Page 64 of Only for the Season

“I’ll give you a blow by blow of every patisserie I’ve ever visited in Paris if you tell me the truth.”

“You’re mean, Scrooge.”

I brush the hair off her forehead. “I’m negotiating.”

“But I’ve never told anyone what happened.”

“I’ll be your first.”

“Ugh.” She stomps her foot. “I never realized Scrooge was this tenacious.”

“I can be very, very tenacious.” I draw my finger down her face to her neck but stop before I touch her breasts. Her breath hitches.

“You’re not playing fair.”

“I never said I’d play fair, Princess.”

She stares into my eyes for several moments before she nods. “Okay, I’ll tell you. But if you ever tell anyone else, I will bake you a cake, the most delicious cake you’ve ever eaten, except it will be filled with a poison only Circe would know about. And you will die a slow, agonizing death while the doctors fail to diagnose you.”

I shiver at the promise in her eyes. “Agreed.”

“It’s all Halston’s fault.”

“Halston sounds like a prick.”

“Oh, he is.” Her eyes narrow, and a muscle ticks in her jaw. “He’s worse than a prick. He’s a lying, conniving asshole who wouldn’t know what to do with a rolling pin if it came with instructions.”

I squeeze her hands.“What did he do?”

“At culinary school, not much. But when he found out I was graduating at the top of the class and therefore had secured the apprenticeship at a famous Paris patisserie, he lost his mind. He assumed since Daddy was rich, he’d get the spot. And he did.”

“How?”

“He claimed I cheated on the final baking exam. He said I used bought caramel. As if I would ever buy caramel. The head chef didn’t believe him. No one did. But the owner of the school insisted it was true – probably because Halston’s dad was a billionaire who could buy anyone – and I lost my apprenticeship. It was too late in the year for me to apply for another one.”

It all makes sense now. Why she’s not in Paris. Why she hates billionaires. Why she wants nothing to do with my money.

“I could have waited a year for another chance but then I would have had to explain to my parents what happened.” She shakes her head. “I’m never explaining to them how I thought Halston was a good guy. How I helped him at our final baking exam. How I thought he was different and cared for me. How I thought I loved him.”

I growl. My princess did not love some entitled prick who used her.

“What’s Halston’s last name?”

She shakes a finger at me. “Nope. You aren’t getting my revenge for me.”

“I have connections. My revenge would target his parents and the little prick.”

She fists her hands on her hips. “This is my problem to deal with. Not yours.”

“Wrong. You’re—”

My telephone rings to cut me off. Which is a good thing since I was about to say she’s mine. Parker isn’t mine. She’s only mine for the season. On January first, I’ll be gone from Smuggler’s Hideaway and out of her life.

Chapter 22

“I’d flee my feelings faster if the damn door locked.” ~ Parker

Parker