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She opened both her eyes and scowled. “That’s pure bull. The next thing you’ll be doing is telling me you’re not competitive.”
“Only every bone in my body,” he said.
She smiled and her gaze dipped to his shoulders in feminine appreciation. She’d done that several times today, so he knew she wasn’t immune to him. He was winning her inch by inch. The notion filled him with a rush he hadn’t experienced in a long time.
“Like the hot tub?” he asked.
She nodded, closing her eyes again.
“It’s even better when you’re naked,” he said.
She opened her eyes to sexy slits. “And how would you know that?”
“It’s in the manufacturer’s instructions,” he said.
A gusty laugh from her rippled all the way down his body to his groin.
“I dare you to take off your swimsuit,” he said.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” she said with a sigh.
“Even if I promise to keep my hands off of you?” he asked.
“The problem,” she said as she moved closer to him and he pulled her onto his lap, “is that I won’t want your to keep you hands off of me.”
Three
As the helicopter landed on top of the high-rise in Philadelphia, Leo took Calista’s hand and helped her onto the ground. Within moments, George was driving them in a limo toward her apartment. She turned to Leo. “This has been an incredible twenty-four hours. Thank you for everything.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself,” he said and lifted his finger to stroke her cheek. “It doesn’t have to end.”His touch distracted her, making her heart beat erratically. “What do you mean?”
“I’d like you to move in with me,” he said.
Calista blinked, surprised by his speed and decisiveness. “Wow,” she said. “That’s fast.” She took a breath. “It’s very tempting, but as I’ve told you, I really want to be married before I live with a man.”
“Why is that so important to you?” he asked with more than a trace of irritation on his face.
“I told you that I believe in family. A husband, wife and children can provide the ultimate joy, security and comfort for each other. I want that for myself. I want to give it to someone else,” she said, her gut twisting because although she believed what she was saying, she knew it wouldn’t come true for her.
“Was your upbringing that idyllic?”
She looked away, feeling a stab of shame about her father’s financial disaster and death that never seemed to go away. “Of course not,” she said. “Maybe because it wasn’t idyllic, I’m determined to have something different for myself. It may sound crazy to you, but I want the security of family and a strong man.”
He paused a moment, his dark gaze full of conflicting feelings. “It doesn’t sound crazy. I just don’t have much experience in that area.” He covered her hand with his. “I want to spend more time with you.”
“I want the same,” she said quietly.
“Then come and live with me in my apartment. I’ll make sure you won’t regret it,” he said, lifting her hand to his lips.
Even though they hadn’t known each other long, Calista was more than a little tempted. There was a strength about Leo that drew something from deep inside her. His magnetism almost made her forget her purpose with him. Almost. His charm, though, belied any chance for security. He was accustomed to getting what he wanted from women without making a commitment. She wondered if she would possibly be able to seduce him to the point of marriage. Doubt surged through her.
“I’m sorry. I can’t. I just can’t,” she said and fought the fear that rose in her throat. “I really do understand if you don’t want to continue with me. I’m sure you’re used to a different kind of arrangement with women.” She glanced outside the window. “Maybe we shouldn’t have gone out in the first place, but I just couldn’t resist you.”
The limo stopped in front of her apartment building. She turned to Leo. “Thank you again for a wonderful time.”
He helped her out of the limo and walked her to the security entrance. “My pleasure,” he said. “Good night, Calista.”
Calista tried to read his inscrutable expression and felt a sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach. He’d decided she wasn’t worth the wait or the effort. She watched him walk out of her lobby and most likely out of her life. Though her ego stung, she was far more worried about her sisters’ futures.
Swearing under her breath, she took the elevator to her small apartment. What was she going to do now? Pacing the length of her den, she tried to summon a plan B. If she went to bed with Leo, she would have no hope of marrying him. Plus, even though she found him physically attractive, she wasn’t sure when her real feelings and thoughts about what he’d done to her father would leak past her facade. What if she slipped and told him she felt he was responsible? If he knew the truth…
Calista squeezed her eyes shut, feeling hopeless and trapped. She hated being deceptive, but she’d made this decision and she wasn’t going to castigate herself for it. Her sisters deserved a good education and a better start than they’d had. They’d suffered the brunt of her family’s implosion because of their youth. She would never be able to erase the shattered expressions on her sisters’ faces when first her father had died and then less than two years later, they’d lost Mom, too.
