sarcasm. Why was it when it came to Chance, he brought out
such uncontrollable emotions in me?
“He didn't force me, no,” said Chance lightly, with a
wry smile that made it clear he knew just how much his
words were getting to me. Despite his smile, his gaze fell on
my gym clothes still a few sizes too small for me. Under his
gaze, I became acutely aware of how little to the imagination
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and unforgiving my outfit was. I gritted my teeth and made
a mental note to get gym clothes that fit me comfortably,
soon.
“She’s probably just in the locker room,” I said.
“Don't worry, Miss Evers,” he smirked. “You can
dance with me again too, if you want.” He came up close to
me as if he was about to dance with me. We were so close,
not touching, yet each aching to touch. I bit my lip, while he
watched me intently with those icy blue eyes that seemed to
cut straight through me to see me as I am. It was unnerving.
It was exhilarating. It was impossible.
“I'm fine,” I said. “I can manage without. And the
name's Mac.”
“Very well, Miss Evers,” he said so smoothly in that
gentle and subtle British accent of his that it was
infuriatingly arrogant, but sexy at the same time. His lips
curled into a smile as beautiful as it was maddening, and my
cheeks burned with rage mingled with desire. It wasn't fair,
I thought bitterly to myself. I’ve had boys come onto me
before back on Angel Island, but I have always handled them
well. Being with Chance was throwing me off my game.
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Why were all the good-looking ones such jerks?
“Mac,” I said again through gritted teeth.
“Oh, no, I wouldn't dare!” His voice was gently
sarcastic, almost like a caress. “It wouldn't be proper. I went
to Eton, you know. We never addressed one another by our
first names. It simply wasn't done. Nanny would have been
scandalized to think I would dare to do such a thing. Of
course, she had her heyday sometime around the coronation
of Queen Victoria, so perhaps her methods are a tad
outdated.”
Now I knew he was trying to get to me. He could be
telling me to go effing off, as the Brits would say, and it
would still sound like sweet whispers in my ear. Chance
Cutter was not only lethal in looks, but his soothe and sexy
low voice was like a sword slathered in honey. Damn he was
so sexy, even his insults heated me up.
“Well, Mr. Cutter,” I said, swallowing down my
annoyance. “I'm sure Nanny would think you behaved like
an absolutely perfect gentleman last night.”
“Nanny would know,” he grinned a cocky grin at me.
“Father never bothered to visit me up at Eton, so it was really
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just her outside of term-time. She used to make me scones,
you know. Don't you just love scones, Miss Evers? I love
wrapping my mouth on one, licking the cream off it, and
swallowing cream.” His eyes burned into mine as he stared
at my mouth.
And with that, he turned on his heel and began to
stride off.
All at once, stupidly, I wanted to run after him, to talk
to him again, to try and make a fresh start. He was after all,
the son of my mother’s new boss. And Antonio Cutter did
say he wanted me to try to become friends with Chance.
“Wait!” I caught up to him, then stumbled a little and
ended up in his arms. I felt again that same sizzling desire
that had overtaken me last night.
Chance noticed it too. His face – so much more
painfully beautiful up close – was overtaken by shock.
For one brief moment, the shock was enough for me
to see the fleeting look of longing in his intense blue eyes as
he took a rapid step back.
“I have to go, Miss Evers.”
And before I could say anything, shame and
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embarrassment flooding over me, Chance vanished into the
locker room.
I was left standing there, my face flushed, and my
heart pounding like the beat of the luau drum. I could
remember the flames of last night flickering around Chance
and I as we danced, encasing us in a curtain of red and orange
warmth. There exist no barriers between us, just our raw
emotions, as the beat of the dance carried on. At that
moment, although I had just met him, I felt an eternity of
love, loss, and passion flood through me. He infuriated me,
but I still wanted him.
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Chapter 6
By the time I came home from school that evening,
I was exhausted. I'd had five classes that day, and in that time
my bookbag had been
