Page 52 of When He Lies
A little bubble of laughter escaped Simone. “What on earth was that about?”
His focus returned to her. “Do you want dessert?”
“Of course. There is never any world where I would not want dessert. Didn’t you learn that about me on our previous dates?” But she was not going to be sidetracked. “Ryan Quinn.” She savored his name. Is it even his real name? “Are you superstitious?”
His nostrils flared. “I simply don’t see a point in inviting bad luck. Given our current situation, do you think we should go around tempting fate?”
“You fascinate me.” Truly, he did. “Tell me your other superstitions.”
“I’m not superstitious. I’m…minorly so.”
She needed to stop being enchanted by him. He was using her. He’d lied to her.
Fine. She’d used him. She’d lied to him.
And…
Why did it feel so good whenever they were together? Correction, whenever they were together and not being kidnapped? Or terrorized? Then it felt good. Right at that moment, she felt good with him. Her fingers were no longer shaking, and she didn’t feel as if a vise had clamped around her heart. “Are you afraid of black cats? Do you always avoid walking under ladders? Do you think that you’ll have seven years of bad luck if you break a mirror?”
A muscle flexed along his jaw. “Yes. Yes.” An exhale. “Yes.”
Another laugh slid from her. “Stop being fantastic. I am enjoying you far too much.” She really, truly was. A dangerous thing. “Come on. Tell me more. Unlock the mystery that is Ryan Quinn for me.”
“Only if you unlock the mystery that is Simone Sailor for me.” He took a sip of his wine, too. The first sip he’d taken. He’d mostly just been drinking water during their meal. “Is that even your real name? Because Jez is convinced it isn’t.”
“Simone is the name I use. It’s the name my friends use for me. So it’s certainly real enough.” The waiter approached, and she stopped talking while he removed their empty plates. Had she eaten delicately? Uh, no. She’d torn through the food like a starving woman because she had been starving. “You know, you can bring more bread,” she told the waiter in her most encouraging tone. Edward. He’d introduced himself when he first arrived at their table. “Bread is always welcome.” Bread was one of her addictions in life.
Bread, books, dessert…she’d always believed you should enjoy the good things. Life was worth living. And there was always time for more bread.
“Does the lady want a dessert? Perhaps a chocolate mousse or our famous white chocolate cheesecake?”
She nearly purred. “Chocolate mousse. You sweet, sweet man.”
Simone was pretty sure that she felt Ryan’s shoe tap against her leg. She frowned at him.
“And for the gentleman?” The waiter turned toward Ryan.
“No dessert. Just coffee.”
The waiter nodded and backed away.
“Well, aren’t you the buzz kill?” Her head tilted. “Did you kick me under the table?”
“I tapped you.” His index finger skimmed over the bridge of his nose. “Because you were flirting unnecessarily with the waiter.”
“Ah.” A sage nod. “You were jealous.”
He…flushed.
She’d meant the words to be teasing, but his response caught her completely off guard. Simone straightened in her seat. “You were jealous.” Surprise pulsed through her. “Because I called the waiter sweet? Look, anyone who brings me bread and chocolate is sweet, but I’m not interested in Edward. The only man I’m fantasizing about is you. You, the surly, unpredictable, superstitious CIA spy that you are.”
He glanced around. “How about we not announce my spy status to everyone?” His gaze came back to her. “And are you faking your response to me? Was it all just part of your cover and your lies?”
“That hurts.” It did. No flashing smile. No teasing tone. She’d gone dead serious. “I happen to like the way I feel when you and I are together. I don’t fuck men for cover stories. Never have. Never will. I went out on dates with you because I liked you. I could easily have gotten into that gallery on my own. In case you need the reminder, going there was your idea because you were using me.”
“I like the way I feel when you and I are together, too.” Rasped. Almost angry.
Also…truthful? She thought those words of his might be true. “Well, then.”
