Page 7 of Billionaire's Runaway

And there it was, the confession of what I’d sensed. He was holding himself in check. I took another deep breath. One problem solved. Now, for the second.

“Something else, Luke…” I started. Nerves clamped down on my words. Should I even go there? Should I tell him to just be himself with me? But I didn’t know him that well. Maybe, I’d read him wrong before and this was his true personality. Maybe, this was him.

“What?” he asked, his voice concerned.

No. I couldn’t do it. Pulling out a teasing smirk, I detoured away from what I’d planned to say.

“I’m starving. If you don’t feed me soon, I may bite you.”

His rich laugh filled the car, and goosebumps cascaded down my spine, all my awareness pulsing to high alert. This man spiked something in me, and to my surprise, it wasn’t fear.

“Well, then, we better get you something to eat. Since it’s dinner on the weekend, maybe a restaurant isn’t the best idea withoutreservations. Will you let me cook you something for you at my place—our place?”

“You can cook?”

“Some basic stuff. I hate eating out all the time and hiring a chef for only me seemed a waste.”

“I can see that. If you want, we can go home instead of out. I’m kind of tired anyway. It was…a long day.” To my surprise, being out in the cold for so long, even within the shelter of my car, had really taken it out of me. “How did you find me so fast, anyway? I assume Emerson called you?”

“Fray, actually. He called me while you were on the phone with Em.”

“Why?”

“Because he knows,” he replied quietly, looking down at our hands where his thumb grazed back and forth over my wrist.

“Knows…what?” I asked, hesitant to hear the answer.

Luke’s hand tightened, the only sign he might be worried as his dark eyes met my gaze and held me captive. “I’m not going to bullshit you, Laura.”

“Okay. Good.” My voice seemed to have raised an octave while nerved rattled in my middle.

“I want you. He knows it. Hell, my whole family knows it. The same thing happened when he first saw Em. Don’t worry, though. I won’t pounce on you. I promise you’re safe with me—from me or anyone else. But I want to know you. I want to pursue this…you.”

“Whatever this is,” I added.

“You feel it, too.” His confidence left no room for argument and I wondered if he ruled the boardroom that way. I had no doubt seeing him in action would steal my breath and get me hot with arousal.

My tongue shot across my bottom lip and I took a deep breath. “Yeah. I feel something. And whatever it is, it worries me.”

He turned in his seat and cupped my face with his free hand. His thumb brushed over my cheek. “Baby, you never, ever have to be afraid with me. Ever.”

With a nod, as if to underline his promise, he let go then leaned toward the town car’s driver. “Change of plan, Rick. Back home, instead.”

“Yes, sir,” the man replied.

Luke leaned back and took my hand again.

“Just promise me one thing,” I implored, looking out the window.

“Anything.”

“Don’t trap me.”

I felt him lean in, then his chin rested on my shoulder. His breath warmed my neck. “I want you to be mine. But trapping you? No, babe. Never. I want you of your own free will.”

“Okay,” I whispered. I wasn’t sure if I was acknowledging him or telling myself things would be alright. My life was still a mess, but maybe, with Luke helping me, I could unmuddle it.

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