Lately, no choice felt like the right one.
She stopped in front of a café and stared at a piece of chocolate cake on display, losing herself temporarily in the promise of it. She didn’t want to think about whether she should or shouldn’t tell her family about Eric. She didn’t want to remember any part of seeing Delinda that day. She definitely didn’t want to wonder what Magnus had thought of that lunch. Had it left him as confused?
Rachelle placed her hand on the glass and sighed. Maybe it was for the best. Where could time with Magnus have led except disappointment? Even if he had been good in bed—an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime, orgasm-until-I-couldn’t-move kind of good—what would they have done next? A date?
Sure. Why not?
Movies.
Maybe minigolf.
I’m sure he enjoys all the same things I do. Yeah, not likely.
What had he said? “We could not be less alike.” That about summed them up.
So, thanks, Delinda. I suppose you did me a favor.
“One would think you’ve never seen cake before,” Magnus said from behind her.
Rachelle spun around. She almost asked him what he was doing there, but instead said, “Go away,” and turned back toward the glass display.
Magnus leaned close to her ear and said, “Is it difficult to pretend not to be interested in me after you and your grandmother essentially trapped me into spending time with you?”
She glared at him over her shoulder. “Oh my God. Poor you. I would ask how you’re holding up, but I’m a little preoccupied right now with worrying about my brother. And just so you know, regardless of my grandmother’s performance, I have no intention of going anywhere with you. So you’re not trapped at all. Go away. You’re free.”
“I wish it were that easy,” he growled. “I can’t get a damn thing done. All I can think about is you and tasting you again.” He pushed her hair aside and kissed the curve of her neck.
Lust punched through her, and she placed a second hand against the glass to steady herself. Yes, her body screamed.
No, her mind argued.
Meanwhile, she stood frozen, neither pulling away nor responding to his kiss. His lips trailed up to just behind her ear. “Come with me. No one needs to know. It’ll just be you and me and this . . .” His breath caressed her cheek. He hovered close enough behind her to warm her. “Say yes, Rachelle.”
The temptation to give in was nearly overwhelming. Her body hummed for him, but her need was deeper than purely sexual. It had been a long week, and she was in a foreign country, alone and worried. How can I want to be with anyone right now?
She turned in front of him, leaning back against the glass while looking up at him. His lips were mere inches above hers. The same desire that raged within her was reflected in his eyes. It would be good with him. So good.
But then?
I can’t believe I’m going to say this—but my grandmother is right. I don’t want to be the one he uses and throws away. “No,” she said, nearly choking on the word.
He blinked several times, as if her refusal was difficult for him to process. “I don’t chase women.”
“I’m not asking you to.” She slipped out from beneath his arm. Women. Not even specifically me. After their intimate romp in the garden, it would have been tough to sell that she wasn’t interested in him at all, so she didn’t try. Physical distance from him allowed her to think clearer. “I appreciate what you’ve done for Eric. Today was amazing and something I’ll never forget.”
“And last night?” he asked, holding her captive with the intensity of his gaze.
She took another step back. “Also amazing, but not something we should repeat. I’ll be in Vandorra as long as Eric is here. That could be one week or several. If he checks himself out tomorrow, I’m going back with him.”
Magnus pocketed his hands and frowned. “Your grandmother—”
“Is not here because I asked her to be. I had no idea she was even coming. The video of you and me embarrassed her, and that is something my grandmother will not tolerate.”
“So she’s here to repair your reputation.”
Rachelle shook her head and laughed without humor. “You don’t get it yet. This is about her pride.”
“And getting you a title?” he asked with enough arrogant smugness that Rachelle’s temper began to flare.
“She doesn’t care about the title. She’s trying to use me to knock you down a notch.” As soon as Rachelle said it, she knew it was true. “How I feel is irrelevant. No different than how you used me to manipulate Eric.”
“A moment ago you thanked me for what I did for Eric.” Magnus was offended, but that only reinforced Rachelle’s resolve.
“I did, but that doesn’t mean I’m foolish enough to think you care about me. You and my grandmother are both used to getting what you want, and you don’t care who you have to hurt to get it. Well, I’m not playing her game or yours.”
She turned to walk away, but Magnus grabbed her arm. “My intention has never been to hurt you.”
She pulled her arm free. “Then respect what I’m saying. I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to be what my grandmother uses to humble you. And I don’t care if you find it inconvenient to want someone you can’t have. I’m not an appliance. I’m not here to make your life easier. You want to prove you care about me at all? Stay away from me.”
The woman Magnus had thought would spend the night with him walked away without hesitation or a single glance back. Only after he saw her enter her hotel lobby did he check to see where his men were. When he located Phillip, he nodded for him to approach. “She claims she had no idea her grandmother was even coming.” Magnus’s attention was drawn back to the entrance of her hotel even though there was no reason to believe she would reappear through it. He sighed. “I believe her.”
Phillip’s expression remained respectfully blank.
Magnus continued, “She said if I care about her at all, I should stay away from her. How does that make any sense?” Normally, Magnus would not put as much thought into what a woman said, but Rachelle’s feelings mattered to him, and her request had put him in a no-win situation. To get what he wanted, he needed to disregard her wishes. To respect her wishes, he needed to deny what he knew they both wanted.
Phillip was quiet for a moment, then said, “My wife once told me she did not want to celebrate her birthday, so we didn’t. I didn’t buy her a card. I didn’t take her to dinner. I pretended as if that day were any other day. I regretted that decision for the entire twelve months that led up to her next birthday. Women are complicated creatures.”
“Why not just say what they want?”
“They do, but they say it as only another woman can understand it.”
“Absurd.”
“Would you like it translated?”
“Excuse me?”
Phillip took out his phone. “You could ask my wife.”
Magnus shook his head. “I will do no such thing.” In the brief time it took Phillip to repocket his phone, Magnus gave in to his curiosity. “You will ask her, but do not tell her it is for me.”
“I can’t tell her it’s for me,” Phillip joked, but he sobered when he realized Magnus was serious. “I’ll be vague.” A moment later Phillip greeted his wife, then asked if he could have her opinion on something. She agreed.
Phillip said, “One of my friends is interested in a woman who told him to stay away from her, and he’s looking for advice.” Phillip shook his head. “No, this is not like that. She was interested in him yesterday. She said—” Phillip turned to Magnus. “How exactly did she say it?”
“She said, ‘You want to prove you care about me at all? Stay away from me.’”
Phillip repeated it to his wife. “How certain are you?” Then he nodded. “That’s pretty certain. Thanks, my love. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Well?” Magnus demanded after Phillip hung up.
“I’d rather not share what she said. She didn’t know we were referring to you.”
“Phillip, your honesty is as valuable to me as your loyalty. Say it. I will not be offended.”