The Playboy's Proposition(10)

"Four something," she said, aghast. "After the night we-" She paused and  lowered her voice. "We had you get up at four in the morning?"

"Well, I didn't walk a mile in the rain," he pointed out, amused by the  consternation on her face. "But I don't require a lot of sleep," he said  and walked toward her, giving into the urge to slide his fingers over  her hair. Soft hair, soft body, mysterious eyes that tugged at something  deep inside him.

She met his gaze and pressed her lips together. "Oh, well, heaven help  me then. I have to tell you that I'm not accustomed to the degree and  amount and-" She shook her head.                       
       
           



       

"Don't worry. You'll get used to it," he joked. He glanced at his watch.  "I need to go. Make yourself at home. The staff will be happy to  prepare anything you want to eat. Here is the key to a new Lexus. I  think you'll find it reliable," he said and lifted her hand to press the  key into her palm.

"I told you I don't want a new car," she said.

Her resistance amused him. Most women he'd dated would have been  thrilled to receive a new car. In fact, a few had hinted that a luxury  vehicle would be the perfect gift for any occasion. The only thing  better, of course, would have been an engagement ring, and that would  never have happened. "I've leased it for you. Since yours is in the  shop, you need something to drive. Oh, and I'd like for you to move in."

He turned and walked toward the door.

"I don't think that's a good idea," she said as his hand touched the doorknob.

Surprised by her response, he turned around. "Why not?"

"Because then people might find out that we're involved. I don't want to have to explain our arrangement."

He felt a crackle of impatience. "I make it a policy to never explain myself."

"Yeah, well, I'm not you. Aunt Charlotte will expect an explanation from  me. I never know when she'll start with her mother hen routine, even  now."

Irritation nicked at him. "We'll see," he said, turning around to look  at her. "In the meantime, bring some of your clothes and belongings here  for convenience sake."

"Do you order everyone around like this?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I'm decisive. I see a logical course of action and take it," he said.

"Part of your charm?" she said, a gently mocking smile playing on her lips. "What's logical about your arrangement with me?"

"I want you, and you might not want to admit it, but you want me, too. I  just figured out a way to make it happen," he said, still uncomfortable  with the intensity of his desire for her and the way she affected him.  He had broken some of his rules to get her out of his system. He knew  his response to her wouldn't last. Nothing was forever.





Since Bella was scheduled off from the restaurant, she went to her  aunt's house to begin getting ready for the grand reopening. Michael had  mapped out an action plan with a target date just weeks away. Inventory  needed to be ordered immediately and Charlotte would want to hire  staff. Bella also needed to organize customer records so they could send  out a mailing. Michael had suggested several customer incentives.His  ability to detach himself emotionally bothered her. Sure, he possessed  enormous insight and experience and knew how to make things happen, but  she wondered how someone who seemed so cold one moment could be so hot  the next.

Her skin grew warm at the memory of how passionate he'd been, how  passionate she'd been. She knew his difficult childhood had made him  determined not to be vulnerable, but Bella didn't believe such a thing  was possible.

Pushing aside her thoughts, she dug into her tasks. Hours later, she heard the sound of the side door opening.

Charlotte looked at Bella in surprise. "It's you. I wondered whose car that was. A Lexus? Did you win the lottery?"

Bella's cheeks heated. One more reason she should have refused the use  of the car. "Lucky break," she said. "My Volkswagen broke down last  night. The car I'm using is a rental."

"Lucky break, indeed," Charlotte said. "Enjoy it while you can. What are you working on?"

"I was going to do an inventory order list, but I thought I should check with you first," Bella said.

"Good thinking," Charlotte said. "I made one last night."

Concern rushed through her. She searched Charlotte's face for signs of  weariness, but all she saw was a glow of anticipation. "You're still  working your other job. I'm afraid you're doing too much."

Charlotte smiled. "I'm too excited to sit still. I thought I'd lost my chance. I can't wait to get everything ready to go."

Bella laughed and shook her head. "Force yourself to sit still every now  and then, starting now." She led her aunt to a chair and urged her to  take a seat. "Let me get you some water."



"But I don't need-"

"Yes you do," Bella insisted. "Don't try to do everything at once. I'm  here to help you. Remember? Speaking of which, I've been working on a  customer mailing list.""Perfect," she said. "And I called a few of my  former employees to ask if they could give me some quality employee  recommendations and two of them said they wanted to come back to work  for me."                       
       
           



       

"Wow, you're moving right along," Bella said, pleased with her aunt's sunny outlook.

"I am," Charlotte said. "Plus, I have an idea for providing a few men's  services. We can give them Sport manicures and pedicures and carry  sports magazines and The Wall Street Journal."

"That's a great idea."

"And who knows? Maybe you'll end up going out with one of the men who  come into the Spa," Charlotte said, throwing Bella a meaningful glance.

Bella immediately shook her head. "Oh, no. I'm not interested in dating right now." Or maybe ever.

"Bella, I know you were terribly hurt when you and Stephen broke up, but you can't stop living."

"I'm still living," Bella said. "I'm just not interested in going down  that road. I know I'll never feel the way I did for Stephen about  another man."

"You're too young to say that," Charlotte chided.

"You always said I had an old soul," Bella returned.

Charlotte pursed her lips. "I can see I'm going to need to open your eyes to all the other fish in the sea out there."

Bella shook her head again, cringing at the note of determination in her  aunt's voice. Bella absolutely didn't want her romantic status on her  aunt's radar at all. "Your mission is to stay healthy, be happy and get  the spa off the ground."

"We'll see," Charlotte said.

Bella frowned. That was the second time today she'd heard those words.





That night, Bella joined Michael for dinner in the den again. "I really  need to get my VW back," she said, pushing the gourmet meal around her  plate. She felt nervous around Michael. Hyperaware of his strength and  mental prowess, she found being the subject of his undivided attention  disturbing."Why? The Lexus is much more dependable."

"When my aunt saw it, she asked me if I'd won the lottery."

Irritation crossed his face. "Can't you just tell her you decided to lease it?"

"Not on a waitress's salary," she said.

"I could give her one, too and tell her it's part of her compensation package," he mused.

So they would be even more in his debt? Bella choked. "I don't think that's necessary. I'll be happy to get my VW back."

"I'll get it back for you with the understanding that if it becomes  unreliable again, it will be replaced. And if it breaks down, you're to  call the emergency number I gave you."

"Okay," she said, because she would make sure the VW didn't break down  again. "Now if I can just keep her focused on the spa and not  matchmaking for me, then maybe-"

"Matchmaking," he echoed. "Why?"

"When my aunt isn't sick, she's a force to be reckoned with. If she  decides I should be dating, then she'll do everything possible to make  sure I am."

"Interfering family members. I've never had that. My brothers and I  hassle each other every now and then, but we wouldn't interfere." He  took a drink from his beer. "Go ahead and tell her you're involved with  me."

"Absolutely not. She would freak out if she knew this deal was dependent  on you and me … " She cleared her throat. "Besides, you agreed that we  would keep it-"

Michael's cell phone rang, interrupting her tirade. He glanced at the  caller ID and his expression turned odd. "I need to take this," he said  and rose. "Dan, you have some information about Leo?"