the Billionaire’s Secret Desire(41)

to shut the door. He could see her hesitate but did as he asked.

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Lietha Wards

―We need to talk button.‖

―Max, I already told you—―

―Listen.‖ He said holding up his hand and walking toward

her. She took several steps back and he stopped, ―I‘m not going

to hurt you.‖

Too late for that she thought. She still couldn‘t get that

image of Cybil kissing him out of her mind. Every time she

thought of it she was sure her heart tore a little more.

He didn‘t take another step toward her after seeing her

expression, ―Lily, I want to take you to dinner tonight. Then we

can talk.‖

―I can‘t.‖ she said tilting her head up and looking at him.

It was hard. Those grey intelligent eyes of his could have

whittled away her courage instantly, but lately she seemed

number. At least she thought she was until the seconds passed

and she felt that familiar twinge in her chest. Obviously it was

visible on her expression for what he said next.

―I‘ve hurt you Lily, I can see that. Unfortunately that

wasn‘t my intent.‖ He said softly.

―I understand that Max. I really do.‖ She said honestly.

Seeing that she seemed a little less apprehensive, he took

a couple of steps toward her and took her hand, ―Dinner honey,

that‘s all.‖ He was glad she didn‘t step back this time.

―I really can‘t Max. I know you feel guilty, but we can‘t

change anything. I know I‘m not what you expected—―

―I tried telling you that you were wrong.‖ He said

narrowing his gaze. It stunned him that she could say that after

he reassured her, but again, he knew she had nothing to compare

him with and it was going to stay that way as far as he was

concerned.

She knew he was trying not to make her feel any worse,

but she still didn‘t want to discuss it and pulled her hand out of

his, ―I‘ll be all right.‖

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The Billionaire‘s Secret Desire



―You don‘t look all right Lily.‖ He suddenly noticed the

dark circles under her eyes and she looked a little pale. A twinge

of guilt hit him again.

―I am.‖ Her eyes gave him a pleading look, ―Just please

don‘t tell Luke.‖

―I haven‘t.‖ he answered looking down at her while

shoving his hands in the pockets of his slacks to resist the urge to

hold her. ―I won‘t.‖ He continued. His gut hurt over that. Luke

should know. He‘d never kept secrets from his best friend,

especially where Lily was concerned even though it was very

personal. He felt as if he betrayed him.

She nodded believing him before she opened the door

and left.

It still didn‘t heal his conscience, Lily looked terrible.

This was getting ridiculous. Why the hell shouldn‘t he have her

like he wanted? Luke knew his intentions from the start. Now,

Lily was suffering and it was eating him up with guilt that he

couldn‘t‘ tell her anything. He ran his hand through his hair

roughly and swore out loud feeling like he wanted to throw

something. For the first time in his life he didn‘t feel in control

over a woman. His biggest fear was her not returning the

affection he felt for her if he let this go on any longer. What if he

did carry it too far and hurt her more than she let on? He never

even considered that she didn‘t want him, but would he in her

position? First the brush off in Greece, then Cybil. Lily was

precious and he knew when she hurt, it ran deep.

The next day, her last day, he walked into the coffee room

fully intending on having it out with her after another sleepless

night when another woman‘s voice caught his attention. He

recognized it as Brittney‘s, one of his secretaries, but her tone

was completely condescending.

He paused right outside the door at her tone listening,

and got angrier with each passing second.

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Lietha Wards

―I heard from Nancy it was your last day,‖ came Brittney‘s

scornful voice, ―It‘s too bad you couldn‘t handle yourself around

a man like Max.‖

―It‘s not what you think.‖

Max heard the defeat in her voice and felt his chest

tighten. Was this going on for awhile? She neglected to tell him

about it. Knowing Lily it was because she was trying to prove

she could handle interoffice conflict. However, had he known,

Brittney wouldn‘t have lasted one more day. All along he was

worried about the men around her and neglected to realize that

some of his female employees were going to have a problem with

Lily. This was just one more thing she ended up dealing with.

―No? I think you‘re leaving because you aren‘t what a

man like Max is used to. Maybe you can‘t measure up in the

bed—―

―I think that‘s enough.‖ Max said stepping in at that