The Magnate's Manifesto(39)
Not helping.
Heat rushed to her face as he glanced up at her, and the night before slammed into her brain like an unavoidable fact. But this was cool and controlled Bailey in charge now. She could do this.
She sat down opposite him at the little table. His gaze traveled over her face. “Good morning.”
She tried to ignore how sexy and rusty his voice sounded before he’d put it to use for the day and muttered a greeting back. Refused to imagine how superhot it would be if she was still in his bed at this time of the morning, which of course she was not, because he’d walked out on her as though she was a communicable disease.
Not that she was bitter about it or anything.
She reached for the croissants, still warm from the oven, her fingers closing over one with chocolate oozing out of it. “Georgina outdid herself this morning.”
He gave the croissant a hard look. “I’ve been trying to figure out how they get the chocolate in the center.”
“You roll them this way.” She spread her napkin on the table and demonstrated.
He lifted a brow. “You’re handy in the kitchen, too. That’s a big turn-on.”
Apparently not when combined with her virgin status. She picked up a knife and sliced through the croissant with a vicious movement. “But then I would want to commandeer all your baking supplies at the homestead. How horrific…”
A smile edged his lips. “I knew you were going to look that up. And actually, Bailey, I love nothing more than when a woman cooks for me. As long as she shuts the door after her when she leaves.”
She closed her eyes against the oh-so-tempting vision of him with the chocolate pastry smeared all over his face.
“I don’t know if I can do this.”
“What? Live with me for another week?” His tone was overtly amused. “Feel free to speak openly.”
She shook her head. No. No thanks. She was not letting him draw her in again. He was a professional instigator—head and shoulders more skilled than her in that department. She picked up the coffeepot, poured herself a cup of the steaming brew and set the tall silver canister back on the table so it effectively blocked him from view. He reached out and slid it aside, laughter dancing in his eyes. “You think you can block me out with a coffeepot?”
“Not really.” She gave him an even look as she stirred milk into her coffee. “But what’s the alternative? We talk about last night?”
He shrugged. “At least you had some sort of relief. Me? It took a five-mile run this morning to work it out.”
Her already-hot face incinerated. “I am so not talking to you about this. In fact, I suggest we never reference it again.”
A wide smile curved his lips. “Fine. I’m just saying you aren’t the only cranky one this morning.”
Her eyes widened. “I’m not cranky.” Angry, more like it. “Reading the rest of your manifesto was a good wake-up call. Stupid me for thinking my virginity wouldn’t make a difference to a Lothario like you.”
His smile faded. “First, I think that’s an exaggeration. And second, there’s only one reason I walked away from you last night, Bailey. I don’t make promises I can’t keep. I don’t like taking women for a ride like some guys do. And if that makes me a jerk then so be it.”
“Who was asking you for a promise?” She shook her head in amazement. “You’re so caught up in yourself, in what you think you know about people, you haven’t got a clue, do you?”
He leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table, his gaze spearing hers. “Tell me you don’t want the full deal. A man who loves you. A diamond ring…everything that goes with it.”
She sank her teeth into her bottom lip, knowing he was sucking her in again but too stung to care. “You want the truth, Jared? I don’t know what love is. I’ve never had it so how would I? My parents kicked me out when I was seventeen…dancing pretty much ruined my trust in men…” She lifted her shoulders. “I’ve been fighting my own battles for so long, I’d settle for a man who respects me. A man who tells me the truth.” She angled her chin at him. “One who wants me for who I am.”
His lips tightened. “This is about my rules, Bailey. Not you. If you hadn’t been the last virgin on the face of the planet last night we’d be acting out my deepest, darkest fantasies about you—and believe me, I have many.”
Her breath caught in her throat, heat searing through her in a potent combination of lust and humiliation. “You are such a jerk, you know that?” She pulled in a breath and stared at the hard, uncompromising lines of his face. “You know what I think? I think your rules are a cop-out. Your parents’ marriage was a disaster so you think all relationships are like that. You avoid ties to anyone so you don’t have to face the reality of being in one yourself.” She lifted a brow. “I think you’re scared.”