Page 35 of Ace of Hearts

Levi

June

Las Vegas, USA

I was raised by a father who constantly accused me of lying.

It started with the achromatopsia—even after I was diagnosed, he said I was exaggerating to get his attention.

It never got any better, so I ended up feeling as though I always had to justify myself.

To this day, I assume nobody will believe me, and I collect evidence in every situation, just in case I need it.

The irony is that I never lied when I was accused of it, but it’s since become my survival instinct. Even though I hate liars.

That includes Rose Alfieri Ferragni, the biggest liar of them all.

I admit she had me at first. I fell for her poor-little-broke-girl act.

She even made me feel sorry for her for a second .

.. But then, the evening she discovered my secret, she went out immediately afterward.

I found that odd, so I followed her to the bar where Tito was waiting for her, all smiles.

I connected the dots immediately, of course.

I’d been blind not to see it sooner, and I kicked myself for having told her about something I’d worked hard to hide for so long.

The anger soon gave way to questions I couldn’t answer.

I couldn’t figure out why she was doing it, so I kept my distance.

She flirted, and I rejected her. I wanted to see how far she was prepared to go to help her father.

Was it their plan for her to seduce me? It seemed so flimsy and unoriginal.

I did everything I could to drive her crazy, knowing that an ego like hers wouldn’t be able to stand it. It was fun.

But the next day, at the still-life class, something changed.

What she did seemed genuine ... and I liked it.

That was why I kissed her when we got back to the hotel.

Then she ruined everything again by taking my USB key.

I could have caught her in the moment and told her to get out of my life for good.

But I wasn’t strong enough. Despite her lies, Rose attracts me like nobody ever has before. I hate myself for that—for wanting to insult her and screw her in equal measure.

So I let her keep it up, because if there’s one thing I love, it’s watching someone lie when I know the truth. I let her destroy the evidence of bribery—after all, I’d put it on the USB key on purpose to see what she’d do with it.

I’ve given her plenty of chances, and she keeps on disappointing me.

Up until recently, that is. I don’t know what’s changed, but after I gave in just a tiny bit .

.. and went down on my knees in front of her, I got a glimpse behind the mask.

What I saw was a different person, a more humane, vulnerable one.

A person who wasn’t just Tito’s daughter . .. but Rose, just Rose.

Confiding in her about my past was a huge risk. I couldn’t be certain she wouldn’t go and blab to her father about it. I took the risk anyway because I hoped she wouldn’t. I hate liars, yet it seems I’m incapable of hating this woman.

She revealed a lot about herself to me too. Why would she make herself so vulnerable if she was planning to betray me? It makes no sense. Maybe I’m an idiot ... but I still hope that not everything she’s told me is lies. I still hope there’s some truth to who she is when she’s alone with me.

I haven’t said a word to Thomas about all this, of course. God only knows what he’d do if he knew. Saying, “I told you so,” would be just the beginning.

A voice inside my head won’t stop asking, What if she betrays you? I don’t think she will. But if I’m wrong ... I’ll betray her first. I’m always one step ahead of her, after all.

I return to the hotel after my phone call with the editor of the New York Times , feeling famished. I’m surprised to find the suite plunged into darkness.

“That Rose is so ungrateful,” I hear Li Mei say in the living room. “Seriously, could she not have shared? There was plenty of room on that door!”

Rose? My Rose? I raise my eyebrows when I see Li Mei, Lucky, and my fake fiancée snuggled up on the sofa. They’re sharing a blanket and a carton of Ben that’s all.” She looks at me. “Are you coming?”

I lower my eyes and look at Rose, who returns my gaze. She shrugs and smiles so seductively that my resolution never to touch her again instantly evaporates.

“Just try to stop me!”

“Er ... you didn’t tell me it was a wet-T-shirt competition for men .”

Lucky looks crestfallen as we reach the pool. He’s barefoot, with towels in hand. Music reverberates, bouncing off the walls, making the dancing bodies around the pool move as one.

So that was why Rose insisted I wear a white T-shirt with my swimming shorts.

“Well played,” I murmur into her ear. “But I’m not planning to swim.”

“We’ll see.”

That sounds like a promise. She winks at me and goes to find us some deck chairs, her sarong doing little to hide her sublime body.

Lucky stands beside me sulking while Li Mei phones Thomas in the hope that he’ll join us.

“The last time I felt this betrayed was when Zayn left One Direction,” Lucky says grumpily.

I turn to him. “Are you serious?”

“Obviously not.” He rolls his eyes.

I nod—it was a stupid question.

A few seconds later, I hear him mutter, “I always preferred Harry.”

Rose quickly finds us somewhere to sit, thank God. I should probably be in my room perfecting my game, but when Rose unties her sarong and pulls it away from her body, I feel no regrets.

I admire her openly, seized by sudden desire. She’s wearing a simple black swimming costume that looks a lot like her underwear. It shows off the luscious contour of her thighs to perfection, and I immediately imagine them wrapped around my waist.

My gaze travels upward, and the bewitching sight of her breasts has me erect in an instant.

“Are you coming?”

Rose holds out her hand to me, oblivious to the admiring gazes of both the men and the women around her. I understand why they’re staring—who wouldn’t? But I resent them too. I’d like to be the only one to see ... all this.

I get up, subtly trying to hide her with my body. I’m about to take my T-shirt off when she catches my hand.

“Keep it on.”

I don’t have a chance to object. Her tiny fingers slip through mine and pull me toward the pool. Li Mei and Lucky are already in the water, bickering as usual.

Rose gets in first, the change in temperature taking her breath away. I jump in, too, glad of the cold. I’m grateful that the foamy water covers both Rose’s magnificent body and my growing erection.

At first, I stay where I am, my mouth just at the surface as I watch the others. Rose, Lucky, and Li Mei are dancing to a song by Ariana Grande. Then Rose is trying to climb onto a pool float, a cocktail in hand. Her failed attempts make the others laugh.

Suddenly, she looks at me, and I realize I’m grinning like an idiot. I pull myself together, but it’s too late. She downs her drink in one gulp before putting the glass down and swimming over to me like a stealthy crocodile.

“Are you having fun?” I ask when she reaches me, her nose almost touching mine.

“So much fun. It’s been ages since ... I laughed so much.”

“I’m glad.”

It’s true—I am glad. I look her over, my gaze lingering over the droplets of water that cling to her eyelashes. She’s glowing. In moments like this, I refuse to believe she’s a mole. Perhaps I have it all wrong. Perhaps it’s all a huge misunderstanding.

“It would be even better ... if my fiancé danced with me.”

“Your fiancé isn’t dancing with you?” I feign indignation. “Dump him. You know you should.”

“I should, shouldn’t I? He doesn’t know how lucky he is, the loser.”

“They’re all losers. You should find yourself a lover to make him jealous.”

“Oh really?” She laughs. “Are you applying for the role?”

“Naturally.”

I move closer and put my arms around her slim waist. Nobody can see us under the foam, and I wouldn’t care if they could. She half opens her mouth, her eyes focused on my lips, and runs her hands over my soaking wet T-shirt.

“You were right. You should have taken it off.”