Page 80 of Beautiful Lies

“Your turn, love.”

I have the perfect riddle for him. The key is to make them hard. That way, I can trip him up. “I’m may look weak, but I’m strong enough to break a man. Look at me too long, and I’ll show you everything you hide. What am I?”

“A mirror.”

Ice floods my veins.Shit. He got the answer. And he didn’t even have to think.

It should have at least taken him a few seconds to work through it. The way I had to with the zipper. But there was no pause, no consideration, no hesitation. Not even for a second.

Knox just answered the question as quickly as if I’d asked him the color of the sun.

I stare at him, completely stunned, the confidence I felt after getting the first riddle right evaporating instantly. “You didn’t think about it.”

“Didn’t have to.” He smirks. “My turn again. What belongs to you, but others use it more than you do?”

I think just like before and come up with time. It has to be that. People certainly use my time more than I do. “Time.”

Knox shakes his head, and my heartbeat slows. “It’s not time. Time belongs to no man. The answer is your name.”

My chest caves. Damn. That was such an easy one, but I got it wrong.

“Your turn, love.”

I need something hard so he can get one wrong, too. “What is always coming but never arrives?”

“Tomorrow, baby girl.”

What the hell? He did it again. Andbaby girl?Loveis bad enough. “How are you doing that?”

“Doing what?”

“Getting it right.”

His broad shoulders lift into a nonchalant shrug. “I’m good at figuring things out.Quickly.”

Yeah, like some kind of superhuman.

I think of the few things I know about him. Apart from his wealth and his role in the Vale Empire, I’m aware he went to Harvard for his undergraduate degree and Princeton for his MA. He graduated top of his class for both. And at thirty-two, he’s the senior private equity partner at Vale Global.

The business articles I read were always raving about his high level ofintelligence. It never really occurred to me to take note of that. Until now.

I kind of assumed, like most people, that he was given those opportunities because of who he is.

“I can hold you without arms and speak without a tongue. What am I?” He jumps right into his next riddle.

I’m stumped. I’m pretty sure this is one of those easy ones, but I can’t think of the answer.

“A blanket,” I answer, knowing I’m wrong even before he shakes his head.

“Sorry, love. What kind of blanket do you have that speaks to you?”

He’s so damn patronizing. “What’s the answer, Knox?” I grate out.

“Your memory. Your turn. But please bear in mind that if I get this one right, I win.”

“Fine.” I blow out a breath and think. “What kind of coat can only be put on when wet?”

He pretends to think and even places a finger to his temple and taps it.