Page 90 of Blue Gold

Leaning back on his chair, he brought the cigarette to his lips. “I am a man, too, aren’t I?”

Curious to hear more, I leaned forward. “I see. So does that mean you’ve told lies?”

Also getting closer, he leaned on his elbows, so now our faces were only mere inches apart.

“Never. Unfortunately for me, I’m incredibly honest.”

“Honesty is a good thing,” I said and snatched the cigarette from between his fingers, only to put it out in the ashtray.

“And yet, I am the one getting the short stick,” he said in English, and while his accent made me swoon, as he was adorable, the essence of his words saddened me.

“When I told you I missed you, I meant it.” Covering his hand with mine, I squeezed him tight. “That’s why I flew nine hours to be with you.”

Elliot glanced down at our joined hands. “So why are we wasting time in a restaurant instead of being in bed?” He looked up. “Tomorrow, I’m leaving for⁠—”

“For the Amalfi Coast.”

Confusion formed on his precious face.

“Y-yes.”

“To shoot a commercial for a new cologne?”

He nodded, his brows drawing closer. “How do you know?”

“Well, there’s no commercial, but there is a suite booked for three nights.”

His mouth fell open. “Daniel, you did not!”

I couldn’t stop the smile on my face from growing bigger until it hurt my cheeks.

“I might or might not have arranged a short vacation for us under the pretense of work.” Thanks to my ties, I managed to pull it off without arousing anyone’s suspicion. I told Claudia I was here for a car show, while Father was too busy with the new cocktail girl in his gentleman’s club to ask any further questions beyond where I was going. I knew lying to my entire family wasn’t ideal, to say the least, but despite what Elliot thought, I hadn’t come here for sex.

“I can’t believe it,” he whispered in a soft voice, and the look he had in his sapphire eyes was probably my biggest accomplishment. Yet.

“Well, you better, because we have a flight in the morning,” I said as I leaned back in the chair. “And thankfully, your new car will be waiting for us there.”

“My new car?” His eyes widened. “No… Daniel! You didn’t⁠—”

“If I came here for a car show, at the very least I had to buy a car to make it believable,” I tried defending myself when he shook his head.

“I don’t even have a driver’s license!”

“Really?” I frowned.

“Yes, really. Why would I need one?”

I scratched my jaw. “To drive around, obviously.”

Crossing his arms, he shrugged. “I have people to drive me around.”

My brows immediately snapped together. “What people?”

“All kinds of people.”

“What does that even mean⁠—”

My jealousy was cut off by our food arriving: my pasta and his soup.