The gleam in his eyes made Andie clench her fists against her sides, but a part of her was thankful for it because the sight made her feel more annoyed and less...infatuated obsessedsilly.
So, yes, focus on that, Andie.
You’re annoyed.
Annoyed.
Because the way he was looking at her?
It was annoying.
And...and offensive!
Like...what right did he have to look at her like she was his personal toy? And...and why was he here in the first place? How in the world—
“You already know the answer to your questions.” Paul’s tone was gentle, but his smile was as lazy as it was cold. “So please do not disappoint me by insisting on asking them.”
Andie blinked. Did he just warn her...not to waste his time by being stupid? Was he saying in not so many words that...she should remember he was this hotshot billionaire, ‘Nuff said, and so of course, he could easily find out where she was if he wanted to?
Incredible.
Like...he might be the most beautiful man she had ever seen, and the most sinfully tempting man who had stolen her first kiss and first...well, never mind what he stole.
The point was, Paul might be all of those things, but that didn’t blind her to the fact that he was oh soincrediblyjaded, and his ego just as incredibly inflated. It was as if he really believed everyone and everything existed to amuse him, and—
Whoa!
His hand was suddenly on the small of her back. Warm. Commanding. And spinning her around so that they were now facing the same direction.
What in the world—
She had half a mind to shove him away while a part of her was also seriously tempted to dig her elbow into his side, anything that would cause him physical comfort and lose his cool. But before she even move—
“I’d think twice if I were you.” His voice dropped, and his breath stirred the hair at her temple. “Do you not see all eyes are on us?”
Argh!
Andie didn’t have to look around to know he was telling the truth. After realizing that all her gaping had others looking at her oddly, she had learned how to keep to herself, and she had become good as invisible.
But now that she was with the great Paul Mitropoulos?
Ugh.
She was subject to everyone’s scrutiny once again, and she went from overlooked to trapped by virtue of being seen in his company. She had too much at stake to say or act as she pleased. All it would take was one wrong rumor to reach Joyce’s ears, and so she had no choice...
Absolutely no choice at all but to force herself to smile and nod when Paul exerted pressure on her back, his touch seemingly courteous, but in truth it was underscored with a command that was not to be defied.
Get moving.
All eyes were still on them as they started to walk, and Andie lowered her head so that no one would catch her gritting her teeth. Thanks to her aunt’s party the other day, everyone here knew her as Joyce’s poor relation from Kansas, a dutiful niece who had been placed under Paul Mitropoulos’ wings while her relative honored her prior “commitment” in Monte Carlo.
“You don’t like me at all, do you?”
His words drifted to her ear, murmured this time in a silky tone, but she held her silence. Did he really think she’d be stupid enough to answer that?
“How does it feel, then?” His hand was on the small of her back once again, and she barely managed to keep herself from gasping when she felt his thumb deliberately moving in a slow circle against her spine, his hatefully tempting touch burning through the soft fabric of her shirt. “Being attracted to someone you don’t like?”
Andie...couldn’t help herself at this point, lifting her gaze up to his...so she could just for one moment—just for one tiny moment—glare at him.
