Page 80 of Steel Beauty

A grin spreads across his face. “Now that’s more like it. That’s definitely mine.”

I nudge him playfully. “Just so you know, physical touch isn’t only about sex—it means being affectionate in general. Not just a sex partner.”

He shrugs, smirking. “In that case, I’m revising my answer. Definitely not that one, either.”

“All right, how about acts of service? That’s when someone shows love by doing helpful things—running errands, fixing something, or lending a hand when needed.”

He frowns slightly, crossing his arms as he thinks it over. “Hmm, maybe…but it still doesn’t feel like it fits.”

I smile, holding up the final option. “Then I think I’ve got yours: quality time. It’s about being present, without distractions, enjoying time with the people you care about.”

A genuine smile spreads across his face as he nods. “Yeah, that’s me. I love spending time with my family. And,” he pauses, his gaze meeting mine, “I really love spending time with you.”

Warmth blossoms in my chest, and I smile back. “Quality time is my love language too. And I’m really enjoying our time together.”

I draw the next card and glance at it, my smile faltering slightly as I read the question. “Why did your last relationship end?”

He shifts, an uncomfortable look crossing his face. “You go first, if you don’t mind.”

I nod, giving him a small smile. “Sure.”

Taking a deep breath, I let out a soft exhale. “Things went downhill fast when the last guy became obsessed with a self-proclaimedalpha maleinfluencer. You know the type—one of those guys spouting toxic nonsense about how men and women are supposed to act.”

I shake my head, still baffled by the way Hunter was sucked into that insanity.

“At first, it was harmless motivational stuff. But then he started talking like he’d joined a cult, going on and on about howreal women should know their placeand how I’d behappier if I wasn’t so independent.It was like I was suddenly dating someone who saw me as inferior to him because of my gender.”

I shrug, resigned but resolute. “I gave him a choice: stop the nonsense, or I was gone. He didn’t stop, so I left. No regrets.”

His expression softens, respect in his eyes. “Good on ya. No one should cop that kind of rubbish.”

I tilt my head toward him. “Your turn. Why did your last relationship end?”

He hesitates, his gaze falling to the cards for a moment. “Well, she was a social media influencer obsessed with her following, always posting everything she could think of to keep them engaged. At first, I thought it was a side project for her, something she did for fun, but no.” He pauses, a shadow crossing his face.

“When we started dating, she’d post little things about us—a picture here, a cute caption there. Her followers loved it, and I didn’t mind it so much. But then she realized she could use our relationship to grow her following, and things spiraled. One day, she filmed me without my permission—without me even knowing—and posted it.”

I can see the pain in his eyes as he recalls what happened.

“I won’t go into what the video was about, but it was deeply personal. For her, it was staged. For me, it was my true reaction. The video was one I would never have wanted out there for anyone to see. And she shared it without a second thought for likes and comments.”

I bite the inside of my cheek, a wave of sympathy washing over me. “I’m so sorry. That’s awful. How long ago was it?”

He exhales sharply, glancing down. “It’s been a couple of years. Right before my injury. So not exactly the best year of my life.”

My chest tightens at the gravity of his words. “That really sucks.”

“Yeah,” he says, letting out a short laugh that carries no humor. “It did.”

“Shesucks,” I say softly, sliding the card back into the deck.

After a moment, he clears his throat. “You know, for a game I didn’t expect to like, this isn’t half bad. Keep going—I’m curious to see what’s next.”

I glance at him, his openness sparking a smile of my own. “All right.”

I draw the next card, curiosity mingling with something deeper as I read it. I lift my gaze, giving him a playful look. “This one’s all yours, Mr. looking-for-a-wifey.”

“Hit me with it. I’m ready.”

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