Maid for the Billionaire(32)

Abby waved the server over. This was going to require a fresh pot.





Chapter Thirteen





That evening, Dominic returned to the hotel suite, studied her face for a long moment, then glared at the quickly departing bodyguards. "You look tired," he said. She could have said the same thing about him, but her usual sarcastic retorts melted away beneath the sincere concern in his expression.



"I'm fine," she said, barely able to hold in Scott's betrayal and the decision she'd come to in the lounge.

"They let you do too much," he said gruffly as he loosened and removed his tie. He threw it on the back of one of the dining room chairs, covering it with the jacket he shrugged off with relief.

He walked toward her, eyes never wavering from hers. She wasn't sure if she closed the final distance between them or if he had. One moment they were looking at each other with pent up longing, the next she was crushed against his chest exchanging the welcome home kiss she'd always dreamt of. His lips asked then demanded. Hers opened and teased. He broke off the kiss and rested his forehead against hers with a ragged breath. "What did you do today?"

Abby shook her head to clear it. She couldn't think straight when he was so close. She knew she had to tell him, but how?

"I explored the Summer Palace gardens. The South Isle is beautiful," she said, stalling for time.

He held her back from him, forcing her to meet his eyes. "Scott should know better than to do so much on your first day."

"It was fine, Dominic," Abby said, trying to shake herself free of the cyclone of guilt that tore through her. How could she have doubted him? Of course he had to maintain a formidable image in the business world, but the man who was looking down at her with such tenderness had done nothing to make her fear him.

"I have something I need to tell you," she started and froze. The words wouldn't come out. What should she say first? Dom, I think the security you hired to watch me is actually watching you. Or should she lead with the business side? I realize you think negotiations are going well, Dom, and although I know relatively nothing about your business—I'm meeting with a major player tomorrow to see if I can help you.

Caving to her nerves, she hedged, "I won at poker."

That made Dominic smile. He ran his thumb gently over her chin and said, "I never doubted you for a minute."

Abby wished with all her might that she could say the same to him. She'd let the situation and her overactive imagination bring her to the brink of panic all day. Now was the perfect time to set all those ridiculous fears aside and just say what needed to be said. "Dominic…" she started, but forgot what she was saying when he breathed in the scent of her hair as if it were something he'd waited all day to do. All coherent thought left when his hands moved across her body with all the gentleness of a concerned lover.#p#分页标题#e#

"It's ok if you're too tired," he whispered into her ear, "but I need to hold you."

She could always tell him tomorrow morning.

He carried her to the lounger, sat with her sideways across his lap and tucked her head beneath his chin. She wrapped her arms around his center and let the steady beat of his heart sooth her.

This was the Dominic she'd glimpsed during their first meeting. His gray eyes were darkened with the weight of his thoughts. She hugged him closer, searching for words that would relieve some of his burden rather than add to it.

"Is it going that badly?" she asked against the silk of his shirt.

Dominic returned her hug, sighing into her hair. "The negotiations? No, I'm not worried about those. When it comes to business, I've got the Midas touch. It's just everywhere else that I fail."

Abby raised her head and simply waited, glad that she had held her tongue. He was opening up to her in a way she hadn't dared dream he would. She knew this probably wasn't forever, but she also knew it would certainly come to an abrupt end as soon as she shared her news.

Dominic stared at the wall behind her as if meeting her eyes was too difficult of a task as he admitted, "Nicole claims she has a plan to break my father's will, but she won't say what it is. She says she'd rather lose it all than let me help her."

"She sounds a lot like you." Abby shared her realization softly, instantly finding those dark gray eyes riveted to hers. She raised a hand to smooth the tension that was evident in his jaw. "She's proud, Dominic, and she's hurting. What would you have done if the roles were reversed?"

A hint of a sad smile pursed his lips. "I would have thrown the offer back in my face and started my own company."

"Like you did with your father?" she asked.