Page 34 of Billion-Dollar Dating Game

She flicked her hand carelessly, covering up her own cluelessness. ‘I hadn’t worked out the finer details.’

‘You were willing to use a social situation to pursue a business interest.’ He leaned close. ‘Which means you and I are not so very different after all.’

‘There’s a vast difference between a tasteless bet and just hoping to bump into someone.’

‘You wanted to bump into me.’ His grin flashed wickedly. ‘You definitely met your goal there.’

Skylar threw him a withering glance but the next second giggled. It felt good to giggle. Even better when he laughed with her.

She glanced around and realised the jewellery store staff were keeping their distance but also keeping their eyes on them. They’d been ensconced in this corner, intimately talking in low voices for a good ten minutes. Oh well—that was probably good for Zane’s bet.

But she straightened. ‘Right, you’re here to meet the jeweller, remember? He’s worked here for sixty years.’

‘He’s not ready for a nice relaxing retirement?’ Zane winked at her.

For the next thirty minutes she watched as he chatted with the jeweller, listening to the history of the place. The joy he found in his work. The pride. The capital funding from Helberg that had enabled their expansion. The jeweller and the manager both gazed up at him, clearly delighted to meet him. It was his smile. Everyone fell for it. Even her.

But when they finally stepped out onto the summer pavement he shook his head at her. ‘You brought me to one of the most successful subsidiaries. It’s been in the stable only a decade and doesn’t even bear the Helberg name. What was the point?’

To make him uncomfortable. Of course, that hadn’t worked. He’d flipped it on her the second he’d spotted those earrings.

She was failing already—only two weeks in. And it wasn’t even a surprise because deep inside she was worried he was right about Helberg Holdings. Something had to happen with it.

Zane was only indulging her in these visits and the truth was she wanted him to indulge her in another way altogether.

Educate me.Properly.

The command she’d issued the other night circled in her head. Tempting her. The ache inside sharpened—the appetite she couldn’t suppress any more. She should have all the treats she’d missed out on for so long. The physical ones. All she’d done all her life was work. Learn. Study. Stay safe. Stay focused. She’d missed out on a lot of fun. And he was the perfect person to help, right? Because he’d worked too. But he’d become far more successful than sheandhe’d had a lot of fun along the way. He really knew how. Which meant he could teach her many things. And there was no way her heart would be endangered—she still didn’t actually like him all that much, right? And his heart was in no danger at all given he didn’t have one...

‘You have the weirdest look on your face,’ he said, looking down at her.

She raised her eyebrows. ‘What kind of look?’

‘Cunning. Like a fox. Pretty fox.’

It was the only time in her life she’d ever been called a fox. She quite liked it.

‘I don’t trust it,’ he added.

She chuckled. ‘Shocker. You don’t trust anyone.’

‘Fair.’ He smiled. ‘You don’t trust me either.’

‘Not entirely true, actually. I trust you to be honest with me. You’ve been pretty blunt thus far.’

‘Hmm. That’s true. As have you. Tell me what you’re thinking.’

‘That I’m no longer a virgin but I’m still inexperienced in bed.’

Such raw shock pinched his features that she bit back a laugh.

His fingertips touched a spot on her left cheek. ‘You should always laugh when you feel the urge. Don’t hold back, Skylar.’

‘Well, I’ve still no experience in an actual bed, have I?’ Heat trammelled through her and she inadvertently swayed towards him before catching herself and straightening.

‘And that’s what you want? More experience. In bed. With me.’

‘Right,’ she breathed huskily. ‘You’re skilled.’

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