My mouth opened and closed at his unexpectedly suggestive words. Where did that even come from? And why did it make me feel so darn lightheaded?
Marcus’ lips slowly formed a smirk.
Oh!His amusement made me mentally shake myself, and I cleared my throat. “Thatis exactly why we can’t be friends—-”
His smirk disappeared.
“I’m not the type to fool around—-”
“I’m not asking you to.”
It doesn’t matter if he never asked me,I thought. Didn’t he see that just being in his company would make any ordinary girlwantto fool around? But since pride forbade me from saying such words, I could only look at him.
My silence made Marcus’ jaw harden, and he said abruptly, “Come with me.”
And before I knew what was happening, his hand was already clasping mine, and Marcus was leading me back to town.
“Where are we going?” My voice came out strained. It was my first time to hold another guy’s hand, and the realization was enough to turn my thoughts into mush.
“I’m taking you out to lunch.”
He was?
“And over lunch,” Marcus continued in a silky voice, “you’ll ask me questions.”
I would?
He flashed me a smile that was as dangerous as it was charming. “Youwillget to know me well, and after lunch wewillbe friends.”
Marcus continued walking as he spoke, and I found myself following him.
I was trapped, and it was all because of his touch.
It felt too hot. It felt too right. And most of all – the feel of his large, strong hand engulfing mine felt too addictive, his touch making me feel like a lamb about to be slaughtered but unable to do anything about it.
****
MARCUS ASKED ME FORa recommendation, and I decided to skip the usual local favorites and suggested Alfred’s, a family-run bed-and-breakfast located at the edge of town. It also had a rather nice restaurant at the back, and when we arrived, Alfred himself came out to greet me by the door, dressed in his usual, with a black apron tied over his chef’s uniform.
“Hallo, Anneke. Table for two?”
“Hallo, Alfred, and yes, please.”
“Corner table would do?”
“Sure.”
But the septuagenarian didn’t move, only smiling at me expectantly.
I sighed. So much for thinking no one in town would notice that I was having lunch with a guy.
“This is Marcus Ravelli by the way. He’s a friend of my brothers, and I’m just showing him around.” I tried to pull my hand away from Marcus’ as I spoke, but his grip only tightened.
When I turned to him with a frown, his eyes only gleamed in response.You’re not escaping that easily.
Riiiiight. I cleared my throat. “This is Alfred. His family has been running this place for over a hundred years now.”
Marcus shook hands with Alfred. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,mijnheer.”