"A girl's first kiss is very important. Even an indirect one."Out of the corner of my eye, I see her cross her arms over her chest in indignation.
"God, I stole your first indirect kiss. I took advantage of you, didn't I?" I play along, my voice taking on an innocent tone.
"When do younottake advantage?" she asks dryly, raising an eyebrow at me. "I don't think I've had a moment of peace since I met you. And it's only been a few hours."
"You're hurting me, little tigress," I make a fake attempt at sounding wounded, but she just shrugs.
"I wish," she says with a sigh.
Why is it so hard to get a read on her? I don't know if she's playing along, enjoying the back and forth, or if she actually hates me—which, honestly, wouldnotbe unwarranted. I've been a major dick to her. Not more than usual, butthistime the receiver of my admittedly not-so-great temper had been innocent.
Way to screw this up, Enzo.
The girl's probably traumatized, but why can't I find it in me to regret it?
Damn!
I don't do feelings, and I certainly don't do apologies. It's not as if we're going to see each other again after I leave her in Malta. I'll go my own way, and she will go hers. End of discussion.
Maybe I'm suddenly feeling a little guilty because I've never met a woman like her before. Someone who is willing to defend her ideals and her dignity at the expense of her own life.
Hell, I've known made men who cry like little babies in the face of death and prefer to go the coward's way—betraying their core principles—just for one more minute on this earth.
Not Allegra. She was bravely yet foolishly ready to meet her end.
I have to admit to myself that something had shifted in that moment. I'd seen her almost blue skin, the way her teeth werechattering and her body was shivering, and yet her eyes still displayed a steely determination. She was halfway to the grave, but she'd have gladly taken a shortcut instead of submitting to me.
On the brink of death, but still defiant, she'd instilled respect in me. I won't ever tell her that, but she may be the first female I've ever given my respect to.
And she had proven me right.
Shecangive as good as she gets. And all this bickering between the two of us has been more than just me picking on her. I'd given her the opportunity to interact as equals, and she'd more than risen to the challenge.
The corners of my mouth lift in a subtle smile because as I watch her munching on her food, her eyes focused on the outside view andnoton me, I can't help but feel sorry for her and the fate that awaits her.
But it's not my business.
I'll drop her at the ferry terminal, and then she's off my hands.
"What's this?" she leans down, her hair brushing across my face, and I catch a whiff of sea salt and another scent that is just hers. Instinctively, I close my eyes, inhaling deeper.
"Mr. Big, Bad, and Scary, are you listening to me?" My eyes snap open, and she's a few inches away from my face. An eyebrow raised, she looks me in the eye, holding my gaze.
I raise my hand, my thumb brushing across her upper lip. As expected, she flinches, a fire appearing in her eyes.
"You eat like a savage." I hold up the crumb of bread I'd swiped from her lip, and she rolls her eyes at me.
"So?" Her finger points at the screens on the control panel.
"Some are for navigation, while others are for the video feed."
"Why do you need that?"
I press a few buttons, and the screens come to life. Onescreen shows the rooms in the yacht, while another has the back view of the boat.
"Wow…" She scrunches up her nose, looking in wonder at the feed. "This is us." She points to the camera that's angled toward the control room. The way she's looking at it, you'd think she's never seen something like it before. Slowly, she touches her finger to the screen, tracing it with the tip. The angle immediately changes, and she jumps back.
"They're touch screens," I add, and her eyes widen.
