Page 9 of The No Falling Rule
“Mia,” he says again, softer this time. “I know that’s no way to speak to a woman. But I needed to see this fire—this passion in you.”
I freeze. Did I hear that right?
“So you’re saying youtestedme? To see if I’d fight back?”
I spin around, ready to let him have it—but the second my brown eyes connect with his deep blues, I see it. His honesty. His regret. His need for me to understand.
“Yes.” He exhales, the tension easing from his shoulders. “You can’t begin to imagine how many money chasers I deal with on a regular basis.”
My brows lift. I try to pull my wrist free, but his fingers tighten—not painfully, just firmly. It’s grounding. And that should make me run. Put some distance between myself and this man I’ve known for less than a day.
But I don’t move.
“Before you say I’m accusing you of being a money chaser,” he adds quickly, a small smile curving his lips. “I’m not. On the contrary, you’re strong, poised, fiery.I get the feeling one night wouldn’t be nearly enough with you.”
Heat flickers through me.He thinks that? About me?
“I’m making this sound more complicated than it needs to be,” he mutters, dragging a hand over his scruff. “See? This—exactly this, Mia. I don’t fluster. I don’t ramble. In the boardroom, I deliver. I dominate. With women? I’m a flirt for fun. But with you…” His gaze drops to my mouth. “With you, I already know this week won't be enough to get to learn everything I want.”
“And what do you want to learn?” The question slips out before I can think better of it.
Diego closes the distance between us, his breath caressing my forehead.
I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and try to slow my heartbeat. But when I have the full attention of such a powerful man, it’s impossible.
“I want to know every inch of you,” he whispers. “Every curve, every scar, every secret. I want to explore every corner of your mouth, your lips, your soul. I want to know what makes you tick—your dreams, your hopes. The things you don’t tell anyone.”
His voice vibrates against my skin, low and rough. My breath catches. Is he going to kiss me?
“I’m not saying this to play games, Mia,” he murmurs, tone turning solemn. “I’m serious.”
“But we just met,” I say, my voice thinner than I want it to be. “We don’t know anything about each other.”
And yet… my pulse doesn’t agree.
No. It must be everything that happened, I tell myself. The pool, the day, the shock.
He pins me with those dark blue eyes, and I squirm under the weight of his stare—not out of fear, but because I canfeelhim.
“I might be many things,” he says, “but a liar isn’t one of them. I’m thirty-two, successful, rich, and—” he raises a brow, “—handsome. You said it yourself.”
A smirk plays on his lips. “I don’t need to lie to get what I want.”
Smooth bastard.
He releases my wrist, and to my own mortification, I almost whimper at the loss of his touch.
“I would be lying if I said I’m not attracted to you,” I admit, suddenly exhausted from the push and pull. “But I also know this can’t be more than a fling.”
If I were a millionaire, I’d be cautious too. At least he was honest—even if his delivery was terrible.
When I look up, his brows are drawn together, his expression unreadable.
Witha long breath, I sink back into my chair. “Diego, we come from different sides of the road. I’m what you’d call a plain Jane. I work to pay my bills. I didn’t grow up in a golden crib like yours.”
His eyebrows shoot up.
I chuckle. “Yeah, you pretty much exude luxury.”
