Page 6 of A Deal in Darkness
I pull my hair to one side and rest my elbow on the table, letting it take the weight of my head. He’s driving me insane with his deflections and non-committal answers, and eventually, he’ll have to give me a straight one. Preferably sooner. Before I lose my temper or my patience.
“Do you miss Cambridge?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Not really. I miss studying. I miss reading. I don’t miss the stuck-up people or the place.”
Enzo tips his head back and laughs, carefree and unrestrained. The sound is glorious, and he looks unburdened. He’s even more handsome like this, even more attractive. His eyes shine with delight as his muscles relax and his forearms catch my attention as he runs his hands through his ebony hair.
He keeps the conversation light, talking about my time at university and the different places I used to spend time in Cambridge. He knows the small city well, almost like he’s lived there. When he mentions a small park that only the locals know, his eyes flick up to meet mine and I’m certain he’s daring me to ask him about it.
“You’ve lived in Cambridge?”
He nods. “I have a house there. The one near your mother’s cottage is a retreat away from the city. I also keep a place in London. You’re welcome over if you want to see it.”
I shrug and ignore the terribly unsubtle hint.
Enzo’s turning on the charm and the slight flush spreading across my chest is a warning he’s getting to me. He knows how to get what he wants, and what he appears to want is to flirt. Subtly, but outrageously.
And Matt noticed too, staying as near as he can while remaining at the bar, keeping his eyes locked firmly on Enzo.
“I’m surprised we didn’t bump into each other. We seem to know the same places and Cambridge isn’t that big.” It’s odd that we haven’t met before, as we love the same places and he moves in the same circles as my mother. Enzo and I ought to have met before the beach, and, strangely, we’re only meeting now.
“I’m not.”
He closes the conversation down, abruptly changing the subject back to work and how my job hunt is going.
The answer is as stark as the uncomfortable atmosphere in the empty bar. Enzo leans forward, pouring me another glass of wine as he lets the silence ramp up the pressure, refusing to make this easier for me.
“May I?” he says, smirking as he edges his chair closer to mine before I answer.
I nod anyway, and Matt exhales loudly.
“He’s rather fond of you. His girlfriend should be worried.”
“His girlfriend doesn’t need to be,” I reply.
Enzo’s smile is easy and contains a world of temptation and promise in its perfect curves and lines. His eyes light up, sending my heart racing as my thoughts spiral and I’m struggling to keep up with the way he’s making me feel.
I’m on edge. In all the right ways.
It’s wrong. It’s right.
I tell myself it isn’t going to happen.
“What if I said I could help?” Enzo says, whispering but catching my attention with his quiet, controlled voice. “I could help you get that job, Adriana.”
I freeze, and my expression gives away how desperately I want this. It’s a split second of weakness that leaves me vulnerable now he knows how badly I want what he’s offering. Enzo knows exactly what I want and just how much I want it, and it’s now a question of whether my resolve will hold against temptation.
“I could make it happen.” He leans in a little closer. “It wouldn’t be too much trouble. Not for you.”
I tilt my head and stiffen.
Men like him want something, and this is no exception to that rule. Enzo’s offering to help me, but it’ll come with a price tag. Probably an expensive one.
“What do you want?”
My mouth is dry, and my voice is hoarse.
“What will you give me?”
