Matched to a Billionaire(6)

This was it-the test of whether the makeover would stick or Dannie would fail.

With a deep breath, Dannie smiled. "It's beautiful, Leo. I'm very eager to learn my way around."

"Let me show you." He placed a hand at the small of her back as she   exited the car and kept it there, guiding and supporting, as they   ascended the stone steps to the front door. "Please think of this as   your home. Anything you want to change is open for discussion."

Anything. Except the arranged-marriage part.

It was ridiculous to even think that. But her wedding day felt so   anticlimactic. And disappointing. She shouldn't be wishing Leo would   sweep her up in his arms and carry her over the threshold, Rhett-style.   Or wishing they had a timeless romance.

The palm at her back signaled security. Not passion. A partnership based   on mutual affection was enough. Dannie was Leo's wife, not the love of   his life, and she didn't have the luxury of entertaining daydreams of   eventually being both.                       
       
           



       

Leo led her into the foyer. The interior of the house opened before her,   with soaring ceilings, twenty-foot windows and grand arches leading to   long hallways. It reminded her of a cathedral, beautiful and opulent.

The tour of her new home took close to thirty minutes. By the time Leo   concluded it in the kitchen, she was out of breath and ready to get   started on the first thing she wanted to change-her shoes. The house had   four flights of stairs.

Leo leaned a hip against the granite island in the center of the kitchen   and picked up a cell phone from the counter. "For you. The number is   written here, along with the alarm system security codes and the code   for wireless internet access."

She took the phone with numb fingers and stared at the glossy screen.   Her current cell phone was of the make-a-call-only variety. It would   take hours to figure out how this one worked. "Thank you. Is your phone   number written down, too?"

"I programmed it into your phone. Here's the user manual." He slid it   across the counter and stuck a hand in his pocket, casually, as though   they were a normal married couple chatting in the kitchen. "This model   has great planning features. Feel free to add things to my schedule as   needed. My admin's phone number is programmed in, as well. Mrs. Gordon.   She's eager to meet you."

He had an admin, one who knew him far better than Dannie did, like how   to make his coffee and whether he paced while on the phone or sat at his   desk.

Suddenly, she felt completely out of her depth. "Oh. All right. I'll contact her right away."

"The car and driver will be on call for as long as you like," he   continued, and his mellow voice soothed her nerves as he ticked off the   items on his mental list. His confidence and self-assurance were  potent.  "But please, take some time to visit a dealership and buy  yourself a  car. Whatever kind you like. You'll want the independence."

A car. Any car she wanted. She'd been hopping public transportation for   so long, she nearly swooned at the idea. Was there anything he hadn't   thought of? "That's very nice. Thank you."

But he wasn't finished waving his benevolence around. "I opened a bank   account for you. It will be replenished regularly, but if you find   yourself low, let me know. Spend it like it's your money, not mine."   From his pocket, he produced a shiny black credit card and handed it to   her. "No limit."

"Leo." He'd spun her around so many times now, she could hardly keep her   balance. The phone and credit card in her hands blurred as she blinked   back overwhelmed, appreciative tears. "This is all very generous. I'm   sorry if this is too forward, but I have to ask. Why would you do all   this and expect nothing in return?"

His dark eyebrows drew together in confusion. "I expect quite a bit in return, actually."

"I meant in the bedroom."

Leo went still.

Yeah, far too forward. But jeez, really? A no-limit credit card and he   didn't even want one conjugal visit a month? There was a punch line here   she didn't get and she'd prefer not to have it smack her in the face   later.

"Daniella..." Leo swallowed and she realized he was at a loss for words.

Why couldn't she keep her big mouth closed? She should have stuck to yes and thank you.

"I'm sorry," she said in a rush. "Forgive me. You've been nothing but kind and I have no right to question your motives."

The lines of his handsome face smoothed out and he held up a hand. "No   apology needed. I want to have a good relationship, where you feel like   we're equals. The best way to achieve that is to give you your own  money  and the power to do as you like with it."

She stared at him. Power. He'd been granting her power with these   gestures. The man she'd married was thoughtful, generous and very   insightful. This whole experience could have gone very differently.   Gratitude welled in her chest. "I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything." He smiled and it was as powerful as it   was comforting. "Remember, I'm going to be at the office a lot. You   should find a hobby or volunteer work to keep you busy. A car will come   in handy."

Implausibly, he was giving her the ability to entertain herself, when   her sole focus should be on him and his needs. "Won't I be busy with all   your social obligations?"

He waved it off. "That won't take one hundred percent of your time.   You're building a life here and when our paths cross, we should enjoy   each other's company. You can regale me with stories of the things   you're involved in."                       
       
           



       

Elise had coached her on this extensively. It was part of her role to   provide stimulating conversation for Leo's business associates. Who   better to practice with than her husband? After all, they were a married   couple having a chat in the kitchen. "That makes sense."

"Good." His eyes warmed, transforming him from movie-star handsome into something else entirely. Her breath caught.

If that's what happened to his eyes when he was pleased, she really wanted to see them stormy with desire.

She shook her head. They were talking about hobbies.

Leo took her hand, casually, as if he'd done it a thousand times. "I   don't want you to be disappointed by our marriage. In the past, it's   been a struggle to balance work and a relationship because the   expectations weren't clear from the beginning. Women in my circles tend   to demand attention I can't give them and I'm grateful we won't have   that issue."

The feel of her hand in his sparked all the way up her arm, unsettling   her. It was the only plausible excuse for why she blurted out, "You   couldn't find one woman besides me who was willing to forgive your   absence in exchange for a life of luxury?"

Her mother would have a coronary if she could hear Dannie being so   outspoken. But he'd said in the car they could discuss anything. She   hoped he meant it.

"Sure. But I wanted the right woman."

All at once, the reason he'd gone to a matchmaker seemed painfully   obvious. He'd tried to buy his way out of putting any effort into a   relationship and his previous girlfriends had told him to take a hike.   So to avoid a repetition, he bought a wife.

Her.

No wonder he'd been so adamant about honoring commitments. He didn't   want her to bail when she figured out she'd be all alone in this big   house from now on.

Gothic indeed.

"I see."

"Daniella." His gaze bored into hers, pleading with her to   believe...something. But what? "Neither of us have any illusions about   this marriage, and that's why it will work. I understand the drive for   security. I'm happy to provide it for you because it's a drive we   share."

She nodded and excused herself to unpack-and get some breathing room.   Security was important and she'd married a good, solid man who'd never   leave her like her father had. She just hadn't expected gratefulness for   that security to blossom into unexpected warmth toward the husband   who'd provided it. And who promised to never be around.

As she climbed the stairs to her room, she realized what his unspoken plea had been meant to communicate.

He needed her as much as she needed him.