Page 10 of The Kiss that Captured a Billionaire
He was almost close enough to touch her when she cocked her head and gave him a slow, assessing once-over, her lips curving in mock sweetness.
“Are you finished with your inspection?” she asked, her voice honey-laced steel. “If so, do I get a shiny sticker of approval soI can flash it at the rest of the thousand-and-one guys who tried their luck tonight?”
His mouth twitched. He couldn’t help it.
Game on.
He offered a small dip of his head, acknowledging her admonishment. The edge of his lips tilted into a smile most women would have melted for. She didn’t.
“Theo Kallistratos,” he introduced, his voice smooth, low. “At your service.”
“Nice,” she replied, glancing around the lounge. “Rose. I can see why you like to hide up here. It’s much quieter.”
His laugh came easily—surprising him. That hadn’t happened in a while.
“It is,” he admitted. “Although tonight, I’m more interested in… conversation… than in hiding.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Is that what they’re calling it these days?”
God, she was quick.
He motioned toward the secluded corner booth, a space more intimate than imposing. “May I offer you a seat?”
She looked at him.
Then at the booth.
Then back again.
She gave a brief nod before she sighed and placed a slender hand against her stomach. Her words cracked right through his control.
“Do you guys serve food here? I haven’t eaten all day, and I’m starving.”
That strange sense of protectiveness surged up inside him. His gaze swept over her again, noting her clothing, the tattered, worn condition of her purse, and finally her shoes—was that duct tape on the heel? His arm immediately lifted when she swayed. His eyes flashed when she stepped back before he could touch her.
“The Club has a world-class chef working in the kitchen,” he replied, signaling to a server. “I’ll have something brought up. Get me a menu.”
“Thank you,” she muttered. “I think I’m running on breath mints and attitude.”
“You? Attitude? I would never have guessed that from the reply Rhys gave me when I invited you up here the first time,” he teased.
“Yeah, well, if he had said you had food, I would have dragged his butt up the stairs and delivered my reply personally. My ribs are talking to my spine at the moment,” she replied.
“Easily remedied. Please, have a seat,” he said with an amused chuckle.
A woman who admitted she was hungry was a rarity in his world.
He realized this was the second time he had laughed—genuinely laughed—in as many minutes. And with the laughter came a realization. He felt a rush of exhilaration he hadn’t felt in years.
This was something special.
He was already addicted to it.
Addicted to her.
He was many things: powerful, ruthless, untouchable—but as he watched the woman with the sharp tongue and the sparkling, defiant eyes take her seat across from him and lift her glass of water like a toast to fate itself…
He knew one thing with absolute certainty.
