Page 4 of Wild King

Wealthy I don’t mind. Stunning and rude? Not my favorite combination when it comes to men.

He looks around and then smiles again when he returns his focus to me. “There’s no one here you’re talking to, so it’s not technically a conversation, although I do have to admit talking to myself is sometimes the best conversation I can have.”

Stunning, rude, and egotistical. This guy is not doing well.

“Then let me rephrase. Do you always intrude on strangers having dinner? And yes, before you say I’m not eating, this is still dinner, even though I’ve finished my meal,” I snap, staring directly into his eyes that remind me of that Belgian dark chocolate Ever gets shipped to her each Christmas.

He doesn’t immediately answer, which makes me think I’ve successfully chased him away. He simply needs to let my attitudefilter through his brain before his feet understand it’s time to leave.

I’ve met men like him before. Give them a little challenge and they hurry away as fast as they can. They want sex. They don’t want anything like a brain or opinions in the woman they’re interested in fucking.

Then he surprises me by pulling out the chair in front of him and sitting down. Now he’s really intruding on my dinner.

“Excuse me, but I didn’t invite you to join me,” I say, barely able to get the words out because I’m so shocked he’s being so forward.

“You would have soon enough, so I figured I’d take the bull by the horns and sit down. You looked like you were waiting for someone, but since you finished eating already, either he stood you up or you were waiting for me. I’ll choose the second option since no man in his right mind would stand you up. Hell, no man in his wrong mind would either.”

Every word he says flabbergasts me more, but I hide how upset he’s making me because I know that will only encourage him to believe I want to continue this conversation. He thinks he’s charming and sexy.

He’s not.

He also thinks he’s got enough money and is good looking enough to impress me.

Again, no.

I stand up and toss my white napkin on the plate in front of me. “This may work with some women. It doesn’t with me. Good night.”

The last I see of the gorgeous man with no manners and a huge ego are those dark brown eyes staring at me with shock filling them. I bet he hasn’t had a woman rebuff him in ages.

Or ever.

Well, I’m glad I could give him a little taste of reality on this beautiful spring night here. Maybe in the future he’ll think about how it’s rude to approach women the way he did.

I smile at the bartender as I weave through a crowd of people waiting for their drinks and make my way toward my room. I bet Mr. Big Ego and No Manners is staying in one of the villas. Of course, he is. A regular room at a resort right on the water wouldn’t be enough for the likes of him. He probably has his own personal butler too.

What an ass.

Finally alone as I walk along the sidewalk framed in beautiful plants with pink and purple flowers, I take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. I don’t dare tell Ever what just happened with that guy. She’ll launch into her usual lecture about how I’m going to be single forever because I never let my guard down and won’t let anyone get close to me. I’ll have to listen to her list every single woman in her thirties she knows and how they’re unhappy and wish they could get men to hit on them like that guy did. By the time she’s finished, I’ll be the bad guy because I didn’t invite him back to my room and ride him like a cowgirl on a wild stallion.

This from the sister who doesn’t even like her fiancé. Not that I blame her. Micah is a complete tool. Why she stays with him is beyond me. Ever could do better. She’s beautiful, smart, successful, and in our world, those traits are golden. Her fiancé is cheap and greedy, the only worse combination than the guy I just told off possesses.

“You know, it’s rude to just leave like that.”

I spin around, stunned to see him following me. This guy doesn’t know how to take a hint. I guess I’ll have to be clearer about how presumptuous he’s being.

“You can’t think this is the way to hit on a woman, can you? I’m guessing by the looks of you that you’ve had women like you before. Didn’t they require anything other than this routine?”

He simply smiles and takes a step toward me before stopping. “Yes, women have liked me just as men I’m sure like you, although you do work very hard to keep a guy away. I’m taking it as playing hard to get. A little old fashioned, but I think it suits you since you have that whole nineteen-forties sharp-tongued thing going. I don’t think you really want to be alone, so why not join me for a drink? I can promise you’ll have a good time.”

As much as I want to tell him off, I can’t deny there’s something about this man that makes me want to know more about him. Most men would have run away with their tails between their legs after all the harsh words I’ve said. That he hasn’t tells me he’s not as weak as most men I meet are, and I like that.

Then again, he has an ego the size of Mount Rushmore, which I don’t like at all.

“What makes you think I’m looking for a good time?” I ask as I study his face with its chiseled cheekbones and jaw and those stunning eyes.

“Why wouldn’t you be? You’re at a beautiful resort in the islands. You’re clearly single, so why not enjoy yourself?” he asks with far too much confidence in the idea that I’m available and may want to spend any time with him.

I step toward him so there’s barely a foot separating us and smile. “What makes you think I’m single?”