He eased his position. “Am I supposed to be shocked?”
“I thought you might be…offended,” she admitted.
“Do you think you’re the first woman to approach me for sex?”
Her cheeks fired red. “No, but I’m pretty sure I’m the first to involve you in a mission that could have killed you.”
“Oh, please,” he exclaimed with a sound of amusement. “I’m in the danger game. It’s what I do. Your mission is my trade. Polo is my passion. My tech empire is a bonus.”
“But you were key to my plan,” she insisted. “I had so little time to persuade you to launch a mission that I went full-out.”
He curved a faint smile. “I’m pleased you chose me.”
“You’re content to be a tick box on my list?”
“At the top of it, I hope?”
“You’re not taking this seriously,” she complained.
“Because I don’t believe you acted selfishly.” He sighed patiently. “If there was a prescription for love, we’d all be following it.”
“This isn’t love.”
“You seem very sure of that.”
“I am.”
“Then you’d better mount up.”
She looked at him. “Is that all you’ve got to say?”
“Should there be more? Oh, there is one more thing,” he amended after a moment.
“Yes?” Her voice was light and fast.
“Tie your top in a knot to cover for the fact you’ve no buttons. Okay?”
She blinked. “Okay.”
There was a small smile playing around his lips as he sprang into the saddle. This had not gone the way she’d expected. Far from severing the bond between them, she had only succeeded in teasing out a tolerant side to Diego that she had never seen before.
“You’re out of luck,” he said, slanting her an amused glance as if he could read her thoughts as plainly as if she had spoken them out loud. “You didn’t expect to come back from that mission, yet you went anyway. You risked your life to save others. You led our team to the heart of the gang. You truly are a terrible person, Celina.” After gently mocking her, he turned serious. “And you’re also the most courageous person I’ve ever known. Now, get on that horse. He’s hungry, and he wants his bed.”
“Don’t make me out to be some sort of angel,” she said as she swung a leg over the saddle.
“I’m glad you’re no angel.” Gathering up his reins, he huffed a laugh. “I don’t see myself hooking up with a saint.”
“Well, I won’t be your mistress, if that’s what you think.”
His lips pressed down as he thought about this. “So start as my girlfriend and end as my wife.”
“I’m sorry?” Turning her horse, she reined in.
“You heard me. Or are you frightened of commitment?”
“I’m not frightened of anything.”
“Exactly,” Diego confirmed. “So don’t expect me to believe that you’re frightened of love.”
