“If you weren’t spying on me, why the fuck did you throw that goddamn lamp?”
“I-I don’t know,” I stammered. “I just acted on instinct. You were threatening me.”
He raked his fingers through his thick, raven-black hair. “You know who I am?”
I hesitated and then nodded.
“Then you should have thought twice about doing something like that.” His gaze dragged over me again, like he was pondering my punishment.
My teeth sank into my bottom lip. My body practically vibrated with fear. He looked like he was close to my age, but he was twice my size, and I felt like a little kid being picked on by the big bad bully in the sandpit.
“Instead of terrorizing me, maybe you should go check to see if your friend actually made it to her cab,” I said with far more bravado than I felt.
I didn’t think of myself as a particularly courageous person. But if Romolo was a bully, weakness would only egg him on.
He cocked a brow. “Who’s terrorizing who? You’re the one who just destroyed what was probably some Messero family heirloom.”
Whatever blood was left in my face drained. “Shoot.”
His lips made the tiniest quirk. “I’ll take the blame if you tell me your name.”
Did he really think that would convince me? I’d apologize to Fabi about the lamp if indeed itwasa family heirloom, but there was no way in hell I was giving him my name.
“No.”
Romolo’s mouth twisted into a smirk, and he leaned down, anchoring his palms on either side of my head, and bringing our faces closer. Thick, dark lashes framed his gray eyes. “See, when you say things like that, it makes it hard for me to believe your story. I didn’t see you down there at the party. What are you doing here?”
The irritation in his voice had been replaced with something smoother. More coaxing. Like he’d decided to use a different tool in his arsenal other than pure intimidation.
Whatever it was, I didn’t like how it made a flutter appear low inside my belly.
“I’m Fabi’s friend.” My hands pushed against his flat stomach, trying to force him away. It didn’t work. He had abs made of steel.
“Okay,Fabi’s friend,” he mocked. “Why are you hiding in a guest room during her engagement party instead of celebrating with her?”
“I wasn’t feeling well when I arrived, so Fabi took me here.” It wasn’t a total lie.
His eyes dropped to my mouth. “Is that right?”
“It was something I ate. I’m better now.” I pushed my nails into his abs, hoping it would hurt enough for him to ease up a bit.
But it seemed to have the opposite effect. He made a low grunt that sounded more appreciative than pained. “Yeah, you look just fine to me.”
The air between us thickened. My pulse thrummed against my neck. “How long do you plan to hold me hostage?”
“Not sure yet,” he murmured. He still hadn’t recognized me, but I had a feeling he thought I looked familiar. It would explain why he was staring so intently at me.
“Well, I’m done talking to you,” I whispered.
He huffed in dry amusement and sat up, moving his entire weight back onto my thighs. “I’m Romolo.” He offered me his hand.
Was he joking? Did he really think I was going to shake his hand while he was cutting off all circulation to my legs?
A spark of anger flared inside my belly. “Trust me, I got it. If I get dementia and forget everything, your name will still haunt me. Your not-girlfriend’s moans are burned into my brain. Rooooh-moooh-lo. Rooooh-moooh-lo.”
His eyes widened slightly beneath the dark slashes of his brows, like he hadn’t expected that from me.
I hadn’t expected that from me either.
