Page 45 of Secret Bet

Chapter13

The momentthe limo door closed, the sound ricocheted through her. Belle folded her hands in her lap. She swallowed as he scooted closer to her. Silence clung in the air until the driver pressed on the gas. She tilted her head and saw how Peter stared at her. Her stomachmelted likebutter.

She held her hands firmer and asked, "Is what Jennifer said aboutyoutrue?"

His gaze narrowed. "What did she sayaboutme?"

No holding back. She rubbed the back of her neck. "She told me you have trust issues that keep you fromcommitting."

His eyes widened. "I don't think any woman should want to be with me long term. I'm prettydamaged."

This fit with what she thought, but she held her hands firm on her lap. "How can youthinkthat?"

He nodded. "Most people want the money I can provide for them. If it's not money, it's something else. Everyone has aprice."

"I don't believe that." Her price might be that she wanted a night she'd never forget. She licked her lips. "Even if it's true, how does that makeyoufeel?"

He lowered his gaze. "I don't want to talkaboutme."

Seduction had never been her thing, and they were in a limo. The driver had seemed nice, but he could hear her. She kept hervoicesoft.

"I do. I'm interested in you,Peter."

"Why?"

He brushed his hand against hers. "'Cause I act different with you. You make me feel something and Ilikeit."

She swallowedand tried toglanceaway.

Then he asked, "Did you intend to marry Colt because you feltsomethingtoo?"

Direct hit on his part. Her lips parted. "I almost married Colt because I trusted him. Like you, I don't trust many people, but once people prove themselves as honorable, Iopenup."

"How can you say that? He left you for anotherwoman?"

"But I knew he loved Victoriabefore we everdated."

His hand went on top of hers. Her heartbeat raced as he asked, "And you were okaywiththat?"

"We thought shewasdead."

These questions weren't going to lead her where she wanted to go. She swallowed. It wasn't wrong to want fun tonight and not haveexpectations.

She massaged her neck and said, "I thought he was grieving for someone he couldnever have again and that I could helphealhim."

His gaze narrowed. "So you tried tofixhim?"

She leaned forward and then rubbed his arm that held her. "I guess. I'm clearly not in love with him, if I am herewithyou."

His Adam's apple bobbed as he asked, "Areyousure?"

Her hands continued to stroke his arms. "During the ceremony, my eyes were glued on you. I don'tknow how much surer you want me to be. Now I've answered your questions. Can youanswermine?"

His skin grew goose bumps too. She kept that to herself. His gaze lowered, and he stared atherlips.

"Whatwasthat?"

Take me, right here, right now begged to be said. She opened her mouth, but then she asked, "How does people using you for money make you feel? Does that make youtrustless?"

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