Demon King (Claimed By Lucifer #1) - Elizabeth Briggs Page 0,14
and how they were all counting on me to find Brandy—before it was too late. “I’m just really worried about her.”
He tilted his head as he studied me. "I can tell you truly care for these people.”
“They’re all I have. Well, them and my sister, but she lives in San Francisco and I don’t see her very often. She runs a company and she’s pretty busy with that.”
Our plates were swept away by quick-fingered servers, and another course laid in front of us. This one was some fancy scallops dish with potatoes, and it was also delicious.
“So you’re not in a relationship then,” Lucas continued.
I let out a nervous laugh. “What’s with all these questions?”
He pinned me with an intense gaze. “Answer me.”
His directness and abrupt focus on my relationship status startled me, and I considered lying to protect myself, but I couldn’t do it. Honesty was important to me and I prided myself on never lying. Not even to someone who probably had no trouble bending the truth…or worse. “No, I’m not in a relationship right now.”
He leaned forward. “But you’ve been in relationships in the past. How many? Were any of them serious?”
His tone sounded so possessive it made my spine stiffen. I shook my head, setting down my fork. “That is really none of your business.”
He sat back, languid and casual again. “I’m simply trying to understand you. Are you the type of woman who has long-term relationships, or are you more into casual flings?”
I snorted. “More like the type who sits at home and reads books instead of going out on dates.”
That got a laugh from him, low and husky and sexy as sin. “Lucky for me then that I have such an extensive library. Still, I find it hard to believe you’ve been single all this time. You’re a gorgeous woman, Hannah. Surely some men or women have taken an interest in you in the past. Did none of them strike your fancy?”
“I’ve dated a few guys before, but it never got serious,” I admitted, my cheeks flushing at his compliment. “It never felt right with any of them, and besides, all my time is spent managing the shop.”
Satisfaction gleamed in his eyes at my answer. I expected him to continue this line of questioning, but instead he sipped his red wine and asked, "You're the manager? Or the owner?"
“Both.” I paused, debating how much to reveal. What could it hurt? This would only last seven days and then I’d never see him again. “It was my parents’ shop, but they died five years ago. My sister and I inherited it in their will. Jo is too busy with her own business, so I run the place myself.”
“I’m sorry to hear about your parents,” he said.
My throat grew tight with that familiar sadness and the loss I felt every time I thought of the accident five years ago. Not because I missed my parents, but because I didn’t remember them at all. Not only were they taken from me, but I’d lost all my memories of them too, in an especially cruel twist. Was it any wonder I would fight tooth and nail to hold onto my loved ones now?
Before he could fire off any more questions about my parents, I asked, “What about you? Why does the King of Las Vegas need to bribe a woman into spending a week with him? I thought you were a billionaire playboy. That’s what the internet says about you, anyway.”
“Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.” His expression became distant as he looked out at the water as the fountains splashed a playful rhythm. “I had a great love once. The kind they write books about."
"What happened?" I asked in a hushed voice.
He turned his hypnotic eyes back on me. “I lost her.”
“I’m sorry,” I found myself saying, echoing his words to me a minute ago. The tone of his voice made me think that his great love had passed away, and my heart squeezed in sympathy. I couldn’t imagine having something like that and then losing it.
He gazed at me with unblinking intensity. “Perhaps it will be different this time.”
I wasn’t sure what he meant by that, so I took a long sip of water just as our next course was brought out, some tiny pieces of steak with figs and honey. I’d already forgotten what course number we were on. All I knew was that the food kept coming, and it was all amazing.