The Playboy's Proposition(18)

"He's a big boy. He'll get over it."

"But you came for business purposes. Don't you want to talk with him?"

"Not tonight. I'll page the chauffeur to pick us up. It won't take but a  moment." He ushered her toward the front door and they collected her  wrap.

The limo appeared just as they walked down the front steps. Once inside,  she leaned her head against the back of the seat, closed her eyes and  sighed. He pulled an ice-cold bottle of water from the ice bucket,  lifted her hand and wrapped her fingers around the bottle.

She opened her eyes and blinked, then smiled. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. You want to tell me about you and Stephen now?" he asked. "You turned as white as a sheet when he showed up."

"I could remind you that you wouldn't tell me what was bothering you  that night you were sitting in the dark by the fire," she said.

"You could, but it wouldn't be wise," he said.

"So, you're allowed to have your touchy subject, but I'm not allowed to  have mine?" she countered. "You don't have to discuss yours. I don't  have to discuss mine."

Frustration stabbed at him. He wasn't accustomed to being pushed back  with such nonchalance. "You could have fainted. I should have had a  heads-up so I could take care of you."

"We have an arrangement, remember? You don't need to take care of me. You can't do anything about this anyway. No one can."

The despondence on her face ripped at him. "How do you know I can't do anything about it?"

Her eyes turned shiny with unshed tears. "Stephen and I were going to be  married. He fell in love with someone else and now he's going to marry  her." Her voice broke. "See? What could anyone do about that."

Michael stared at her, feeling a sick, sinking sensation in his gut. His  reaction surprised him. "You're still in love with him, aren't you?"

She closed her eyes and he watched as one telltale tear traveled down her cheek.

It shouldn't bother him. Their relationship was primarily physical. He  avoided emotional scenes like the plague. The fact, however, that the  woman who'd shared his bed for the last few weeks was in love with  another man bothered the hell out of him.

He lifted his hand to her face and rubbed his finger over her wet cheek.  He looked into her sad eyes. "He chose unwisely. Britney will drive him  up a tree with that shrill voice of hers."

Her lips twitched with a flash of humor then she closed her eyes again  releasing another tear. Filled with a crazy combination of emotions, he  pulled her into his arms. "If he gave you up, then he's not worthy of  you."

She took a shaky breath as if she were trying to compose herself. "Easy to say. My heart says something different."

"What does your heart say?"

She lifted her gaze to his. "He was the one."

He felt as if she'd stabbed him in the gut. His pride quickly rose in  defense. "If he was the one, if you were in love with him, why did you  agree to an affair with me?"

She looked away. "I'd already messed up my chance for my future, and I'd  let down my aunt by not being here when she was so ill. If I agreed to  your bargain, I could at least make things right for Charlotte."

"And desire had nothing to do with it," he said in disbelief. "You hated every minute you spent in my bed."

She bit her lip. "I didn't say that." She lifted her gaze reluctantly.  "I can't deny there's a strong passion between you and me, but I knew it  wasn't love."

He'd gotten exactly what he'd wanted. Her passion with no emotional complications. Why was it suddenly not enough?





Michael didn't sleep with her that night or the next. Bella wondered if  he'd changed his mind about her. About them. If he didn't want her  anymore. She felt a strange combination of relief and emptiness at his  absence.His passion had been so consuming she found it hard to breathe,  let alone think. Without him, she was left with her own thoughts and  feelings. Her own loss.                       
       
           



       

Running from her pain, she worked overtime at the spa to keep herself  busy. She went in early and left late wondering if Michael would abandon  his support of the spa since his interest in her had waned. He, too,  left the house early and didn't return until late. After the fourth  night of this routine, she decided to sleep at her apartment instead of  his house. Perhaps he wouldn't notice. Perhaps she would be able to  sleep better if she wasn't in the same house.

At ten o'clock, a knock sounded at her door. Startled, she muted the  basketball game she'd been half watching and ran to her door to look  through the peephole. Her heart dipped. Michael stood outside, and even  from this microview of him, she could see his impatience.

She opened the door.

"Why are you here?" he asked and strode inside, closing the door behind him.

"Um, well I've been working late at the spa and you've been working late, so I just thought I would sleep here tonight."

His gaze felt like a laser trained on her. "Is that all?"

She cleared her throat, finding his scrutiny nearly unbearable. "Well, we haven't really-" She swallowed.

He lifted an eyebrow. "Really what?"

"Um. Talked."

"You were very upset after the incident at The Essex House. I thought I should give you some time."

Surprised at his consideration, she stared. "Oh. That was thoughtful."

He shot her a wry half smile. "You sound shocked," he said, then waved  his hand when she opened her mouth to respond. "No need to defend  yourself. Mind if I stay awhile?"

Surprise after surprise. "Uh, no. Would you like something to drink? I don't have much," she quickly added.

"Beer?" he asked as he pulled off his leather jacket and sat down.

"Sorry, no. Water, juice and soda."

"Water's good." He looked at the TV. "You're watching the Hawks. How are they doing?"

Bella pulled two bottles of water from the refrigerator and put a bag of popcorn in the microwave. "You tell me."

"Up by five. Not bad. I didn't know you were a fan."

The microwave dinged and she poured the popcorn into a bowl. "I have a  new appreciation for Atlanta sports. I missed them when I was out of the  country."

He nodded. "Ever seen them live?"

She shook her head as she joined him on the sofa.

"I'll have to take you sometime," he said.

She almost asked why, but managed to stop herself. This was a different  side of Michael, one she'd glimpsed before that first night together  when the two of them had shared casual conversation and she hadn't known  what a workaholic he was. So much had happened since that night that it  now seemed ages ago.

They ate popcorn and watched the game. When it was over, Michael turned off the TV and met her gaze.

A familiar, but forbidden ripple of anticipation curled in her belly.  She'd seen that look in his eyes often enough to know what happened  next. He would take her to bed and for a short time make her forget  everything but the passion they shared.

Leaning closer and closer until his mouth took hers, he kissed her with a  lover's knowledge of what pleased her. Her body grew warm under his  caress. She wanted closer. She wanted more.

He deepened the kiss and she felt herself sinking, drinking in his taste  and scent, feeling the ripple of the muscles of his arms beneath her  fingertips. Her body buzzed with want.

He pulled away. She felt the tension inside him. Reluctance and need  emanated from him. His eyes glinted with passion. "I had a good time.  I'll see you tomorrow," he said and rose.

Bella watched in shock as he pulled on his jacket. Her knees still weak  from the promise of his passion, she stiffened them and stood.  "Tomorrow?" she echoed.

"Yeah, I'll call you. Lock the door behind me. Okay?"

She mutely nodded and watched him walk away. What was going on?





Michael called her the following day, but he didn't ask to see her. More  confused than ever, she stayed late again at the Spa."You should  leave," her aunt said. "You've been working too hard lately."

"No, I haven't," Bella said. "Business is booming and I'm here to make sure you don't work too hard."

"Well, you can only do inventory so many times before you wear the  labels off the products." Charlotte narrowed her eyes as she studied  her. "I haven't seen Michael the last few days."

Determined not to squirm beneath her aunt's scrutiny, Bella wandered to  the front desk and unnecessarily tidied it. "He's very busy. You know  he's always got a deal going."                       
       
           



       

"Hmm," Charlotte said and moved closer. "Are you still seeing each other?"