Page 41 of Filthy Rich Temptation

‘She owns the place,’ I say.

‘Oh!’

‘Yeah.’ And if she actually knew Taylor, she’d cool the come-to-bed vibe. Even when she ran the escort agency, sex with clients was never on the menu. ‘We’ll take the same again, thanks.’

Her gaze lingers a moment longer, then she bends to collect my empty glass. The figure-hugging, black dress – scoop neck, gold-stitchedQover one breast – doesn’t leave much to the imagination. Gravity’s having its way, and she’s not exactly fighting it.

Which tells me she doesn’t know Taylor. Or if she does, she doesn’t care. Either way, she’s offering exactly what Axel’s after.

Me? I’ve only got one woman on my mind. And she’s back in my penthouse, all soft-pink pyjamas and sweet smiles, wrecking me without even trying.

The waitress sashays off and I boot Axel under the table.

‘And you wonder why Taylor asked me to look after Sadie instead of you,’ I mutter.

‘I don’t wonder at all. I know what I am. You’re the one who questioned it. And that says more about your conscience than mine.’

And he’s not wrong.

But hearing him say it, with that all-knowing glint in his eye, lands hard. Because hedoesknow – the whole sordid detail. He caught me that night, downing whisky like it could wipe her lips off mine, burn her out of my gut – much like tonight – and I cracked. Spilled everything. Desperate to purge it.

Didn’t work then. Sure as hell isn’t working now.

‘So,’ he says, dragging the word out like it tastes good. ‘How’s it going?’

‘How’s what going?’

He chuckles – low, slow,smug. ‘Fuck. You really do have it bad.’

‘You’ve no idea what you’re talking about.’

But he does. Of course he does.

‘It’s not funny,’ I grind out. ‘My entire home’s a boobytrap of plastic toys, sticky landmines and soaring toddler missiles.’

‘And yet when you talk about it, your eyes light up like it’s Christmas.’

I huff, shifting in my seat. ‘You try it for five minutes and tell me it’s not chaos.’

‘I think you’re protesting too much.’ His smile fades, his tone dipping with it. ‘Does she know about Katie?’

I stiffen. ‘No. Why would I tell her about Katie?’

Axel gives a low whistle. ‘You really don’t see it, do you?’

‘See what?’

‘That maybe the reason you haven’t mentioned Katie is because she’s the only one who ever came close to mattering. But even Katie didn’t come close enough to her.’

I laugh, but it’s hollow. Forced. ‘Are you really giving me insight into my love life? The guy who thinks commitment is a four-letter word.’

He doesn’t even baulk. ‘You were the same once. Katie was different. You kept her around longer than most. But you still didn’t let her in. Why?’

I don’t answer. Because honestly, I don’t have one.

He leans in, brows tight, eyes burning with raw sincerity. Axel, of all people, talkingfeelings?

I blink. And just like that, my life hits a whole new level of surreal.