Page 3 of My Arrogant Millionaire

»I’m sorry,« I replied and looked at him again. Just looking at him awakened a deeply buried feeling inside me, screaming for me to take him. »I might have been a little loud.«

»A little,« he answered, amused, and laughed softly.

»It wasn’t my intention to offend you,« I said, and his grin grew even larger.

»Oh, you didn’t offend me, Goldilocks, quite the contrary. Good to know how hot you find your new neighbor.«

And again, a wave of shame washed over me. There weren’t many moments when I was speechless, but this was one of them. At the same time, his arrogant grin challenged me, and I straightened my shoulders. »You don’t think I meant you, do you?« I asked defiantly, and one of his eyebrows arched upward.

»No, not at all. I assume you meant Mr. Harris below me. About two hundred pounds, thinning hair, a charming smile?«

»Exactly.« I knew I wouldn’t get out of this one. »And since we’re on the subject, maybe you could stare into my apartment a little less,« I replied, emphasizing each word.

»Are you Mrs. Ramirez’s granddaughter?« he asked, ignoring my statement.

What should I say? No, I’m the penniless cat sitter? Sounded pathetic. »I am.«

»She never mentioned her family; I assumed she was alone.«

»We haven’t been in touch for a long time.« Wow, this lie felt wrong and bitter on my tongue. He furrowed his brows even more. They were really nice brows for a man. Not too bushy, not too thin. Will was right; I desperately needed some action if I was thinking about a guy’s eyebrows.

»I’m happy for her. And you’re taking care of Jack?«

»You know Jack?« I replied, amused.

»When you’re so close, with two directly opposite apartments,« he said roughly and huskily and incredibly ambiguously, »you just get to know each other.«

That was the point when heat flushed deep red and burning into my face. Was Mrs. Ramirez watching him too? »That remark was oddly disturbing regarding my Grannie.« I hated lies. I never wanted to become a liar! But who would it hurt if I played along? He and I would never reach a point where the lie meant anything. He lived his elite life in his penthouse, and I’d be gone in four weeks anyway. A little flirting never hurt anyone.

»Okay, you do have a point there.« He seemed genuinely regretful. »I meant it more in regard to you.«

»Me?«

»Yes, exactly,« he replied with a rough laugh. »Is it so far-fetched that I’d like to get to know you?«

»Assuming...« I raised my hand to emphasize my forthcoming statement. »You were genuinely interested in getting to know me.«

»Then?«

»Then I’d wonder what your girlfriend would think of it.«

»Ah, that’s the way the wind blows.«

»Yes, and it’s blowing pretty strong. I’m not into playing both sides; I’m not that kind of girl.«

»I didn’t assume you were, Goldilocks.« He still seemed amused and not offended or even caught. »But the woman you apparently saw – and by the way, outed yourself for watching me – is not my girlfriend. We meet now and then. It’s nothing serious; we both know that, and I’m ending it.«

»Just like that?«

»Just like that.«

»To get to know me?« I pretended to have lost a few brain cells while gazing into his unnaturally radiant eyes. He laughed again and ran his fingers through his hair.

»Okay, look, to make this short…« He reached for my hand and gently took my phone from my fingers. As his skin touched mine, a tingling sensation exploded within me, and my breath caught for a moment. »I’ll give you my number. By the way, I’m Baron.« He showed me the display, which read his number and the name ›hot neighbor‹. I held back a grin and rolled my eyes.

»Was that really necessary?«

»Oh yes,« he replied and handed me my phone back. »What should I call you?«

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