Page 44 of Broken Deal

She studies with squinted eyes, pondering. Her hair sways gently with the light breeze. “No.”

I nod, drumming my index finger on the table. “When are you going to ask it?”

“When you least expect it.”

Before I can reply, the waiter arrives and takes our order. We order a few rounds ofSeco Sour, a typical Panamanian drink with a fruity yet sour taste. I figured this was something she would enjoy, since her typical go-to order is a gin martini with a twist. A few typical Panamanian appetizers, such asCevicheandEmpanadas. And, of course, the main reason we’re here—theRopa Vieja.

“Dare I say, Blue, Central America suits you,” I point out.

The waiter arrives with our drinks and places them on the table, and Sophia takes hers with a gentle touch. Everything she does looks so smooth and effortless. She always seems so composed, but then she speaks, and her lively,fiery personality shines through, giving her an entirely different, vibrant edge.

“Dare I say, Ace, the real you suits you,” she replies very matter-of-factly.

I raise an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Is thatyourquestion of the day?” she asks, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

I grab my glass and take a sip of the fruity, slightly sour drink. As I gulp, I contemplate momentarily before replying. “Yes.”

She’s the one looking stunned now as she drops her elbow on the table and rests her chin on the palm of her hand. “Today, how you were talking about your newest business venture?—”

I interrupt with a small laugh. “Not a new adventure.”

She glares at me. “Let me finish.” She takes a sip of her drink before continuing, and my eyes travel to her neck as she gulps. My cock comes to life with the idea of wrapping my hand around her pretty little throat and owning her mouth. Kissing her like my life depends on it. Kissing her until I can’t breathe. Savoring her sharp tongue and getting lost in her.

“It’s no secret you know what people say about you in gossip columns. But this side of you I saw today.” She sighs, moving her head to the side and admiring the soft beach waves. “It’s a good one, Lorenzo. One I can’t fully understand yet, but still worthy of being seen.”

My breathing falters for a moment, my heart stabbing my rib almost painfully. In my thirty-six years of life, no one has ever read me so openly. The fact she could figure out a small part of my life so easily after one day together puts me on high alert. My mind is screaming at me to shut this shit down right now, before it’s too late.

“Why do you hide yourself?” she asks, plain and simple. Direct. Unfiltered. Just how I like her.

Words escape me somehow. My heart is soaring, demanding me to be honest.

Would it be so bad to be honest for once?

Strangely, I feel safe with Sophia. Anything I can say to her, she’ll accept it without judgment. If anything, she would be understanding. There’s something behind those eyes of hers, something I recognize.

“Because nothing about me is worthy, Blue,” I rasp.

She looks directly at me, her shiny blue eyes roaming every inch of my face. “Somehow, I doubt that, Ace.”

Dinner was amazing, and the company—unsurprisingly—was even better. Sophia ended up eating an entireRopa Viejaplatter without an ounce of shame, which made me smile so much that my cheeks are still hurting. She was so full by the time we walked out of the restaurant, she rested her head on my shoulder and interlaced our arms as we walked, claiming she needed the support if we were going to walk back. I happily complied, because any excuse to touch her is more than fine with me.

The villa has a small staircase that takes you to a private part of the beach, so now we’re sitting on the sand, enjoying the sound of the waves and the calm breeze of the night. If I were still trying to drown my thoughts, I would probably be at a club getting drunk and trying to find someone to get lost in. But I’ve come to care less and less about the partying, thegoing out, and the sleeping around. The day I slept with Sophia, my brain chemistry shifted. I’ve never—and I meannever—felt such a charged chemistry with someone before. It has always been about chasing that high, about finding release. With her, it was like every nerve of my body came alive for the first time, and I’m dying to get another glimpse of that feeling again. How is that possible? We didn’t know each other. We were two strangers looking for a wild night. Yet it changed everything for me. I’ve been sitting on these thoughts, these unknown feelings, since she waltzed back into my life, and they are scaring the crap out of me. No point in denying it.

I watch as she adjusts, sitting up to face me. She pulls her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them, and rests her head on her forearm. The soft lights coming from the villa give Sophia a beautiful glow, even in the dark of the night. I find myself studying her, wanting nothing more than to engrave her into my memory.

“Let’s play a game,” she whispers.

“Sure.” I shrug. “What game?”

“I ask a question, we both answer it, and then vice versa.”

My laugh echoes. “Curious about me, Blue?”

“Yes,” she answers honestly, shrugging nonchalantly.

I nod. “Okay, shoot.”

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