Page 54 of One Hot Rumor

But I intend to find out.

Right now, what I want to do more than anything is hunt down Georgina Prescott and give her a piece of my mind.

Chapter Twenty-One

Nick

Maybe I glare at the street ahead of me while I drive Siobhan to my home. Maybe I grip the steering wheel like I want to throttle it. And maybe I even growl under my breath a few times. Can anyone blame me? Despite her title, Georgina Prescott is no lady. She's the cow who started the rumor and forced me to flee from my homeland to find sanctuary on the other side of an ocean, on the far side of another continent.

I wish that woman would find a new hobby and give up ruining my life.

But is it ruined? Or am I wallowing in self-pity?

Siobhan will fall in love with me for sure when I'm behaving like a self-centered, whingeing arse, won't she? Not sure if I want her to love me, but it won't happen now.

I shouldn't have gotten annoyed when that woman, who I've never seen before, asked about "special" services. It's not her fault Georgina spread a vicious lie about me.

Once I've parked the car in front of my house, I hurry around to the passenger side to open the door for Siobhan and help her step out.

She smiles and kisses my cheek. "No matter what anyone else might say, I know you're a gentleman and a good person."

"I'm a walking scandal."

"No, you are not."

Siobhan Griffin is the cleverest, most centered person I've ever met. If she believes in me, maybe I should too.

The second we've walked into the house and I've shut the door, she rounds on me. "We need to finish our conversation from earlier."

"Conversation? I've already told you Georgina Prescott is a liar."

"I'm not talking about that." She glances around at the furniture in the living room. "Let's sit on the sofa and talk more about why you feel unworthy."

I can't stop a groan from rumbling out of me. "Must we? I'm knackered."

"No, you're avoiding the issue."

All right, maybe she has a point. But can anyone blame me? Talking about my narcissistic feelings of inadequacy isn't the kind of conversation I want to have with Siobhan. I'd much rather whisper dirty things in her ear. And I did bring that little surprise for her…

I pull her close. "How would you like a 'special' massage?"

"You got upset when that woman on the street asked for one of those."

"That's different. You're different."

She drags one fingertip across my bottom lip. "In that case, I'd love a 'special' massage. Later. Right now, will you answer one question for me?"

I want to groan again, but I'm an adult, not a teenager who can get away with acting like a spoiled child. Or maybe teenagers can't get away with that. My mother never would've stood for it.

Adult behavior it is, then.Bugger.

Resisting the urge to sigh or groan, I say, "All right. Ask me."

"Why did you quit college one semester away from graduating?"

"Please, any question but that one. The answer will make me sound narcissistic."

"No, it won't. Trust me."