Page 27 of A Fortunes of Texas Christmas (Fortunes of Texas)

Amersen grinned. “Pity.”

“Kate insists on the authentic kind,” she said and dropped her hands. “Kind of how she likes the people in her life. So, I hope you’re not intending to make her regret the deal she’s got on the table.”

Amersen let out a self-deriding laugh. “I’m not sure what I’ve done to have everyone think so poorly of me.”

“Everyone?”

“Kate asked me what my intentions were toward you,” he replied.

One of her brows rose steeply. “And what did you say?”

“Oh, I think I mumbled something about not doing anything untoward.”

She laughed. “Glad to hear it. And if you want an answer to your question...”

“My question?”

She shrugged one shoulder. “About everyone thinking poorly of you.”

“Oh...that. Sure, give it a shot.”

Her eyes glittered brilliantly. “You’re young, successful and in the public eye. You don’t seem to care what mainstream people think. And your reputation with women casts a long shadow...right across an ocean.”

“This bad reputation,” he mused. “Did it occur to you that it’s a fabrication?”

“No smoke, no fire,” she said and smiled. “Like, how many women have you dated in the past six months?”

Amersen quickly did the calculation in his head and shrugged vaguely. “I’m not sure...a few.”

“A few?”

“Okay...five.”

“So, that’s like one point two women every month,” she said and counted on her fingers. “And of these women, how many did you sleep with?”

Heat crawled up his neck, and suddenly he felt like he was flunking morality school. “I don’t... Well...a few.”

“A few?” she echoed.

“Okay,” he said and expelled a heavy breath. “Five. I dated five women and had sex with five women. Happy?”

“Am I happy knowing you bed every woman you date?” She shrugged and turned back to the ladder. “Not particularly. Am I grateful that you didn’t lie about it? Sure.”

“It’s just sex, Robin,” he said and tugged at his collar. “It doesn’t mean anything.”

“Precisely.”

Amersen met her gaze, and the heat rising up his neck returned. For the first time in his life, he was being called out about his behavior toward the women he dated...and he discovered he didn’t like it. Something burned in his gut, a kind of uneasy resentment that didn’t make sense. Other than his parents, he generally didn’t care what people thought of him. Writing The Real Paris had made him a target for regular online attacks of both his character and his personal life, but he always tuned out the gossip and innuendo. However, Robin’s remark cut deep. Her opinion mattered. And he was annoyed that it did. They barely knew each other, and he shouldn’t care one way or another. But the idea that she thought badly of him struck a chord.

“I guess I’ve never allowed myself to think of it as anything more,” he said quietly.

“I’m not judging you,” she said and shrugged.

“No?” he queried.

“You can do whatever makes you happy.”

Amersen stilled and for a crazy moment wondered if she could somehow read his thoughts. There was a kind of bewitching quality to her, a mix of beguiling innocence and vivacity. Something about her drew him like a magnet to pressed steel. Something he didn’t understand or want. In a matter of days, he’d be gone. Getting involved any deeper was foolish. And he’d never considered himself a fool...until now.

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