Page 100 of A Shade of Evil

“You don’t know anything about me, Alexei.”

I turn and stare into the darkest eyes that are loaded with power, and it takes my breath away.

I know those eyes.

I live surrounded by them, but none excites me in the same way that these ones do. Up close, he is even more handsome. A rugged beauty that tells of hard beginnings. A real man. The kind of man I’m used to. A man who takes no shit and doesn’t care about the consequences and I smile as I stare into those eyes and whisper, “It was you.”

He raises his eyes with amusement and shrugs, not even bothering to deny it.

“You called the cops on my companion.” I shake my head. “You’re a wicked man, Alexei. I kind of admire those qualities.”

“I thought you might.”

We hear the announcement to board and Alexei glances at the exit.

“It appears your friend may be some time.”

“Apparently so.”

He leans forward and whispers, “It turns out I won’t be traveling on this flight after all.”

I hate that my heart crashes with disappointment, but I give nothing away and he whispers, “You have a choice. Board this flight, or my private jet that is waiting nearby.”

“You’re crazy.” I stare at him in disbelief, and his eyes flash as he nods in agreement. “Crazy for adventure. What do you say, my mysterious woman? Go on an adventure with me or endure twenty-three hours of boredom alone.”

He stares at me with the hottest look I have ever had directed my way that sends delicious flutters through my entire body.

I picture my grandfather and my brothers, their furious faces urging me to walk away from him. I picture my mother’s shocked expression when I arrive in Sydney on a different flight, and I picture my one shot at adventure disappearing in a jet stream as I take the easy, safe option.

I grin. I’m not that girl. I’m not a Vieri by blood for nothing and the safer option is nowhere near as appealing as the one in front of me now.

In the extremely short time this man has captured my attention, I have experienced so many emotions I’m struggling to keep up. So, I lean forward and tiptoe to whisper in his ear, “I kind of like the idea of an adventure. Make it a good one.”

He nods and reaches for my hand and as we walk to the exit, I have a feeling this is going to be one adventure I may never recover from.

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