Page 24 of My Favorite Kidnapper

He nodded.

I felt my eyes widen. “I am not selling you my virginity.”

It was his turn to sputter.

* * *

DANTE

Those were the last words I expected her to say. I choked on my coffee, wiping at my mouth.

“I beg your pardon.”

“My virginity isn’t for sale.”

I had to ignore the way my body reacted to her saying the word virginity. I wasn’t looking for a virgin. I wasn’t looking for anyone—until I saw her. But now, knowing she was a virgin, I wanted her even more.

I cleared my throat. “I’m glad to hear that, but that is not what I want to discuss with you.”

“What, then?”

“You mentioned you have a lot of debt.”

“I am aware.”

“You owed just under $27,000.”

Then she narrowed her eyes. “How did you know that?”

“I made it my business to know.”

“And what do you mean, owed? I still owe it.”

“No. I paid it off.”

She stared at me in shock, then recovered her voice. “What did you just say?”

“I paid off all your debts. You now owe it to me.”

I let her process that information. I cut off a bite of pie and chewed it, swallowing the sweet dessert. It was good, but not as good as Brianna’s cakes.

“What are you playing at?” she hissed. “You think you can pay off my debt, tell me I owe you, and expect me to do whatever you want?”

She looked around. “Is this a joke?”

“No.”

“You show up at the bakery where I work and take over, you bring me to dinner, you have somehow found out detailed, personal information about me. And then you dare to pay off my debts, and tell me I now owe you?”

She sat back, her face pale. “Who the h-e-double-hockey-sticks are you?”

I bit back my amusement. Even upset, she didn’t curse.

“I’m going to be your best customer. I want you to bake me some cakes.”

She began to laugh.

“You’re a lunatic,” she said. “A complete lunatic.”