confident virile grace.
Just thinking about that day sent an odd heat low in her
pelvis. How could that happen so easily with him? Never did an
image illicit such a physical response like it did with Max. She
sighed heavily. She was hopeless.
―I could offer David a job, if you like, and then you could
spend the summer together.‖ He said cutting off her thoughts.
If it weren‘t for the teasing look in his eyes, she would
have blasted him for such a suggestion after what she‘d just told
him, ―Yeah, sure.‖
―Then I could fire him because he wasn‘t as good as you.
Revenge can be sweet.‖
She actually laughed, ―You really would wouldn‘t you?‖
―Of course.‖ He gave her a lopsided grin, ―Anything for
you button.‖
She had to force herself to breathe after that statement,
―As mad as I am at him, I just couldn‘t subject him to that. I
would feel too guilty.‖ If he says button one more time in that
deep voice, I’m going to faint, she thought.
13
Lietha Wards
―Ah, there‘s the sweet Lily I know.‖ He flashed her
another smile and his eyes went to her mouth again.
Sweet? Blood rushed into her cheeks at his flattering
tone, ―Okay…enough.‖ She held up her hand in surrender
causing him to chuckle.
About ten minutes passed before she found her voice
again, ―Is it true that you‘re dating that model Cybil Dawn?‖ He
gave her an unreadable expression.
―Dating, yes.‖ His eyes roved over her with his expression
not giving anything away, ―Why?‖
―She‘s not your type.‖ She heard herself say wishing she‘d
just kept her mouth shut.
He chuckled, ―No? Then what is my type honey?‖
She shrugged trying to hide the shiver that just ran
through her, doing her best on trying to act indifferent,
―Someone who is down to earth, yet challenges you enough to
keep you on your toes. ― She cleared her throat, ―You know,
someone who‘s witty—― she nearly said intelligent, but that was
an unfair judgement because she didn‘t know Cybil and for all
she knew the woman had a two hundred I.Q.
―How do you know she doesn‘t?‖ he said casting a careful
look in her direction searching her expression for a betrayal of
her indifferent tone. It was subtle, but he did see it. Her eyes
glanced off of him and he didn‘t miss the vulnerability that was
displayed in them. A sense of satisfaction washed through him.
―She‘s a model.‖ She said nonchalantly.
―There‘s the stereotype.‖ He gave her a slanted grin, ―And
you‘re one to talk. Didn‘t you get offered a modelling job?‖
―That‘s different and I turned it down.‖ She cast him a shy
sideways glance. It was embarrassing to be categorized along
with the women he‘d dated. She‘d met quite a few of them over
the years and they were mostly shallow and self absorbed. She
never understood why an intelligent man like him was interested
14
The Billionaire‘s Secret Desire
in them. Years later, she began to understand that it wasn‘t their
intelligence he was after. Yet, to know that he desired women
like that made her feel insignificant modelling offer or not. There
was no way on God‘s green earth that she could compete with
those women.
―Turned it down? I thought Luke threatened to disown
you.‖ He offered watching her cheeks pink up.
―Oh God….he told you?‖ She groaned. ―Just the same I
turned it down. Luke said that lifestyle would ruin me. Geez,
don‘t you guys keep secrets?‖
―Luke‘s right.‖ He added, ―And no, he‘s my best friend.‖
It was actually Max that told Luke not to allow Lily to go into
modelling. Luke was almost willing to let her do it until Max
reminded him of the lifestyle. Both of them had extensive
experience in dating women like that and he didn‘t want Lily to
be ruined. She was special to him. More than she knew.
―Regardless, you‘re one to talk. You‘re dating a model.‖
She defended, ―And you tell me I shouldn‘t choose that career.‖
He grinned, ―That‘s different. I didn‘t know her before
she was a model. What I see is what I got. With you, it would
destroy that sweet quality you have.‖
She stared at him, sweet, he thought she was sweet? He‘s
said it moments ago, but hearing it twice made her catch her
breath. Max was always good to her, but he never really
complimented her before.
―And then there‘s the dieting, the late nights, long
hours…‖
―Dating rich fabulously handsome men like you…‖ she
added without thinking. She held her breath hoping he didn‘t
hear her, but he caught it.
―Handsome?‖ his eyes glittered when he tossed her a