Page 8 of The Greek Billionaire's Email Bride

"Clearly."

The silence that followed wasn't uncomfortable, but it was charged with something Hope couldn't name.

"Tell me about your job in Michigan," Colin finally said, cutting into his steak.

"It was mostly administrative work for a plumbing fixtures company. Nearly two decades updating spreadsheets about toilets."

"You never thought of changing jobs?"

"It paid the bills. That was what mattered most."

"So you seemed to prize stability over pleasure. And yet you left for this." Colin gestured around them. "A temporary arrangement with a stranger."

"You're forgot 'highly compensated'."

"Is what I'm paying for truly enough, considering you'll have to carry a divorced tag for the rest of your life?"

Having him talk about the end of their marriage within hours of meeting hurt more than she expected, but she reminded herself that he was simply being honest.

"It is what it is," she said with a shrug.

"What about other men? Is there someone who will likely care that you're suddenly married?"

Hope shook her head.

"When was your last serious relationship?"

Hope focused on cutting a piece of asparagus into unnecessarily small pieces. "Define serious."

"Intimate."

The blunt word hung between them. Hope's face burned, but she refused to look away. "Not in a long time."

Colin set down his fork, his full attention now on her. "How long?"

Hope's fingers tightened around her knife. "Quite long."

Colin stared at her, and she had to fight against the urge to squirm.

"You're a virgin."

"Yes." She worked hard to keep her voice steady even though admitting this made her feel horribly inadequate as a woman. "Will that be a problem?"

"Women who've made it to forty without intimacy don't typically sign up to marry strangers."

Hope's eyes widened at his perception. "I never said I hadn't been kissed."

Colin's mouth curved slightly. "Your reaction on the plane said it for you."

The memory of that kiss flooded back, making Hope's lips tingle anew. "I've been kissed before. Just not... like that."

"Like what?"

Hope searched for words that wouldn't reveal too much. "Like it mattered."

Something shifted in Colin's expression—a flicker of vulnerability quickly masked. He picked up his wine glass, breaking the intensity of the moment.

"The reunion is in two weeks. We should discuss how to prepare. What do you know of Princess?"

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