Her Enemy With Benefits: Her Deal with the Devil / My Boyfriend and Other Enemies / Blind Date Rivals

Not that he’d been subjected to any from his folks. They preferred to let their silent disapproval do the talking.

‘I used to envy you.’ She snuggled into her seat and cupped her hands around her glass. ‘Not having parents looking over your shoulder all the time.’

‘They would’ve had to care to do that,’ he blurted, instantly regretting his blunt response when her eyes widened in surprise.

‘You didn’t get along?’

He shrugged, wishing he’d kept his big mouth shut, trying to play down his obvious resentment after that clanger.

‘I was a late arrival—a mid-life mistake. They had a burgeoning business and self-sufficient teenagers when I arrived. The rest is self-explanatory.’

Her pity was palpable. ‘So you didn’t spend much time together as a family?’

‘Try none.’ This time he managed to keep the acrimony out of his voice. ‘But, hey, as you said, I got to spend my last years of school parent-free. Lucky me.’

Then why did he feel so unlucky?

‘Bet they’re glad you’re all making up for lost time now.’

He grunted in response. Enough with discussing families, already. ‘Another drink?’

Thankfully she let him change the subject.

‘I haven’t finished this one yet.’ She glanced at the half-empty glass in her hand and raised an eyebrow. ‘Are you trying to get me drunk so you can take advantage of me?’

He winked. ‘Newsflash, sweetheart. I don’t need you tipsy to do that.’

‘Good point.’ Her eyes darkened to midnight as the tip of her tongue swept along her bottom lip, eliciting an instant tightening in the vicinity of his groin.

‘I need a refill,’ he said, also needing to get this evening back onto light-hearted ground. ‘Maybe you can take advantage of me?’

She laughed. ‘Keep wishing.’

As they continued their banter while feasting on delicious dips and breads, flirting outrageously, Patrick couldn’t dismiss the niggling feeling he’d be missing out on something great when he followed his dream in Europe.

And for the first time ever he wondered if it was worth it.

CHAPTER EIGHT (#ulink_95533b70-0c85-5f82-a165-45c7202e74a8)

SAPPHIE WASN’T IMAGINING the deep freeze.