Hot Pursuit

Chapter 20

[Georgina's POV]

The shower and the soak in the tub were totally worth it and extremely satisfying. I neer even felt guilty having Kieran wait for me for much longer than what we had initially agreed on. And when we finally met again, this time at the lobby of the hotel where we didn't have to be alone anymore—thankfully—I was already prepared and completely composed to deal with him. I was starting to redeem my old self again. I was no longer driven away by my total weakness against his charms and the temptation. I just wanted to get this all done.

"So we're good now, right?" I confidently probed as soon as I settled myself across the table, staring back at those eyes that seemed to never even blink as he kept it glued on my face the entire time. I mentally took a note to always keep myself guarded around him. It was still too hard to read his face and know what was on his mind. He's definitely a good actor for concealing any emotion effectively. But I still wanted to challenge myself as I asked another question.

"Are we still going to keep this going, Mr. Locke?"

Upon my attempt to sound too business-like and assertive, Kieran finally let out a soft chuckle, the very first he had finally relaxed a bit since the moment he showed up on the front door of the hotel room this morning. I liked him better this way now, I realized. It was much easier to deal with a relaxed Kieran. And as he finally smiled in my direction, I found myself smiling back at him as well. Then he slowly took a deep breath and answered me after a moment.

"Are you even willing to do it all again, Miss Georgina?" the mischievous glint in his eyes was back again and I smirked at the way he reverted my question. It was the typical Kieran, alright. Really smooth and skillful with his words. He didn't seem to be unfazed anymore. So I took the challenge and dared to say the only thing I really wanted to get out of him from the very beginning.

"Have you ever been married, Mr. Locke?"

The question was definitely thrown out of the blue and I didn't even bat an eye at the moment I dropped it on him. I could quickly tell that Kieran did not expect to hear that at all because his face just froze and all the color drained out of his face. That was new and I almost wanted to laugh after seeing the guy completely shaken at least for once. I actually got him but he didn't seem to change his stance and kept his silence after that. Then slowly, his eyes lost the spark and it turned a little dark. His lips curved down and the look he gave me now was completely opposite from what he was just showing a few seconds ago.

He looked ominous that I started to feel thrilled over the thought that I struck a chord in him. I totally hit a target right there and he must be totally feeling nervous now. It was pretty obvious. But instead of starting to talk business with me, just like any other celebrities would have done to threaten and scare a sleazy columnist of a tabloid magazine like me, Kieran chose not to do something entirely unexpected.

"Do you really want to know more about me?" he probed on and this time, it was me who had been caught off guard as I felt my body tensed and my heart pounding in my chest. I could not really tell if he was still daring me back. Maybe this was still a trap for him to test out my limits as somebody who was too obsessive about getting every detail that I squeezed out of him. But I did not want to give in. I wanted to match his intimidating question, so I kept a placid face and took my time to think of a good comeback for him.

"I know your secret, Mr. Locke," I boldly revealed, trying to imitate the arrogant smirk on Kieran's face. And as soon as those words left my mouth, he went darker again. But this time, I guessed, Kieran was really showing his true colors beneath that perfectly charming face. If looks could kill, I would totally be beheaded now because that was how he was staring at me right after I said what I just said... And I think, this time, I really had crossed a line. But I did not want to take it back anymore. I was completely blinded by my own desire to get what I wanted. I knew that he was going to drive me away from stalking him again, and I no longer cared if he was not going to return my stuff anymore.

To hell with it... If I could get into his nerves this way and see more of what I could before we part ways for good, then he can take my camera and the drafts for all I care. I was already more interested in watching the way those emotions played on his face... I could just tell that those were all real this time and he was no longer trying to conceal it. If that did not count as something, I was not sure anymore what else would.

But it was definitely amusing to see him losing his cool now. Now, I just wanted to reel him in and get more of those cautious looks on his face. I wanted to see the real Kieran Locke behind the beautiful mask he kept wearing in front of people. I wanted to know what gets through him and somehow, as I finally figured the right words to say to finally get a good reaction from him...

I realized that the perfect actor was still just a human. He can still feel emotions and that was totally showing up right in front of my very eyes.