Page 60 of A Game of Ruck
Oh my God.
What if it was all a setup?
I mean, I bought him.At an auction.For charity.
What if it wasn’t chance?
What if he knew who I was and chose me?
What if this whole thing—his attention, his sweet words, the sex that felt too real—what if it was just a way in?
So his father could cozy up to my dad?
It wouldn’t be the first time I’d been set up to be used for my family connections.
Shit.I’m such a fool for thinking this could be different.
My chest tightens.
The air feels too thin.
I excuse myself from the group, muttering something about needing to check my makeup.
No one stops me.No one even notices.
Except Luca.
He’s on my heels within seconds.
“Annabeth,” he calls, catching up with me just outside the terrace doors.“What’s wrong?”
I spin around, hands shaking, eyes hot with unshed tears.
“Is that really your father?”
He nods slowly, confused.“Yeah, but?—”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
His brows pull together.“Because I haven’t spoken to the man in over ten years.”
“Are you—are you in the mob?”My voice breaks.“Is this a setup?Are you trying to get close to my dad for business or something?”
“What?No!”
His voice rises with emotion.
“Annabeth, I’m a rugby player.I left all that shit behind when I was a kid.I don’t even have his last name!I took my mom’s.I’ve been hiding from him since I was old enough to understand what he really was.”
I wrap my arms around myself, every instinct torn between trusting him and running.
He steps closer, not touching me, but close enough that I can feel the heat of his body.
“Look at me,” he says softly.“If I wanted something from your dad, do you really think I’d be here like this?Wrapped around your finger?Spending every second of this trip wanting you, needing you, falling for you?”
My lip trembles.
“This isn’t pretend for me, Annabeth.It hasn’t been since the moment our eyes met at that damn auction!”
