Page 61 of Bryce

“I am fine.”She lifted her head to look at him, suddenly feeling shy as his eyesmet hers. This man knew everything there was to know about her,intimately and she felt a little strange.

“Uhm.”

His eyebrows liftedas he waited for her to say more. “Wine.” She burst outsuddenly.

His grin flashed, letting her know that she had takenthe easy way out.

Chapter 15

The furor came soonerthan they expected or were prepared for it. He insisted that they goout for dinner.

“I can cook usa meal right here.”

“No.” Hecame back, shaking his head. “I want us to get out there. Iwant to wine and dine you. I would suggest us going to Paris or Italyor even Spain, but I know you’re not going to want to leavejust now.”

He cupped her facebetween his hands, his eyes piercing. “I am putting you onnotice darling. I have money. Not just what I inherited, but what Iearned, and I intend to lavish it on you.”

His fingers tightenedwhen she made to move away. “You’re the love of my lifeand soon, you will be my wife. I know there will have to beadjustments, but I want to travel with you. Take you places, see youdraped in brilliant stones, wearing designer threads.”

Her eyes glittered.“In other words, you want to show me off, make me so that I fitinto your world.”

His eyes flashed.“No. I don’t give a damn if you drape yourself insackcloth. It’s entirely up to you.” He bit off animpatient sigh. “Stop trying to read something in every goddamnthing I say. I love you and want to take care of you.”

“I don’tneed…”

“Taking careof.” His expression was grim. ‘You’re independentand can do it on your own. I get that. But it so happens that I amulti-billionaire and like it or not, I am going to spend money onyou.

Crazy amount ofmoney. I am going to take you places, exotic places. I have housesall over the world and we will be going to them. You have beenworking hard all your life, and I want to show you a good time. Isanything wrong with that?”

She drew in a raggedbreath. She had thought of the consequences of being with someonelike him and was fighting the panic. She had had enough drama in herlife and had specifically come here to get away from all of it. Nowshe was with a man whose face was plastered all over the world.

“I love you.”

He was watching theplay of expressions over her face and knew her well enough to knowwhat she was thinking.

“That’shandy, because I love you too.” He waited while she struggledsome more.

Biting her lip, shestepped back and paced, wandering back and forth from the large baywindow to the bed, where he was sitting. The power was back on, andthe calls had started coming in. Next week was fully booked. He hadmoved out of the suite of rooms he occupied into hers.

“I will handlethis.” She sounded as if she was convincing herself. “It’sjust that people are going to start booking because I am with you.”

He stayed where hewas. “Would you say you had success up to this point? Thatpeople booked this place, come to this town because of its reputationfor friendliness and charm?”

“Yes. So?”

“And that’sgoing to change.”

She lifted hershoulders restlessly. “I want it to be about the place.”

“And not aboutme.”

She turned to look athim and felt the familiar stirring of her heart and soul. He wasembedded deep, so deep he was etched there. He had become the mostimportant part of her life, God! He had become her life. And she wasnot certain that was a good thing. Or one she was equipped to handle.

“I don’tknow what I am saying.”

“Come here,baby.” He murmured.

She went to him, notresisting when he drew her down next to him. “You’reworrying too much.”

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