Read Online Pride & Pleasure (The KNIGHT Brothers Book 1) by Rhonda Lee Carver - Free Book Online

with the napkin, he sat back in the chair as she pushed her empty plate away from her. “Thoughts?”
    She shrugged. “I really enjoyed it, yet I wonder how your cook managed to get the salmon rolled up like that. I’m used to having crepes with fruit, like blueberries and strawberries.” He laughed and her cheeks turned a darker shade of pink. “That’s not what you were asking, is it?”
    “Although I find your take on the crepes interesting, honestly, no I wasn’t. I meant deeper thoughts. How you’re feeling about being here. Hopefully more comfortable.”
    Her mouth came open at the same time the kitchen door with Max bringing them their next dish. He placed a plate in front of each of them and quickly disappeared with their empty appetizer plates.
    “As you were saying?” Victor urged.
    “Truthfully, I’m still a little stunned that I’m here, with the Victor Knight, having salmon rolled up in crepes.” Her voice was breathy as if her heart was beating fast and her lungs worked harder. She lifted her ice water to her lips and drank thirstily. Yeah, she was definitely nervous.
    “You talk as if I’m a celebrity. I assure you, that’s far from the truth.”
    “If you say so, but you certainly have ended up in social media a lot lately.”
    “They’ll print anything these days,” he said.
    Her gaze narrowed. “So, it’s not the truth that you’re engaged to Selena, the model?”
    He almost choked on his wine. “Nothing could be further from the truth. I don’t want a relationship, any more than Selena does.”
    “You’ve been together a long time. Isn’t that the natural progression of two people seeing each other?”
    “No. Do you have a boyfriend?” The question rolled off his tongue easily.
    “What?” She worked her bottom lip, licking off some of the lip tint.
    “A boyfriend. A man, or possibly a woman, who you are romantically involved with?”
    Her cheeks were now the same color as the red vase in the middle of the table. She swallowed. “I-I don’t see what that has to do with anything,” she said softly.
    “I think it does. Most men wouldn’t want their partner spending the weekend with another man.”
    She blew out a long breath. “I’m not spending the weekend with you, Mr.—uhh, Victor. I’m here to play.” She must have realized how her words could have been mistaken as something naughty because she gave her head a quick shake. “I mean, play for your dinner party.”
    “Are you trying to keep from answering my question?”
    “Fine. I don’t have a boyfriend, or girlfriend, at least not in a romantic sense.” She took her fork and held it above her dish. “And this is…?”
    “Rack of lamb with roasted potatoes.” He pierced one of the potatoes with his fork and ate it, all while wondering why in the hell he’d asked her a personal question. He was interested. He was crossing the lines he’d placed on himself, but what else could they talk about? He had a feeling she had no clue how yeast helped grapes grow, or how grapes were turned into wine. “Are you sure you don’t want a glass of wine?”
    “I’m sure. Why don’t you want a girlfriend?”
    He cocked his chin. “I’m not the relationship type.”
    “That surprises me.” She cut into her lamb, brought it to her mouth and chewed.
    “And why is that?” He wanted to look away, but he couldn’t.
    “Rich, available, smart, and educated. Isn’t that what women want?” She dropped a piece of potato at the corner of her mouth and she licked it clean. His gut clenched. He didn’t like this, not one bit.
    ****
    Avary shifted in her seat. Victor seemed calm and collected while every cell in her body quivered under his scrutiny, reminding her of how she felt in high school when she was gawky and uncoordinated. ‘Tripping’ became her middle name. She swallowed a bite of lamb, and even though it was moist and delicious, it stuck in her throat. Drinking water to push it down into her esophagus, she