“Have you ever considered going back to the way things were before?”
In the blink of an eye Christian was back on. “And miss out on running into you at the airport? Never.”
“You would’ve avoided being stabbed.”
He rubbed his chin. “Your version of foreplay is rather violent and bloody.”
“While your version of flirting is rather graphic and smug.”
“Can’t help what I am, love.”
“So humble.”
“Always.” He gave her a wicked smile and wink, then sobered. “Can we stop with the acting questions? It’s all people expect me to talk about. You could tell me about the first time we met.”
He wasn’t the first man or woman in history to forget who they made out with at a New Year’s Eve party, but it didn’t stop her from saying, “Or you could share that story since I’m…what was the word you used—unforgettable?”
“Sorry about that.”Cheeks turning red, he looked down and pulled his cell out of his pocket, playing with the screen. He acted as if he were ashamed of his behavior, only that was the problem. He was a really good actor. “I’ve spent most of my life drunk, high or a combination of the two. I can’t remember a lot of people or the things I’ve done. It’s one of the reasons why I need you.”
This time, the sharp pain she’d been expecting didn’t come. It was still there, only dulled. Manageable. Searching her brain, she tried to think of topics that didn’t involve his previously hurtful behavior. Maybe this was why talking was over-rated. They needed to do something.
The carts loaded with uneaten food caught her eye. She touched his leg and his head jerked up. “Want to do something fun?”
“That is the naughtiest I’ve seen you look thus far—I’m in.”
***
“Best two out of three.”
“No more,” she laughed, white teeth flashing at him as more hair cascaded over her shoulders.
A cotton candy-colored tongue licked at her sweet lips and he had to adjust himself. Again. Make that for the five hundredth time. He would be sporting blue balls come tomorrow. “Not even if I promise to let you win this time?”
Talking her into playing ‘Angry Birds’ with him had been too easy. She’d practically jumped at the chance. A small part of him wondered if it was because she didn’t find him interesting beyond his actor’s persona.
He had thought she’d had fun while they’d gone door to door, giving away the food he ordered. He’d posed for pictures when people recognized him, and had been gleeful when they didn’t. At the last hotel room, when a woman old enough to be his great-grandmother had propositioned him, Zoe had tried to save him by saying, “Are you trying to take my man?”
“Good God, please take me far, far away from here,” he’d said under his breath.
Only pervert granny had invited Zoe to join in on the fun as well. Then two of her friends, men wearing black leather and ball gags, appeared at the door.
Zoe had grabbed his hand and shouted, “Run.”
They’d taken off, running like zombies were after them. When they’d gotten back to her room, she‘d collapsed on the bed breathing hard and giggling. Until he’d tried kissing her, then she’d nearly fallen off the bed in her hurry to get away.
He sighed, then focused his attention on her as he waited for her answer.
“I’m really tired. At home it’s almost five in the morning, not two,” she said.
“Lightweight.”
“What will we do next to impress the press?” she asked, handing him the iPad he had sent down from his penthouse. As soon as he learned she didn’t have one, he’d ordered one from the nearest store. He couldn’t wait for her to get it.
“I take it you’ve forgiven me?”
“Ordering things covered with chocolate helped your cause. Besides, I’m a sucker for—”
“Handsome English actors with a big… bank account?”
“I was going to say the runt of the litter. You know the one that gets tossed to the side because he’s not big enough.” Without knowing it, her remark hit a little too close to home.
“You would choose what no one else wants.” He set the iPad to the side.
She briefly touched his cheek. “Christian Romanov, there is more to you than meets the public eye.”
His skin felt too tight for his body and an uneasy silence settle between them. But she didn’t say more. Didn’t try to press him. Just looked at him with her dark eyes and waited patiently for him to decide his fate. Their fate.
What the hell was wrong with him? This was just a date. And not even a planned one. “I’ll take you where ever you want,” Christian said after regaining his composure. “We’ll call it a late birthday present.”
“Fly me to Paris and let’s eat at an outdoor café where they serve fancy coffee in small cups,” she said with a dreamy sigh.
“Ah, yes, I should have guessed the romance author would want to go there. Got a passport handy?”
“Believe it or not, I do. Melanie—my best friend—must have slipped it in my carry-on.”
“Brilliant. We can go tomorrow then.” He’d arrange everything when he got back to his room. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, they should be in Paris before dinner.
“I’m only teasing, but…” she said, her expression completely serious.
An uneasy feeling passed through him. “But what?”
Her lashes lowered. “I have to confess something and it might change your opinion of me.”
“Doubtful.”
She waved him closer and whispered, “I don’t like coffee, not even the all decorated not to taste like coffee, er, coffee.”
He widened his eyes in mock horror. “I can’t be seen with a woman with such unrefined taste.”
“Didn’t stop you when you dated Jaylen Stone.”
Not what he was expecting. “You really want to know about my past?”
She nodded, plucking at the comforter. “What would you do if she suddenly turned up again? You know, if fate threw her back into your life and things seemed different? She was different, nothing like you remembered.”
“I don’t get back together with exes, especially ones that aren’t truthful with me,” he said sharply, making her draw back from him.
“What if she apologized and had a really good reason for being untruthful?”