The Billionaire's Secrets(5)

He relinquished his hold on the glass, and she stepped back as if to  remove herself from the field of magnetism, daring to meet his eyes. He  was looking back at her with a somewhat triumphant gleam in his eye, as  if he had just proved something. She wondered what. She turned away and  studied the photographs on the wall over the mantel. They were nature  photographs, with whales, birds, and icebergs as the main subjects. They  were excellent, and she was surprised to see they were signed G. Byrne.  These photographs showed a sensitive side to Gaelan Byrne that he  didn't seem to care to show any other way.

Gaelan moved to his desk and picked up the receiver of his phone to  check his messages. He only half listened to them, most of his mind  concentrating on Chloe, who was still watching the fire. Or at least  pretending to. He knew she was thinking about something else entirely.  He had felt it only moments before, as he handed her the Scotch-felt it  himself, too. The unmistakable tug of attraction.         

     



 

She certainly is beautiful, he thought. Not in the glamorous model way  like Colleen, but in a more classic way, like a Victorian painting, all  soft, enticing curves. Made him wonder if he shouldn't just go for it-a  teacher for Sophia, a mistress for himself.

It wasn't natural, this self-imposed celibacy. He missed the feel of a  woman's body beneath his hands and the touch of her lips on his skin . .  . Damn, he thought as his body started to react to these erotic  thoughts. If only it were that easy. He remembered his attraction to  Colleen. It had seemed so easy then, too-no premonition of the horrors  to come.

The last message was from Marcus. "Just checking my book, Gaelan. I made  a mistake. Sophia's new teacher arrived in Newfoundland today. I don't  know how I got the dates mixed up. I hope she's not still standing at  the airport." There was a pause, and Gaelan heard the smile in his  friend's voice as he continued. "I know she's not quite what you're  expecting, but she'll be perfect for you both. Talk to you soon."

Christ, Gaelan thought. He was going to kill Marcus! But first he had to  get rid of this gold digger. And he had to do it quickly. Already  Sophia was head over heels in love with her. How the hell had she pulled  that off so quickly? He knew he wasn't the greatest father to Sophia,  but he damn sure wasn't going to allow her heart to get broken again.