He lowered his cup and wiped his mouth with a serviette. Even that gesture made me feel a throb between my legs.
“You should have waited. I wish you had.” There was a penetrating need in his eyes that shook me.
“Why?” I frowned.
“Well for one, I would’ve learnt more about your situation. I could’ve helped. And had I known what really had taken place, I would’ve reported it to the cops. You were drugged. That’s a crime. As is trying to sell a woman without her consent.”
His reminder of that night felt like cold fingers creeping up my spine.
“I’m sorry for being quick to judge.” His eyes softened, and I nearly dropped my cup. “I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions based on how you were dressed.”
“We all do it.” I shrugged. “Anyway, I couldn’t have gone back there. Even now, just talking about that place gives me the chills.”
“I bet it does. What a nightmare for you.” He brushed his sharp jaw. “I did wonder about you.”
His gaze hijacked my senses again, making my face burn. I wish I’d worn some makeup.
“Did you?” I looked down at my hands to avoid those eyes that were making me dizzy. “I hate thinking that you thought I was a working girl all those months.”
“I don’t judge women who work professionally.” His brow raised.
“That’s important. Women have a right to do what they want with their bodies as long as they’re not forced by creeps.”
His eyes darkened. “I hope that’s never happened to you, other than that night, of course.”
I looked away and shook my head ever so slightly. I wasn’t about to tell him about my sleazy stepfather.
Sucking in some air, I needed to steer this conversation away from the intimate, if only to start breathing properly again.
“I’m not sure I’ve got time to work anywhere else at the moment.”
With those big shoulders in that blue polo that emphasized his muscles, he reminded me of Superman about to burst forth and conquer the world. Only Declan Lovechilde had managed to conquer my sanity.
I added, “What with the hall and college…”
Who needs sleep when a handsome billionaire is inviting you into his home, you dork?
“College?” His perfect brow furrowed.
“I’ve just enrolled at Hildersten College.”
“That’s just up the road,” he said. “Nice and close.”
He sounded relieved, which took me aback in a nice way.
I played with my cup. “I’ve been wanting to study for a long time. And now, thanks to my job here, I’m earning enough to cover the fees. Or at least go into debt.”
“What are you studying?” He sipped his coffee and then ran his tongue over his lips, and I had to remind myself to concentrate on our conversation and not his mouth.
“Music education. I plan to teach music.”
His face lit up with wonder as though I’d admitted to being at the forefront of scientific exploration into immortality.
“You play music?”
I nodded. “Piano. I learnt at boarding school.”
“Then you obviously went to a good one.”