A dark wave of humor rushed through Tonio. He nodded toward the café door. “Come on. Allow me to be the gentleman and buy you a new coffee. One cup. If I’m lying, throw it at me.”
She hesitated, her gaze tracing over his face as if she could peel back his layers and see the truth beneath. A strange flicker of fascination went through him. He had never met anyone whose instinctive mistrust held firm, even when he wore the easy skin of charm. When a small smile finally touched her mouth, an unexpected stab of disappointment hit him.
Run, he wanted to say,I am the big bad wolf.
“Fine,” she murmured, long lashes sweeping down to hide her gaze. “But if you turn out to be a walking cliché, I’m out.”
“Fair,” he said, holding the door. “But you’ll have to explain this walking cliché, so I don’t fumble.”
She passed him, leaving him staring after her. Well, the “accident” was a bust. She’d spotted the play from a mile away. So much for that approach. Time to switch gears. He’d always been better at chess than checkers anyway.
CHAPTER THREE
Sofia’s eyes swept over him before she could stop herself. Tall, broad-shouldered, with hair pushed back just enough to show sharp brown eyes that measured her without blinking. Dark stubble cut along a jaw that could charm—or threaten. He was shockingly handsome, yet there was something in his eyes that sent a flicker of fear through her senses. He radiated danger. She couldn’t say what gave her the impression, but it was there, settling deeper into her awareness with every second she remained in his presence.
Her chest tightened.Walk away,the phantom of her mother’s voice warned.
But another voice, which had been feeling the hollowness of loneliness, whispered,“It’s just coffee. We’re in public.”
“Vanilla latte?” he asked, wallet open, his tone casual.
“Yes,” she said.
“Good choice.” He smiled and quickly placed their order. “Tonio.”
“Sofia.”
“Nice to meet you,” he said, his eyes holding hers. “Even if I nearly had to tackle you to do it.”
She arched a brow. “Is that your usual approach? Spill coffee on strangers and hope they take the bait?”
“Only when they’re worth bumping into.”
Heat crept up her neck.Don’t relax your guard around him.
“So, Tonio,” she said, testing the name, “what do you do when you’re not bumping into strangers?”
He leaned back, his eyes glinting. “You want the polite answer or the real one?”
“Which one’s true?”
A small frown flickered on his face before it vanished. “Both are true.”
“Tell me the complicated one,” she said, startling herself with the question. “You don’t have to answer that.”
“Why not? When a beautiful woman asks me to spill my guts, I’m willing.”
A flutter went off in her chest. Sofia’s stomach tightened.Leave. Do not be charmed.
“I’m what you would call a fixer. I make problems disappear,” he said, lips curving. “And you?”
She tucked a wisp of hair behind her ear. “I’m a journalist. Freelance. I… I also love art.”
He tapped his fingers against the counter, slow and deliberate, his attention settling on her in a way that made her pulse stir.
“Ah. That explains it.”
“Explains what?” she asked, trying to sound casual even as a quiet awareness of him pressed closer. Sofia did not like it, simply because she had never before felt this intense pull toward a man.
