Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“Have you come here straight from the office?”
“Umm, yes. But—-”
A warm hand pressed to the small of her back, and her voice trailed off. It was the simplest of touches, but also simply put – the heat of it took her breath away.
“You are in need of sustenance then, si?”
“Y-yes.” Anything to get him to stop touching her, Anneke thought anxiously, and so she took the seat he was offering. He finally moved away, and she started breathing normally.
A waiter immediately appeared by their side, handing them menus. Both of them were quick to make their minds up on what to order, something that privately amused Marcus. Practically all the women he had dated had made the entire process seem as time-consuming as a Rubik’s cube puzzle.
She watched the waiter turn away and bit her lip hard lest she accidentally call out for him not to leave. She could feel Marcus’ dark gaze on hers, and although the restaurant was fully packed, having his eyes trained on her so intensely made it feel like they were completely alone.
Unable to bear it any longer, she muttered, “Stop staring.”
“I can’t help it, bambina.” Marcus’ tone was actually faintly apologetic. “I have missed you very much—-”
“Stop saying that.”
When the entire restaurant fell silent, it was only then that Anneke realized she had said the words a little too loud.
Crap.
“I’m sorry,” Marcus suddenly said, just a little loudly.
Her head jerked up.
“I didn’t mean to offend you by saying I have a large cock.”
Anneke’s mouth dropped open while gasps could be heard all over the restaurant.
Marcus reached for her hand across the table. “Say you forgive me, cara?”
Realizing he had only done it to deflect attention from her, Anneke didn’t know whether to laugh and cry. Come to think of it, wasn’t it only Marcus Ravelli who could make her feel this way?
His hand squeezed hers. “Forgive me?”
She found herself nodding, and soon enough the noise level of the restaurant went back to normal. She pulled her hand back, and his fingers slowly loosened. “Thank you.” Her voice was stilted.
“Won’t you at least look at me when you say that?”
No. But knowing that was just being plain childish, Anneke forced herself to meet his gaze.
And in his eyes were things that she didn’t want to see, didn’t want to believe or understand.
“Why are you even here?” she asked helplessly. Netherlands was so very far away from Florida.
“I already told you.” His voice was matter-of-fact. “But it’s your choice not to believe me—-”
“And I don’t.” She knew she was being rude, knew she was trying to provoke him into losing his temper even just a little bit, but she just couldn’t help it.
However, it was all for naught.
Marcus only inclined his head, saying, “Like I said, it is your choice, bambina.”
The very mature response made her say sulkily, “You should stop saying that, too.”
Marcus’ lips twitched. “You should know you only look more adorable when you’re being childish.”
She burst out hotly, “I am not—-” And then she stopped because she was being childish. Anneke took a deep breath. “Marcus—-”
Something unashamedly sexual glittered in his eyes.
Crap. She hadn’t meant to use his name, especially knowing how he got some kind of strange kick out of it. Taking a deep breath, she started over again, saying very firmly, “This is the last time we can meet with each other. Okay? I’m in the middle of divorcing you—-”
“You mean you’re in the middle of your attempt to get a divorce,” he corrected smoothly, “which the court hasn’t yet granted.”
She glared at him. “You know what I mean, and I know what you’re doing here. You want the court to think it’s premature to grant my petition since we’re seeing each other—-”
“I’m glad to hear that from your own lips, cara.” Marcus had no trouble deliberately misunderstanding her words.
Aghast at having her words taken out of context, she protested, “I didn’t mean it that way.”
“I don’t see how you could mean it any other way, mio amore. And in that note, I would love to see you again the next time I return to Amsterdam.”
“No.”
But he was able to conveniently ignore this as the waiter had returned to their table with their first course. He kept a steady flow of conversation then, his experience in the boardroom allowing him to prevent Anneke from bringing up anything that was against his agenda.
Every time he sensed her attempting to talk about the divorce or not seeing each other, he countered it pre-emptively with compliments and distractions.
I watched the YouTube clip of your presentation in the trade show last week. You looked gorgeous.
I heard you were at the helm of DKE’s latest deal with China’s #1 media company. How did you make that happen?
Marcus knew he was being ruthless, but he didn’t care. All was fair in love and war, was it not?