“I’m serious, Bastian.”
“Didn’t say you weren’t.” He took a seat and leaned back. When he looked toward the ceiling and sighed, I wondered if he ever really relaxed like I’d seen him on the jet.
Bastian Armanelli was a dragon waiting to be unleashed. I’d only felt the sting of his fire when he’d brought his hand to my ass one night. Now, he was buttoned up tight, but I could practically feel the coiled tension and the poise he tried to maintain.
I sat across from him and gripped my glass like it was a lifeline. “If we do this…”
I hesitated when he looked at me; his eyes held determination and were hard with it. He wasn’t going to let there be an if. We were doing it.
“Would you force me to marry you?” I asked quietly. “What if I say no?”
“Am I that offensive to you that you can’t live with me for six months?”
“I honestly don’t think I could live with anyone for six months.”
He hummed low and tapped a strong finger on the table. “I’m not in the business of forcing anyone to do anything. My father used to do that.”
“And you didn’t get along with him?” I wanted to know more about his father’s relationship with my grandmother, if nothing else.
“I wouldn’t say that. We had a lot of different views as I grew up but we got along sometimes.”
“Do you get along with everyone?”
“I try to.”
“Well, that sounds draining.”
His smile came fast and whipped through our easy conversation. Suddenly, I wanted to back away–from the genuine smile and from the feeling it gave me, all fluttery and light.
I cleared my throat and looked away. “So, if we do this, you have to know, I’m not like that. I’d rather just keep to myself. I don’t do the whole making allies and kissing asses thing. I have one friend who travels the world and so I barely talk to her. I live in my own world.”
“I’m beginning to see that.”
The beads of my bracelets jangled as I combed a hand through my hair to try and relax. “I just feel like you don’t really know me and you’re going to be disappointed with this partnership once you figure it out.”
“Well.” He shrugged. “Good thing it’s only for six months then.”
“Right.” I folded my hands together. “So, do we just act like you’re living here? You said the public needs to see us. Why?”
“You need to be protected. An old tradition is that a woman who marries into my family is an Untouchable. No gang or family or syndicate will do you harm. I’ll essentially claim you as mine.”
Mine. I needed more to drink. The word mine rolled off his lips and lit a fire at my core. Bastian sounded like a god when he talked of control and possessions. He enjoyed it even if he didn’t like to acknowledge the fact. He could say he was an ally all he wanted, but I saw the king in him.
I twisted the stem of my glass. “So, do we just act like you’re living here?”
“No one would believe that.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m not a person who lives with security issues.”
“What’s wrong with this place?”
“Well, for one, I could kick in the door and be standing over your bed in 2.5 seconds if I wanted to. And the windows give easy entry points along with eyes on you in pretty much every room. I could probably catch a glimpse of you showering if I tried.”
“Oh, my God. That’s not true. My grandma…”
“Your grandma was protected, Morina. We need to be protected too. In most circles, I’m a well-known businessman. I’ve been photographed around the country. People follow me all the time.”
I sat back, eyes popping wide. “People follow you?”
“You don’t pay attention to the entertainment news, but I own enough that, yes, people are watching. People will be watching you too, those who knew your grandmother. I’m sure there are families and syndicates paying very close attention. Your identity as a partner in this oil port could spark concern in underground gangs, in greedy businessmen, and overall some very dangerous people.”
“I don’t think so. They already knew my grandmother was a partner, I’m sure.” But my mind was racing. Had she organized protection for me? What did protection even mean?
I gulped down some of my diluted champagne and eyed the bottle again.
“Your grandmother had my father. She had ties to other syndicates and families. All that protection died with her. Through all this will business, she basically assigned me as your protector.” He waited a beat. “I’m not happy about it. I’m sure that’s the case, though.”
“So, what? I have to move in with you to be protected?”
“Or simply because that’s what normal engaged couples do. They find a place for them both to stay. We can go look at penthouses near the port tomorrow.”
“What about this place?”
“Keep it or don’t.”
“I can’t make up my mind.”
“Do you live somewhere else?”
“Mostly, I live in the food truck now.” It was a quiet confession. Only a few people knew I slept there. “I store my board there and there’s a little bed above the food level. It’s pretty amazing.”
I didn’t see any judgment in his dark brown eyes. For that, I was thankful.
Then he asked, “Have you read her letter?”
“Um, I haven’t gotten around to it.” It was a terrible excuse and I winced even as the words came out of my mouth.
That brow that questioned all my actions lifted, and I felt a little ragey. He didn’t say what was obviously on his mind though–that I’d had time, easily.
“I mean, yes, Bradley was here this morning, but I’ve been busy with the food truck and I volunteer at the humane society.”
I waited for him to say he understood, but the man lifted his other brow too. It was a total accusation even if he didn’t say a word.
“I’m sorry I don’t think about business all the time like you, Bastian.” I threw the accusation right back at his brows. He deserved it.
He nodded and glanced around. “I guess it’s only believable we’d be fooling around at first. So, Bradley shouldn’t be a problem. People get cold feet all the time.”
“Well, what about when we’re married? Do you honestly want to be celibate for five months?”
“I think we can navigate just fine.”
“Navigate a fake marriage? Do you hear how crazy that sounds?” I bit my lip.
“Your grandmother got the idea, piccola ragazza, not me.”
“That’s not a good nickname for your fiancé, Bastian.”
“You were just fine with it on my jet.”
“Oh, my God. Don’t bring that night up. Ever. Again.”
“I’m happy keeping our sex life in the past.” He shrugged. “Six months of us putting on a show, Morina. That’s it. Is that something you can do?”
“I have a feeling I’m going to hate your condescending tone by the end of these six months because I already dislike it.”
“It’s not condescending.” He straightened his cuffs and stood. “I don’t have a lot of time to sit and chat. We can schedule some time to be seen together and then move your belongings into a place near the company over the next week.”