The Real Romero(33)

                The endless cry of the commitment-phobe, Milly thought. Men who could have whoever they wanted never had an interest in settling for one because why opt for one type of candy when there were so many jars and bottles to choose from? He could barely be bothered to have this conversation with her. He was searching his phone for a signal. She knew that. He was desperate for an outside line and connection with the real world. He’d already gone beyond the line of duty in putting himself out to stage a rescue mission for someone he happened to be stuck with.

                ‘Am I boring you?’ she asked and Lucas looked at her.

                ‘You’re the most demanding woman I have ever met in my entire life.’

                ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ Milly bristled.

                ‘You’re still annoyed because I rescued you?’ Lucas had never done so much delving into any woman’s psyche in his life before. Even in his wild and misspent youth, when he had been gunning for the wrong woman, he had let sex do the talking.

                ‘Don’t start thinking of yourself as a knight in shining armour,’ Milly jumped in to correct him and he raised his eyebrows in an expression that was lazy and amused.

                ‘Ah. Still annoyed. Where has Little Miss Sunshine gone?’

                In a flash, Milly had insight into what he thought of her. While she had been shooting her mouth off, confiding, losing herself in the thrill of being in the company of a guy who was actually listening to her...not to mention thrilling her with those dark, saturnine good looks...he had not been similarly entranced. The opposite. She had been a spot of comic relief with her ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ personality.

                She turned away, hurt.

                ‘I apologise if you were embarrassed,’ he said gruffly. ‘I realise that, along with arrogant, I can be prone to occasionally lapsing into caveman tactics.’ When she didn’t say anything, he reached forward and, finger on her chin, turned her gently to face him.

                Milly’s eyes widened and her body was suddenly, horrifyingly, excitingly, in meltdown. She could barely breathe. Her mouth parted. Her nipples stiffened, poking against her bra, sensitive as they scraped against the cotton. Between her legs, she was dampening.

                ‘Hell, you should be careful when you look at a man like that,’ Lucas said roughly. But he didn’t remove his finger. His libido had been in retreat for a while. Dealing with his ex had left a sour taste in his mouth and he had submerged himself in work because it was, frankly, blessed relief from the whining demands of a woman who didn’t want to go away.

                Milly, with her disingenuous ignorance of who he really was, with her open, confiding nature and her easy laughter—despite having come through circumstances that would have knocked back anyone else—had stirred his interest.

                ‘Forget it. Not interested.’ She pulled away and stood up. ‘Just out of curiosity, when were you thinking of leaving?’

                Lucas felt the reassuring buzz of his mobile as the outside world was once more connected. Normality could be restored within twenty-four hours. This unusual interlude could be left where it was and he could return to his formidably controlled and predictable life. Since when had he ever been a fan of surprises anyway? Since when had he ever been interested in exploring anything that came in an unpredictable package? Hadn’t he already been there? Done that? Got burned?

                ‘I’m considering my options.’

                ‘That being the case, I suggest we do our own thing. If I decide to go out skiing, then I don’t expect you to instigate a search party if I happen to be a couple of hours late.’