“It’s a big decision. Living in a foreign country, changing schools.” I knew nothing would make Paxán happier, and I wanted to give that to him. But not at the expense of my own happiness. “Though you might not think I liked my old life, I did. I even liked working, just as you clearly do. I don’t want to say I’m a hayseed or anything, but I enjoy a simple life.” We’d slowed to a stop. “Enough about me. Why don’t you tell me about how you came to be here?” Paxán had said Sevastyan might confide in me.
He studied my face. “Your father told you my history.”
“Only how he first met you. You could tell me more.” If Sevastyan and I could continue like this, talking, getting to know each other, would I fall for him?
Could he fall for me?
“I’m a good listener,” I said.
Our gazes met. He parted his lips to speak. Then ire blazed in his expression. “Why did you invite Filip to ride with you?”
I was taken aback. “Why wouldn’t I have?”
“You could have asked me.” He gazed past me as he said, “Unless you specifically wanted time with him away from everyone else.”
I rolled my eyes. “If I did, then that would be none of your business. You told me there is no us, remember? Maybe I took your words to heart.”
“Did you take my warning to heart as well? I told you to be wary of him.”
Sevastyan’s anger was sparking my own. “And he told me the same thing—about you.”
“Filip has a lot of success with women. That doesn’t mean he’s worthy of it.”
“I get along with him. He doesn’t ignore me, and he makes me laugh,” I pointed out. “It doesn’t hurt that he has a face that could make angels weep.”
Sevastyan’s gloved fists clenched on his reins. His horse nickered nervously. “I don’t want you alone with him anymore.”
This jealousy was so delicious, I decided to prime the pump. “Why? Scared I’m going to give it up to him?”
Something primal flashed in Sevastyan’s eyes. “That will never happen.”
“Is that why you’re riding with me? To cock-block him?”
He simply answered, “Yes.”
My toes curled in my boots. “Why?”
“I know what Filip had planned for you today.” At my raised brows, he said, “He intended to seduce you.”
“How do you know this?”
“Because any man in his right mind would be planning the same.” He caught my gaze, held it. Was Sevastyan telling me that he was as well?
Was I back to being infatuated again?
I smoothed a curl from my flushed face. “Are you in your right mind?” Say yes, say yes—
Thunder rumbled.
As if waking from a daze, we both jerked our heads up. In these woods, we hadn’t been able to see an approaching storm.
“We’ll head back.”
No, no, I never wanted this ride to end! Sevastyan was acting all possessive and jealous and had actually been flirting with me—in his terse, enforcer way. I couldn’t get enough. What harm would a few more minutes do? “If it rains, we won’t melt.”
No sooner had the words left my mouth than clouds draped over the treetops like a suffocating blanket. A drop hit my face, then another. The sky continued to darken.
When a chill wind started to gust, batting leaves against us, Sevastyan ordered me, “Stay close.” He started off, and I followed as he picked up speed, dodging around trees.