Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 75195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
“I. . .” My throat went dry. “No one has ever. . .broken my heart.”
“I think that is a lie.”
“It isn’t.”
“Then, why do you sound so nervous answering?”
“Because. . .perhaps. . .it makes me feel odd—”
“Because someone did break your heart—”
“That is impossible.”
“Why?”
“Nova, I have never given my heart to anyone.”
“Yet, your body is having a visceral reaction due to the question which points to you at least not consciously being aware of your current heartbreak.”
“There is no current heartbreak.”
“There is.”
I blinked. “Are you psychoanalyzing me?”
“I’m just playing the game.” She took a bite of her steak.
She’s too smart. I will have to watch her.
What would I do with a woman like her? Not only was she enticing me more than any other woman had, she had already proven to be a force of nature with my game.
“What’s up, Mr. Pleasure Room Owner?” Nova sampled the truffle risotto. “Either give me a name for the heartbreaker or get naked.”
Pursing my lips together, I took off my black jacket and placed it on the back of my chair. “There you go. One garment off.”
She chuckled.
I raised one eyebrow. “You think that is funny?”
“I think that you’ve played this game before.”
“I have.”
“But, I bet you have never had to take off anything before.”
“Never mind that,” I spoke through clenched teeth, “Now, my turn.”
The circular stage that we sat on slowly rose three feet into the air.
Nova shrieked. “What is going on?”
“We are getting ready to move.”
“Why?”
“It is time for our next element.”
With parted lips, she watched as the stage began turning and carrying us into the next setting.
She whispered, “Holy shit.”
There will always be surprises with me, Nova.
I smiled.
As the stage moved us further, the Earth room left and the Water room appeared.
Trees and leaves shifted to a wall made of massive tanks. Tropical fish swam in sparkling blue water.
A mermaid fountain trickled with water near us. More water flowed out of the mermaid’s hands and splashed around her tail.
A salty breeze came by with the sounds of the ocean.
The waiter appeared with a tray of wine.
Nova turned to him.
One by one, he placed them on the table.
Nova gazed at her still half-filled glass of the Earth Wine. Surely, she was thinking the same thing I had when I first came to the restaurant: How will I finish everything?
The waiter placed the tray behind him and stepped back. “This is Poseidon. This is your Water Wine for the evening. It is a refreshing white wine made with grapes grown in cooler climates near bodies of water.”
Nova picked it up and gazed at the crystal clear liquid.
The waiter continued, “It has notes of citrus, green apple, and minerality.”
I watched as Nova brought the glass to her lips and took a sip. She smiled with pleasure and gave me a sly look.
Yes. Definitely loving this.
“Enjoy.” The waiter bowed and left.
“This place is wonderful,” she said before taking another sip.
I didn’t touch my glass. “Now my turn.”
She grinned. “I love how serious you are about this game.”
“Very serious.”
“Then, hit me with your question.” She began to take a sip.
“What is the worst thing you have ever done in your life?”
She almost spilled some of the wine on her dress.
Hmmm. What is she guilty of?
Chapter Ten
A Taste of Temptation
“Go ahead, Nova.” I studied her. “What is the worst thing you have ever done in your life?”
She cleared her throat and set the glass down. “That is a pretty dark question.”
“And that is not an answer.”
She held my gaze. “It’s also a good question.”
“Then, answer it.”
We were silent for a moment, and then she let out a sigh.
My eyebrows raised in anticipation.
Slowly, she went to the next earring and took it off.
Damn it.
While the intention of the game was to get her naked, I desperately wanted to know the answer. Part of my attraction to Nova was her sweet innocence. She seemed like an overall good person.
So, what could she be hiding?
She placed the earring on the table and moved her plate to the side as if she no longer had an appetite.
It must be pretty bad.
She picked up her glass of Earth Wine and drank from it.
Something truly upsetting to her.
Once she finished the Earth Wine, she put that down, picked up the Water Wine, and sipped that.
Truly intrigued, I continued to watch her. “I am the last person that would judge you.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“Then, tell me the answer.”
“I already took off my earring.”
“Forget the game, I want to know what would make you gulp down half a glass of wine.”
She blinked. “Why?”
“I am interested.”
She slowly swirled the white wine in her glass. “It’s too dark of an answer for such a nice night.”
“I’m okay with dark.”
She took another sip and then placed the glass on the table. “My turn.”
“No.” I leaned forward. “I want to hear the answer.”