SHE PRETENDED TO BE A BAD GIRL TO ESCAPE A BLIND DATE — BUT THE MAFIA BOSS SAW THROUGH HER IN MINUTES

looked tired.

Focused.

Dangerous.

Present.

He did not charm her into calm.

He told the truth and waited for her to decide what to do with it.

“Why gardenias?” she asked suddenly.

The question surprised them both.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

He held her gaze.

“Because you talked about them like they mattered.”

“That is not an answer men like you usually give.”

“No,” continue reading …