The Reluctant Bride (Arranged Marriage #1)(43)

He wasn’t with any of those other girls. He chose me.

It was straight out of a romance novel. Forbidden love. The older man teaching me everything he knew, treating me with such care.

I thought I was in love.

Until the morning I was in his class, starry eyed as usual while he lectured, shock coursing through me when a woman entered the classroom, walked right up to him and kissed him on the mouth. He announced she was his girlfriend, a helpless expression on his face when his gaze met mine. In that moment, everything inside of me just…

Died.

We never spoke again. Within twenty-four hours, I dropped out of school. Packed my things and returned home with my tail between my legs. I confessed everything to my mother, crying in her arms while she tried to console me. She promptly told my father, and he gave me a lecture about choosing wisely and not giving it up to the first man who showed interest in me. He made me feel so young and innocent and so unbelievably dumb.

I’ve been the family shame ever since.

And now here’s this man, acting like he might want to be my protector, though I don’t quite trust his motives. I hated how he made me feel Saturday night when he spotted the bruises on my arm, the shame that washed over me when he asked if my father did that. I almost fainted on the spot.

It’s a well-guarded secret, those few moments when my father has gone too far with his anger and hurt me. It’s something I’ve never talked about with anyone.

Ever.

It’s only happened a handful of times, but when he does get angry with me, it always leaves a lasting effect. If not a physical mark, he definitely messes me up mentally.

Meaning I’m pretty screwed up when it comes to men. Doesn’t help when your parents force you into an arranged marriage…

Perry’s expression hardens, his gaze stormy. “So you never think about him.”

I slowly shake my head. “Not really.”

“But you always bring him up.”

He’s all I have to compare Perry to, not that I want to admit that. “It was nothing.”

“If it was nothing, then why won’t you tell me this guy’s name?”

My spine stiffens. “It’s really none of your business. And why does it matter to you anyway?”

“If we’re going to be married, I should know about your past—involvements.” He hesitates for only a moment. “Don’t you want to know about me? And my past?”

“Not really, considering it’s all over the internet,” I remind him.

An irritated sound escapes him as he rubs at the back of his neck. “Has he ever tried to contact you?”

I frown. “Who?”

“Your French lover.”

“He was Irish,” I correct, my voice soft.

Perry’s expression tightens. “I hate this guy.”

“That makes two of us.”

His expression is thunderous as he watches me. He almost looks…jealous?

“You’ve got shitty men in your life.”

“My brothers aren’t so bad.”

“I don’t see them helping you out.”

“They have their own lives to lead. Their own reasons to escape our parents,” I say. “I don’t hold that against them.”

“I do. I think they’re assholes,” he spits out.

“They’re not so bad once you get to know them,” I say gently. Maybe Perry believes I’m not so bad once he gets to know me too? “Sometimes you can act like an asshole.”

“When?” he asks incredulously.

“At the engagement party, when you spotted the bruises.” What am I doing? It’s like I want to get a rise out of him. And from the anger I see flaring in his gaze, I’m fairly certain it’s working.

“Like I told you, I was trying to protect you.”

“Well, now you’ve got me. The two of us living in sin all alone in this gorgeous penthouse apartment.” I throw my arms out wide, indicating the room, the entire place. “You’re benefiting yet again.”

“I’m not benefiting from anything.” His voice is flat, his gaze going to the window.

I stare at his golden profile, trying to ignore the way my heart starts to race the longer I look at him.

He’s almost too pretty to be real.

“What do you mean, you’re not benefiting?”

“All that talk of sin doesn’t mean shit, since you won’t let me touch you.” His gaze finds mine once more and I go completely still at the flickering flame I see in his blue depths.

My mouth drops open and I ignore Doja when she makes her way toward me and winds her slinky body around my calves. “I assumed you didn’t want to touch me.”

It was all for show, right? He doesn’t like me, not really. Most men don’t.

“You know what happens when you assume.”

We’re both quiet, but I can feel something grow between us, until it steals all of the oxygen out of the room, making it difficult for me to breathe.

Awareness.

Of each other.

Dare I even think it’s mixed with a hint of…

Attraction?

No.

Yes?

Definitely.

He’s handsome, I can’t deny it. When we touch, sparks fly. When we kiss?