floor plan. The living room is spacious and bright, with a white L-shaped sofa that looks incredibly inviting. The kitchen is also huge, featuring state-of-the-art appliances.

I drop my overnight bag and take off my shoes at the entrance. “Wow, this place is amazing.”

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