“Nobody’s perfect.”
He snorted with a skeptical look. “Someone who looks like you can’t say that when you’re a shining example that perfection actually exists.”
I was well aware of the fact that I was handsome, but I still loved hearing him say it. “Merci, but there is more to me than meets the eye.”
“Sorry, but from where I’m sitting, you’re flawless.”
Normally, I would make witty quips about being the ideal lover, but for some strange reason, I felt I owed him the truth. “I’m playful by nature, which leads most people to assume I can never be serious. They’re content with accepting me at face value, so no one tries to see the real me beyond that. It’s a defense mechanism designed to stop people from getting close enough to hurt me.”
His expression became sympathetic but was without pity. “Wow, I wasn’t expecting a genuine answer. I figured you’d say something like you’re so beautiful, it’s a massive inconvenience to have people throwing themselves at you all the time.”
“That would be a typical answer from me. But to someone like you who sees beauty in how the scars from the past heal, I could only tell you the truth.” I sipped my drink. “Congratulations. You’re only the second person in the world to know the real me.”
“Is the other your friend you work for?”
“Indeed.” Since my unrequited boyhood crush on Arsène had broken my heart when I was young, I had made it a point to live free of any emotional entanglements that might ruin my pursuit of pleasure. I had come to peace with the past years ago and moved beyond my feelings for him to allow our friendship to continue. It was obvious to me now that he was never mine; he was made for Felix to love. Their relationship was a testament to how wonderful romance could be sometimes. I was happy for both of them that they had found each other.
Zio looked down in embarrassment. “Sorry, I wasn’t trying to be a jerk. It must suck to have everyone put you on an untouchable pedestal because you’re too pretty to be real.”
I reached over to tip his chin up with my crooked finger. “You’re welcome to touch me. In fact, I encourage it.”
His breathing hitched as he looked at me with wide eyes. “Are you talking literally or metaphorically?”
“Oui.” I could only hope he would take me up on my offer. He was too intriguing not to get to know better.
