Offering her weekend assignations when it suited him would be a bastard’s move and she deserved better. Once she left, he’d never see her again; setting her free was the best thing for her.
He resolutely changed the subject. ‘Who won your chess game?’
‘I did.’ Her features relaxed. ‘I almost always do, though.’
Santos narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. He had to set her free—and perhaps she wouldn’t even mind that much. ‘So why do you suppose he continues to play against you?’
‘He’s a far better player now than he was when we first started competing,’ she said simply, taking another drink. This time, her face didn’t contort with the hit of alcohol.
‘You don’t think there could be another reason?’
‘Such as?’
‘Such as he’s attracted to you?’
‘Brent?’ She pulled a face. ‘No way. He’s definitely just a friend.’
But Santos wasn’t so sure about that. It seemed unlikely and impossible.
‘Honestly, there’s nothing between us—and never has been.’
‘Maybe you should revisit that.’
‘Why?’
‘He seems nice. You obviously have a lot in common.’
‘You don’t mean he “seems nice”. You mean he’s handsome, and therefore I should feel attracted to him,’ she challenged.
‘I wouldn’t really know what you find handsome,’ he responded lightly, drinking his Scotch.
She rolled her eyes. ‘I’ve had very lovely looking men ask me out in the past, thank you very much. That’s not what I’m into.’
‘You don’t like attractive people?’
Her easy smile morphed into a frown of deep concentration. ‘The fact you’re attractive isn’t why I was attracted to you.’
‘So why were you?’
He leaned forward, his need to hear her answer surprising him.
‘Why after living as a nun or a social isolationist did you decide you wanted me to be your first?’
She stared at her drink so he wanted to reach across and lift her chin, tilting her face towards his, but he didn’t. He waited, impatience making his gut clench.
‘I can’t really say,’ she said a little breathlessly. ‘I think my stardust and your stardust just aligned.’
It was such a romantic thing for a scientist to say that her expression was self-conscious, and then she laughed. Only to his ears the sound was slightly brittle.
‘Sorry. That’s a load of nonsense. I bet you can’t wait to see the back of me tomorrow.’
CHAPTER TWELVE
‘DO YOU HAVE to go?’ Pain was lashing Amelia from all directions. The sooner she stood up and walked out of this penthouse, the better.
‘I’m afraid so. School starts next week and I have to get the classroom all ready for the new students.’
Tears filled Cameron’s eyes. ‘I want you to stay here with me.’