It was as though Lukas was seeing her for the first time. Or, if not that, then certainly through fresh eyes. And she found the whole experience almost exhilarating.
‘You’re not at all the girl I thought.’
‘Well, then—’ she wasn’t entirely sure how she managed to sound so breezy ‘—it serves you right for not doing your homework on me properly, doesn’t it? I can’t imagine you’re usually so lax when it comes to business. I can only take it as further proof that you aren’t as cold-blooded as you like people to believe.’
‘In fact,’ he continued as if she hadn’t spoken, ‘you’re not a girl at all, are you?’
And, before she could answer, he reached out and took a lock of her hair, rolling it between his thumb and forefinger for a moment, before tucking it behind her ear.
It was such a soft, unexpected, intimate gesture. And it wiped all thought from Oti’s mind.
But then he simply took the rubbish bag from her, stalking to the public bin on the pavement and dropped their rubbish in the slot which would take it to the underground storage.
Then he paced back to her, before turning to sit on the bonnet of the limo, his legs stretched in their usual position, his arms folded across his chest, highlighting his chest and biceps. Not a close-cut hair out of place. The trousers and waistcoat of his bespoke suit as immaculate as usual on his sculpted frame.
And Oti watched his every movement as though beg
uiled. A billionaire who was accustomed to snapping his fingers and everyone leaping to attention, yet he hadn’t been too proud to help her with the baby, and the clean-up afterwards. A man who wasn’t afraid of getting his hands dirty—quite literally.
Despite all her caution, the more time she spent with Lukas, the more she found herself admiring him. Respecting him. And having that respect reflected back at her now when he looked at her was...exhilarating.
Yet it was also terrifying. Because, if she wasn’t careful, she could end up confusing attraction and respect, could end up falling for the man. A man who didn’t remotely feel the same way about her.
She eyed the horizon as a hundred—a thousand—thoughts crashed around her head. But there were so many of them and they were all so intertwined that she had no idea where to even begin unravelling the truth. And at the centre of it was that one single event that she didn’t want to have to talk about to anyone.
Certainly not to Lukas.
‘Then why did your father perpetuate those rumours?’ Lukas demanded after a while.
‘Because he doesn’t know the truth.’
‘You can’t expect me to believe that, surely?’
‘My father hasn’t noticed me since I was that girl, all those years ago. He’s a selfish and self-serving man, but I think you already know that.’
‘I do indeed. So surely he would have preferred to use your success as a doctor to somehow turn it around to his own success as a father?’
‘He would have, yes,’ she agreed evenly. ‘Which is why I never told him. I suppose I thought he’d work it out eventually. The fact that he never has speaks for itself, I think.’
‘So he would rather paint you as an addict who wastes her life partying abroad, and ends up in rehab all too often?’ Lukas’s disdain was unmistakable, and Oti felt her mouth twist into a hollow smile.
‘Ironically, that helps him.’
‘I fail to see how.’
‘That’s because you aren’t like my father.’ Her gaze was drawn to Lukas despite herself, and her smile became a little less hollow and a little warmer. ‘That’s a compliment.’
‘Indeed it is,’ he answered grimly.
‘You may be calculating and ruthless when it comes to work, but you aren’t nearly as intrusive when it comes to more personal matters.’ She smiled. ‘You’re a nicer person than you want the world to see. I just don’t understand why.’
‘And again—’ Lukas arched an eyebrow at her, making her hands actually itch to reach out and smooth it ‘—this isn’t about me.’
‘Perhaps I’m hoping that if I open up to you then you might afford me the same courtesy.’
She didn’t realise how true that was until she heard the words come out of her mouth.
‘Don’t bank on it,’ he growled softly.