Primo looked at Faye for a long moment. She epitomised sleek elegance with her hair pulled back and in a silk shirt. Tailored trousers nipped in at her waist and drew the eye to long legs.
The fire he’d sensed last night under the surface of that elegance was on full display now. He imagined the pulse throbbing at sensitive points of her body and his own body responded. He had to grit his jaw and call on every ounce of control he possessed not to embarrass himself.
He’d been curious to see if she’d have the same effect on him today and if anything it was stronger. And what was disconcerting was the realisation that they’d orbited each other for years – all their lives – and this chemistry had been lying in wait until they’d come close enough to touch.
He focused on what she’d just said. She didn’t want children. That didn’t cause him a huge amount of concern at this point. They barely knew each other after all. Surely after time spent together they could discuss the matter again and she might feel differently.
Primo’s philosophy on having a family was basically: Do no harm. The bar of parenting he’d experienced had been so low as to be practically non – existent. His mother’s abandonment of her two sons hadn’t been preceded by much care and attention and yet Primo could remember having to pull his brother Quin away from where he’d been clinging onto their mother’s legs as she’d tried to leave. Primo had always carried that memory with him as a reminder to never let his emotions blind him to reality.
And, their father might as well have abandoned them for all the care and attention he’d given.
So, as far as Primo was concerned, if he had a family, he would do his utmost to treat his children with respect and give them a sense of inclusion that he’d never experienced. As for anything more than that? That was in the realm of fiction and fantasies.
‘Children…family, that’s not something we have to discuss now. I realise that this is a lot to absorb.’
Faye was still tense. ‘I don’t think you’re listening to me.’
Oh Primo was listening. But she was telling him one thing with her mouth and another entirely with her eyes and the flush in her cheeks, while the electricity between them that was strong enough to light up an entire state. He had an urge to close the distance between them and slide his hand around to the back of her neck and head, and cover her mouth. He wanted to taste her. He could imagine she was spicy and tart and sweet all at once. She would surprise him. He was sure of it. And he was still sure, in spite of her protestations, that she was the right choice for him.
She wasn’t remotely intimidated by him. Anticipation burned low in his gut. He had to have her.
He said, ‘I’ve told you that I think a union between us would be advantageous to a deal with your father but if you don’t want to marry me it won’t affect that. I told you before, I don’t play games.’
She inclined her head slightly, ‘I appreciate that, even as you have admitted that a marriage would make the deal more binding.’
‘All I ask is that you at least give this proposal some thought.’
He could almost see the inner struggle on her face, behind those gold and green eyes. He’d never been to the highlands of Scotland but he could imagine the brown hills covered in patches of gold and green. He almost laughed at himself then, for his fanciful notion.
‘Fine,’ she eventually said, tight – lipped. ‘I’ll think about it, but I wouldn’t hold your breath.’
Primo looked at her and said, ‘I wouldn’t dream of it, I think you’d enjoy watching my demise from lack of oxygen.’
To his surprise, Faye let out a helpless burst of laughter before quickly covering her mouth and sobering. She wanted him. He knew it. He took a step backwards, and even though everything in him resisted moving away from her. He said, ‘Regardless of what you decide, Faye, you can’t deny that there is something between us.’
Before she could respond to that to agree or deny, Primo turned and walked out of the room.
