for work. There is only skeleton staff there on Saturday so she
can take some time and show you the ropes and my expectations.
I‘ll pick you up tomorrow at seven-thirty.‖
―Oh.‖ She said understanding what he meant and was
actually thankful for his consideration. She could only imagine
what it was like around there on a Monday.
He looked up at the building through the windshield,
―You sure you want to stay here by yourself? I have several spare
rooms at my place.‖
And interfere with your love life? No thanks. She
thought, ―I‘ll be fine. When‘s Luke due home again?‖ she
couldn‘t handle it if he‘d brought a woman home while she was
there.
―Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow if things go well.
Which I have no doubt.‖ He shrugged and smiled knowingly,
―Luke‘s the best I got so I expect him home tomorrow.‖
―No doubt.‖ She smiled back at the flattery he gave her
brother.
―We could go out to dinner tonight.‖ He found himself
saying.
Dinner? Oh lord, could she possibly sit across from him
and not fall to pieces. ―I‘m tired Max.‖ She would have loved to
18
The Billionaire‘s Secret Desire
have him to herself , but she wouldn‘t know how to behave with
just him around and knew she couldn‘t keep up the facade of not
being in love with him. Something would definitely slip and give
herself away.
He resisted the temptation to brush a stray lock of hair off
her cheek while studying her expression, ―All right honey, I‘ll
take a rain check then.‖
―Okay.‖ She gave him a small unsure smile.
―So go on,‖ he leaned over her and opened her door, ―I‘ll
pick you up first thing tomorrow, be up and ready by seven
thirty.‖ He repeated.
She nearly gasped as his body gently brushed against hers
as he opened her door and when he erected himself there was
something odd in his eyes that she‘d never seen before. For a
moment all they did was look at one another before she realized
that she was ogling him again. Before the next blush hit her she
said goodbye and jumped out of the car. What she didn‘t see was
Max‘s gaze follow the sway of her backside as she entered her
building.
He sighed and shook his head before putting the car into
gear and pulling away from the curb, ―Be patient Max.‖ He said
to himself.
Entering their penthouse made her breathe a sigh of
relief. She shut the door and leaned against it for a moment.
Max always left her so drained. It was near impossible keeping
her attraction for him out of her body and facial expressions.
Setting her bag on the hallway table she made her way to the
kitchen to make herself some dinner when she stopped suddenly
at the sight of two dozen lavender roses in a vase with various
wisps of baby breath. Slowly she walked up to it spotting the
card that said ‗Lily‘ in no less than Max‘s handwriting. She felt
like a kid at Christmas as she opened it. ‗Welcome aboard‘ and he
signed it. He actually wrote the card himself. Smiling her fingers
19
Lietha Wards
guided along one of the soft velvety peddles wondering if he‘d
even gone to the flower shop to pick out the flowers too. Then
that got her thinking about his relationships with women. She
was sure he bought them all sorts of things to flatter their beauty.
Leave it to her to ruin her own brief happiness she thought as she
sighed out loud.
CHAPTER TWO
The next morning an immaculate long stretched dark
grey limousine pulled up in front of the building while she was
waiting just inside the door with Bill Jenkins, the doorman.
―See you Bill.‖ She said as he opened the door and she
walked toward the Limo.
‗Don‘t let him keep you out too late honey.‖ The old man
called after her causing her to laugh. He already knew from her
that it was her boss. He‘d met Max King before, and despite the
man‘s formidable wealth he seemed decent enough. Something
he wasn‘t quite sure about was the way the man looked at Lily
when she wasn‘t paying attention. The man had a reputation
with women, if you followed the tabloids. Not that he put such
faith into that kind of gossip, but this was Lily. He‘d known her
since she was sixteen when they first moved into the building and
she was as sweet as they come.
―How are you Miss Shayne?‖ said Oscar, Max‘s driver as
he held the door.
―Fine Oscar,‖ she paused, ―I can‘t believe you still work
for this guy,― She teased.
―Get in the car Lily.‖ Came Max‘s voice from the dark
interior causing her to laugh and Oscar to smile.
―You do now too, so don‘t knock it.‖ He grinned causing
his cap to slide up on his brow a bit making him reach up and