Page 14 of Nothing to Win

“You take care of her?Ten years later?”

“Spurn men take care of their women,” he said.“You’ll want for nothing as long as you’re with me.”

That wasn’t her point.His distraction perhaps confused her intent.Long may it last, the more information she could glean, the better.

“Is that why Spurn men don’t get married?”she asked.No, nope, that got his attention.Darnit.No going back now.“You have mistresses and girlfriends, but you don’t get married.Your father didn’t marry your mother.”

The server came back and poured their wine as another brought their food.Once the men were gone, she spread her linen napkin on her lap.

“One of the few men who didn’t.”Was that a joke or a pathology?Spurn spoke again, “We take care of the women we care about… but we’re not interested in signing over half our hard work.Business takes precedence over everything else.”

Understanding raised her chin.“You spoil them but fear divorce.”

“Divorce is the inevitable end of any marriage,” he said.“There’s no logical purpose to it.”

Keeping themselves separate in law from the women they were sleeping with allowed them to protect their assets.Most important of which: Spurn Global.

“My parents have been happily married for thirty-five years.”

His lips twisted, damming obvious amusement.“They’ve been married for thirty-five years maybe.How do you know it’s a happy marriage?”

A kneejerk reaction demanded she defend her family.Yet… her mind was blank.How did she know?Her parents didn’t scream abuse at each other or cry themselves to sleep, as far as she was aware.Though, opposing that, she also didn’t see them laugh together or sharing intimate moments.

Best to redirect conversation.“Is that what you fear?Being unhappy?”

“If I married, it would be a business decision, not a personal one,” he said.“I see no reason to marry for personal reasons.”

“As long as she’s opening her legs for you, there’s no need to commit.”

That was abrupt.Brazen.Completely unlike her.The wine was potent.

Didn’t chink his armor.Spurn’s expression gave nothing away.He excelled at stoic.

“Commitment can be made without pen being put to paper,” he said.“Haven’t you and I made a commitment to each other in the deal that we made?”Though they had put pen to paper, their contract wasn’t quite the same thing as marriage.“Your friend gets her funds, you do as you’re told.”

While he appeared to enjoy his meal, she barely touched hers.Forcing herself to take a bite, she couldn’t deny that the food was good, but his last sentence roused a pertinent subject.

“What exactly will that entail?”

“What?”

“Doing as I’m told,” she said.“It implies instructions will be given.”A question mark loomed large.“Will they be about… sex?”

And why on earth did that draw her belly closer to her spine?Did more than that somewhere else, but that was the last thing she’d confess to anyone, including herself.

Another smirk.“You think the only instructions a man can give a woman are sexual?”

Pacing herself, she took another bite.“I think you have similar views on relationships to my father.”That slowed his chewing.“Bet you never thought you’d have anything in common with him.”

He swallowed.“I’d be interested why you made the comparison.”

“You have old-fashioned views,” she said.Meal choosing aside.“You believe in taking care of your girlfriend, like it’s your role as the male to be a provider.Okay, maybe, you don’t believe in marriage, but—”

“I didn’t say I didn’t believe in it,” he said.“It doesn’t suit my lifestyle.If I were in a less… privileged position, I would consider it.”

Or for business reasons.If he found a woman with more to lose than him, she’d bet he’d consider marrying her.This guy was a… hmm, language eluded her.

Given he still supported his father’s mistress, he wasn’t completely heartless and must have some kind of sentiment.