Page 7 of Scandalous Contract
I scoffed. “I would’ve eventually asked for directions.”
“But if you’d done that, you wouldn’t have met me,” he said smoothly. “And that would’ve been tragic.”
I chuckled sarcastically.
“What?” he asked. “You don’t think it would’ve been tragic? You don’t think our meeting today was fate?”
“Fate? That’s a stretch.”
“I was supposed to be here thirty minutes ago. Yet, I arrived just in time to see you, to be there for you when you needed me. If that isn’t fate, I don’t know what it is.”
“Punishment.”
“Excuse me?”
“Nothing,” I muttered. “I can see the dorm now. You don’t have to keep walking beside me.”
“Damn. So you’re the kind of person who takes what they want and leaves before the sun comes up, huh?”
My stomach clenched. I hated the way he said things. Every word was laced with innuendo, like he was testing me to see how much it would take to fluster me. Normally, I wasn’t easily flustered. With him, every single word set me on edge. However, I refused to let him win.
“Yes, I leave when services are no longer required,” I told him. “Especially when the service is poor.”
“How would you rate my service so far?”
“Zero stars. I do not recommend.”
He burst out laughing. The sound was so unexpected that a smile almost crossed my face before I realized it and held it in. I would not smile for Julian Cattaneo.
“Zero stars? Damn.” He chuckled. “You must let me do something to change your opinion of my.... services.”
“No, thanks.”
He sighed. “It’s your fault the service wasn’t better.”
Those words stopped me in my tracks. I glared at him. “My fault?”
He stopped also, folding his arms over his chest. I hated that, even in heels, I had to tilt my head back to stare up at him.
“Yeah, your fault,” he insisted.
“How?” I asked, wanting to hear his reason since this would be the last time we talked,ever.
“Because you’ve been uptight since the moment I stepped to you like a gentleman and offered my help.”
“Uptight?” I snapped. “I am not uptight.”
“Did that word strike a nerve?”
Yes. “No. I’m not uptight.” And I’m tired of people calling me that.
“If you would’ve just let me help you without being stubborn, things would’ve gone smoother. Now that you’ve gotten what you want, you want off the ride. Rides don’t work like that,” he told me, voice dropping lower. “Once strapped in, you can’t get off until the conductor unties you. We haven’t reached our destination yet. Plus, I haven’t let you off this ride yet, Ms. Adams.”
If he wanted to throw out innuendos, I could too.
“Ride?” I scoffed. “This was no ride, young man because you have to be at least thirty-five to ride this ride. And you’re not.”
“Oh, really?” he asked, stepping closer.
