Page 140 of Titus

“How has it been five years?”

My fingers paused lightly against my coffee cup. “Since what?”

“The man before me.”

“Jesus. You are direct, aren’t you?”

“We wouldn’t be on a yacht like this if I weren’t,” he answered with a smile.

The warmth in my chest cooled slightly. I hadn’t expected this conversation this morning.

“What made you think to ask?” I asked carefully.

Titus’s gaze held mine steadily. “You don’t move through the world like a woman who trusts easily.”

I said nothing.

“I’ve watched how you command rooms,” he continued calmly. “At one time, you put the staff of this yacht—and even me—in their place. I can see how you keep people at a distance while still charming them. Even with me, you rejected me at every turn.”

“I’m sure I’m not the only woman smart enough to do that,” I shrugged.

He gave me a cute expression. “No, preciosa, you are truly the only woman I’ve encountered who has rejected me, in business and in pleasure. Until last night, when you made me lose control in ways I never thought possible.”

“So,” I answered with humor, “it’s just my personality, I guess.”

“No,” he answered, eyes searching mine. “Women don’t learn to guard themselves that carefully without someone teaching them to. I’m convinced you’ve spent years teaching the world not to mistake your softness for weakness.”

“And?”

“And I’m trying to understand how a woman spends five years alone after leaving whoever was foolish enough not to keep you and give you everything you could ever desire.”

I laughed softly under my breath, though there wasn’t much humor in it. “You assume I’ve been alone?”

His expression never changed. “I know you have.”

The confidence in that answer annoyed me, mostly because part of me knew he was right.

I looked back down at my coffee.

“Who was he?” Titus asked, pouring more coffee into my cup.

I hesitated, not because I wanted to protect the bastard, but because talking about him always left me feeling stupid afterward.

“He was an international property developer,” I admitted at last. “I met him years ago while planning an event overseas.”

Titus stayed silent, focused entirely on me.

“At first, the man was…” I searched for the right word, “…easy to fall for.” My fingers absently traced the warm ceramic mug. “He remembered details and flew me places. He made me feel important.” I smiled faintly. “I genuinely thought he loved me.”

Something dark flickered briefly behind Titus’s eyes. “And then?” he asked evenly.

I swallowed slowly. “And then I found out there were other women.”

Silence settled heavily between us.

“He had entire relationships in different countries,” I continued quietly. “Different villas. Different lives. Apparently, every woman believed she was the only one.”

Titus’s jaw tightened.