Her head throbbing with tension, Calista tried to calm herself. Maybe she’d misread Leo. Maybe he would call her again.
Two weeks later, after no word from Leo, Calista saw the writing on the wall. Leo wasn’t going to call. He was done with her. Bummed, but still obligated to attend the Brother-Sister Charity Auction, she accepted an invitation from Robert Powell, a man who worked in her office building. Amusing and seemingly easygoing, he’d asked her out several times. She hoped Robert could distract her from her disappointment.Wearing a Betsey Johnson Spring dress she’d bought on sale, she greeted Robert in her lobby. His appreciative look provided a balm to her still smarting ego. At the auction, Calista mingled and introduced Robert to her acquaintances.
He slid his arm around her waist. “Do you realize I’ve been asking you out for months? You’re worth the wait,” he said and dipped his gaze suggestively over her.
Not wanting to encourage the flicker of sensual interest she glimpsed in his gaze, she shook her head. “Oh, not really. I’m not worth the wait at all. I’m just the good friend type, you know. Boring, works too much. All that.”
He gave a low chuckle. “I don’t think so.”
“Calista.” A voice that had haunted her captured her attention. “How are you?”
She swung around to see Leo Grant, larger than life, staring down at her. She might have needed to pinch herself if not for the gorgeous brunette on his arm. She forced her lips into a smile, thinking he hadn’t waited long to replace her. “Fine, thank you.”
“And your friend,” Leo said, his gaze assessing Robert. “We haven’t met.”
“Robert Powell, this is Leo Grant,” she said, refusing to inquire about his escort. The men exchanged handshakes. “Oh, look, they’re starting the auction. I’m helping behind the scenes. I’ll see you afterward, Robert. Please excuse me,” she said and turned away.
Upset, she balled her fists at her side and strode toward the side of the ballroom where the items for auction were displayed. Forcing any thought of Leo from her head, she focused on tagging the items with the winners’ names. After about forty-five minutes, the volunteer coordinator sent her for a break and she got a glass of water from the bar.
On her way back, Leo stepped in front of her, his eyes dark with what looked like anger. “You didn’t waste any time, did you?” he asked.
“I could say the same for you,” she retorted.
“She’s the daughter of a friend I owed a favor,” he said. “Not that I should have to explain myself.”
“How convenient that she’s drop-dead gorgeous. It must be a total chore to escort her.”
He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. “I could almost believe you’re jealous.”
“You would be wrong,” she told him and moved to step around him.
He stopped her, his hand closing around her wrist like a handcuff. “Let’s take this discussion somewhere private,” he said and led her away from the crowd. He opened the door to an empty room, pulled her inside and closed the door behind him.
“Who is this Robert? Is he important to you?” he demanded.
Nervous, yet strangely thrilled to see him, she lifted her chin. “What’s it to you? You haven’t called me for two weeks.”
“I’ve been out of the country.”
She gave an indignant shrug. “I’m sure your cell phone has reception from everywhere in the world and maybe a few planets, too.”
“Okay,” he said. “I didn’t want to call you. I wanted to give myself some time away from you. I didn’t want to do anything impulsive.”
Her heart hammered in her chest.
“You still haven’t answered my question about Robert. Do you have feelings for him?” he asked flatly.
“No,” she said. “No more than I would a friend. He’s asked me out for months and I’ve turned him down.”
“Then why did you agree to go out with him tonight?”
She paused and looked away with a sigh. “I was moping,” she confessed.
“Excuse me?” he said.
She glanced back at him, peeved. “You heard me. I said I was moping. Because you haven’t called me,” she added reluctantly.
His eyes glittered as he looked at her. “Okay, I’ve thought about it for the last two weeks and made a decision. We’ll get married.”
