by Unknown
Milly headed to the kitchenette, more than aware of Clifford’s eyes upon her.
He made her skin crawl, not that she let it show.
She poured Clifford his cognac and then with a smile she poured Roman his requested drink.
“Apple juice?” Simon frowned. “For Roman?”
“Maybe he knows he’s had far too much.” Milly shrugged.
“I truly didn’t think that Roman had an off switch,” Simon said. “Well, at least now I can relax—it looks like he’s going to behave.” He glanced down at Milly’s legs. “You’ve snagged your stockings.”
“I know, but I don’t have a spare pair.”
“You’ll have to take them off,” Simon said. “Make sure you have a spare pair with you in future.”
“I shall.”
Milly served Clifford his drink first and she felt his eyes roam her bare legs. Then, he told her that he was feeling a little peckish.
“I’ll bring something nice over for you,” Milly offered.
“Bring yourself!” Clifford winked.
Milly went over to Roman and put down a small coaster and then placed his drink in front of him.
“What is this?” Roman asked.
“Apple juice.”
Their eyes met and she watched as Roman frowned.
“I wanted vodka.”
“Sorry, Sir,” Milly said, because in the Club Lounge the customer was always right. “My mistake. I’ll go and get you your vodka now…”
She went to take up the glass but as she did, Roman’s hand went to it and Milly’s hand met his.
It was first contact and it was like placing her hands near a fire on a cold, cold day—it warmed, it made you want to move closer, so close that it might actually burn and Milly felt her breath still in her lungs as Roman spoke on.
“I did ask for apple juice,” Roman said in his delicious, rich accent. “That was a poor attempt at a joke…”
“Oh.” Milly swallowed, her hand moving away from his. “I’m not very used to you making jokes.”
“Because I tend not to make them.” He picked up the glass and drained it in one and then pulled a face. “Revolting. Now that I have had my vitamins for the day, you can get me my usual.”
“Of course.” Milly went and fixed his regular drink and placed it in front of him. Then, came the part that she was rather more used to. Roman knocked back the shot of vodka and put the glass down.
She didn’t ask if she could get him another one, as she usually did, something had signalled to her tonight that he expected her to know his routine and that there would be no deviation.
Clifford called her again as she returned with Roman’s second drink. “Milly, I thought you were going to bring me something nice!”
“I’ll be with you in a moment,” Milly said as she put Roman’s second drink down. “Here’s your drink, Mr. Mason.”
“Roman.” He looked up at her and Milly felt her heart constrict as he invited her to first-name terms and for the longest time held her gaze. “I think we both know that I am not Andrew Mason.”
Milly knew that she should simply smile and say, “Enjoy your drink, Roman,” and then walk away. That was what her training had taught her. That was what Simon would expect her to do in this instance.
It was contrary to her heart though.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Milly said.
“Which one?”
“Excuse me?”
“You said that you are sorry for my loss. I wondered which one you were referring to. My uncle… or my pregnant wife?”
“I shouldn’t have said anything.” Milly shook her head, unable to fathom the depths of his grief.
“Don’t waste your sympathy on me Milly…” He halted, he should not have said that, and yet who the hell was he covering up for anyhow? It was on the tip of his tongue, to expose Ava, to reveal her lies, but he hauled himself back from the edge, for Roman knew full well how much the press would love to get a hold of the truth and he met Milly’s eyes. “I’m not grieving.”
She should have walked off then, Milly knew. She should simply have left it at that, gone and got him another drink and stayed quiet, but she didn’t.
Instead, Milly looked back into his cold grey eyes and saw the pain at the bottom of the lake, she saw the churning anger and she told him what Milly was quite sure was the truth. “I don’t believe you.”
Find out what happens next…
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The International Bad Boy Series
If you enjoyed Bound to the Sheikh, you’ll love the new International Bad Boy stories!
Book 5: Bound to the Sheikh by Carol Marinelli Book 6:A Deal with the Devil by Louisa George Buy now!
Book 7:Never Refuse a Sheikh by Jackie Ashenden Buy now!
You won’t want to miss the original International Bad Boy stories!
Book 1: No Rest for the Wicked by Katherine Garbera Buy now!
Book 2: Never Seduce a Sheikh by Jackie Ashenden Buy now!
Book 3: Born to be Bad by Carol Marinelli
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Book 4: Sympathy for the Devil by Kelly Hunter
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About the Author
Carol Marinelli has written at least seventy romances and hopes for at least seventy more. A single mother of three, she is originally from England but now lives in Australia. Generally she loves to write strong alpha heroes but every now and then she fancies a change and is grateful that her imagination obliges and lets her explore longer length women’s fiction. Carol’s hobbies are writing and catching up with friends so it would seem that she’s in the right place and very excited to be writing for Tule!
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