Page 178 of The Grand Duel

There’s silence, a drawn-out space of time where I feel his eyes on me. “You said you went to boarding school?”

I nod and smile up at him, grateful that he’s changed the subject. “They were the best years of my life whilst they lasted.”

“Really?”

“Uh-huh. It’s literally where I learnt to be a person.” I chuckle.

“You said whilst it lasted.”

“I only had two years left in education when I enrolled. Jovie made the switch, too, and attended—until she fell pregnant.”

His eyes flick to me. “Thank you for telling me that.”

“The bluefin story?”

He nods. “And the other bits.”

I twist back in my seat. “I’m not normally such an oversharer when it comes to my family. You’ve caught me on a bad day,” I say with a forced smile, not realising how deep I’ve accidentally slipped.

“Why a bad day?”

You bought me flowers, and my sister is currently hosting my parents on the other side of the world.

I shake my head and watch as he pulls into a space outside of the restaurant, the person reserving it stepping out of the way with the sign just as he drives in.

“Smooth, Mr Aldridge.”

Undoing my seat belt, I go to reach for the door, but he grabs my wrist.

“Hey,” he says, stopping me.

I twist around as he takes my hand and slips it into his shirt, placing it on his neck and pushing my thumb down with his to brush over his throat. “Why a bad day? Because of me?”

I lift my eyes from his neck and flick them between his, his head tilting as if to sayYou can tell me anything. I’ll keep you safe.

It would be so easy to slip back into the people we were in Italy tonight. It feels like I’m almost halfway there already.

I shake my head. “I’m okay, Charles.”

“Charlie,” he corrects.

I lick across my lips and look up at him through my lashes. “It will be Charlie once I forgive you.”

His eyes narrow on my mouth. “You haven’t forgiven me?”

I flex my fingers against his neck. “Not quite.”

His eyes darken, and then he reaches up and runs his thumb across my lower lip. “Me on my knees not enough for you, Lis?”

My stomach clenches at the memory of him in the club last night, my body reacting to him shamelessly.

I twist my head and look out through the windshield, hiding my face from him.

I feel his pulse jump and kick in his neck and let it settle me.

“Lissie,” he rasps. He takes my chin and directs my gaze back to him. “Tell me why it’s a bad day and how I can make it better?”

My brows pull together at his concern, his need to make it right. I tilt my head to the side, letting my thumb brush up and down his smooth skin. “Not all bad.” I give him a half smile.