The Billionaire‘s Secret Desire(6)

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