Page 17 of The Reluctant Billionaire

“Also probably a good idea.” Getting up, Jace cast one more look at Nessa’s turned back before following Luke. “So, where are we going?”

“Marine biology labs. They’ve got a rescued dolphin in the big pool and have been treating cuts on her fins after she tangled with the props on a fishing boat.”

Jace couldn’t help but think of the day before and Nessa telling him she’d like to take him to meet the marine biologists and view the facilities. It was more than possible that would never happen now.

“Sure,” he said finally. “Lead the way.”

Chapter Seven

Nessa tried to ignore Jace, but every fiber of her body was aware of him walking away with Luke, of the way he kept looking back at her until they were lost to sight behind the palm trees.

How in hell had she misread him so badly? How had she not picked up the fact he was hiding such a huge secret? Even more importantly, why was he hiding his real identity?

Thinking back, she realized Jace had never actually told her his surname. He’d never asked hers, either.Could I need any more proof that I’m just a fling?Disgusted with herself, she broke a glass washing it with unnecessary vigor. Swearing under her breath, she carefully cleaned up the shards and dumped them in the trash.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming,” she told the waiter coming back to the bar and waving frantically at her.No time for self-pity now, Nessa. You’ve got a job to do.

The bar was busy until her seven o’clock closing, and she had a lot of work to do to clean up and close down. It was almost eight when she finally got to the staff dining room to find some dinner. Cory and Olivia waved her over to eat with them, but she shook her head, in no mood for company, finding a quiet table for one near the back of the room. She finished eating quickly and headed back to her cabin, just wanting to be alone.

There was a figure sitting on the steps leading up to her small veranda. Nessa stopped in her tracks.

“This is a staff-restricted area,” she said, finally finding her voice. “Although I suppose that doesn’t mean much if you own the entire fucking island.”

Jace winced at the fury in her tone, then got to his feet. “Nessa…”

“Youliedto me.” Stepping closer, she jabbed a finger into his chest. “You told me the villa was owned by a friend.”

“Well, technically it is--”

“Yeah, because you and your father are friends, right?” She shook her head. “Don’t pull that on me, Jace. I can understand why you didn’t blurt it out the first moment we met, but once you’d asked me out and I said yes? You should have come clean.”

“I should’ve.”

Nessa blinked, surprised at his calm agreement. “Why didn’t you, then?” she demanded fiercely, still spoiling for a fight.

“Because you treated me like a normal person. Like just another guy who hit on you at the bar, and it was amazing.”

“What? You get off on being shot down or something?”

“No, it’s not that. I’m just… so used to being treated as one ofthoseHunters, looked at as some kind of meal ticket, that being treated as though I’m just another guy… it was unique, refreshing. As are you. I didn’t want things to change, Nessa, and I knew you’d look at me differently if you knew I was rich.”

“You’re so dumb!” She shook her head at him. “I already knew you were rich; you run in circles with people who own private holiday villas worth tens of millions of dollars. I figured you for a Wall Street guy, the kind who gets seven or eight figure bonuses a couple of times a year. It makes no difference to me if you’re a millionaire or a billionaire; I knew you’d be gone in a few days and I’d still be here, because I’m not the kind of girl who would ever be seen in society on your arm.”

“Why not?” He sounded genuinely confused.

“Because I’m black and I’m from the East End of London, which is the wrong side of the tracks no matter how you cut it, and I don’t want to be some sort of Pygmalion figure! I’m happy being who I am, Jace. I’ve made my choices and built myself a life I like; if I want to have a brief affair with some guy who will be gone in a few days, that’s my choice too. You, though, you’re not just any guy. Word gets out that Jace Hunter is on Sunfish Island dating some black chick and the next thing you know there’ll be paparazzi lurking in the shrubbery outside my room trying to take nude photos through the goddamn window!”

He winced again, and Nessa shook her head. “I didn’t sign up for that, Jace. When were you going to tell me? Were you ever, or were you just planning to leave and never let me know the truth?”

“I hadn’t thought that far ahead. I just… fell for you.” He stood still, hands hanging limply by his sides. “I never meant to lie to you. Certainly not to expose you to unwanted attention from the media or anything like that.”

Nessa just stared silently at him for several long moments. “I can’t do this right now,” she said finally. “I’m sorry, Jace. I’m just… not in a place where I can deal with this right now.” Walking past him, she unlocked her door.

“Can we at least talk about it?”

“About what?” Turning to look at him, she shook her head. “About the fact that I would never have said yes to a date with you if I’d known who you were? What the hell were you thinking, asking a girl like me out, anyway?”

“What do you mean, a girl like you?” Jace asked, baffled. “You’re smart, beautiful, sassy; I’d have asked you out if I met you in a bar in New York instead of one here.”

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