“Not really,” I said finally, “but thanks.”
“Do you always receive compliments so graciously?”
Heat rose to my cheeks at his mocking tone, and I answered reluctantly, “No.”
“Ah. So it is only me then?”
“Jaak did say I could treat you like my family.” I tried not to sound too defensive but failed.
“Is that so?” he drawled. “Are you then saying...” His voice lowered into the most sensual purr. “You see me as family?”
Oh. The words took me by surprise, and my lips parted without any words coming out.
Did I see him as family?
The short answer was –no.
I didn’t see him as family because to see him as family was to have no right to be attracted to him—-
And I didn’t want that.
And Marcus Ravelli knew it.
His lips curved in a smirk as he waited for me to answer, and I wished I could say I found his smirk annoying, but I couldn’t. It just lookedbeguiling,and it made me want to throw my hands up in despair.
An arrogant Italian boor was smirking at me, and I found it beguiling?
“Well,bambina?” Marcus stepped closer. “Do you think of me as family?” He started leaning towards me, his head lowering, and—-
I couldn’t bear it. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” And then I was walking away as fast as I could.
I heard him laugh, and I walked even faster.
Of course I didn’t think of him as family, and the blasted man knew that.
So why did he even ask?
Actually, why had he come looking for me in the first place?
When he reached my side, I said very politely, “Please leave me alone.”
And to which he replied just as politely, “No.”
I stumbled to a stop. “Why?”
“I’m not sure.”