Burn (Breathless #3)(14)

Arrogance wasn’t a quality she was particularly attracted to. But on him, it looked good. It fit him. Just like his clothing and his entire demeanor. And there was something about that gaze that turned her inside out. It had the very first time they’d met. Her stomach had performed somersaults, and he’d made her consider things she’d never considered before. He’d made her want things she’d never wanted or realized she wanted before.

And she hated him for that. For overturning her carefully ordered existence. No, it wasn’t that well ordered. She didn’t have a routine and she liked it that way. But she was comfortable in her life, knew who and what she was. Until him. Until that meeting in the park that had made her question everything about herself.

He was not a man who would be quiet. He’d turn her entire world upside down the minute she allowed him access. She knew that as solidly as she knew anything else in her life. He was someone who liked—demanded—control. It was evident in the way he spoke, the way he carried himself. He’d latched onto the significance of that collar. He’d known what it meant and he spoke as though he had vast experience in the kind of lifestyle that collar signified.

But he wouldn’t be like Michael. Nothing like him at all. And that scared her even as it intrigued her at the same time. She was curious—she wouldn’t deny that. She wouldn’t even deny that he’d made her question everything about herself—and her relationship with Michael. That he was the reason why she wasn’t wearing that collar any longer.

And now he was standing in front of her, holding her mother’s jewelry, demanding dinner with her in return for the jewelry. But his gaze promised a whole lot more. She’d be a fool to think he’d be satisfied with only dinner.

She wasn’t an idiot. She’d felt the attraction—that spark—between them. Knew he’d felt it too. As inexplicable as it was that he’d find anything about her interesting, she knew that he was absolutely interested. But for how long? Women like her didn’t hold the attention of men like him long term. And she had no desire to be his temporary plaything. A challenge he felt compelled to overcome.

“Josie?” he prompted. “Dinner? Tonight?”

She sighed, dropping her gaze in agitation to the box he still held in his hand. She wanted the jewelry back. It was priceless to her. She should be relieved he didn’t want money from her. The money she’d received from the sale of her art would go a long way in helping her over the next months. But instead she found herself wishing that he’d just take the money, give her the jewelry and walk away. Out of her life. Because this was a man who would shake everything up. No doubt about it.

All he wanted was dinner. A simple date. She’d had dates. A night out. Food. A little conversation. She could walk away then and make it clear she didn’t want to see him again.

“All right,” she finally conceded. “Where and what time?”

“I’ll pick you up at seven.”

She shook her head. “No. I’ll meet you there. Just tell me the place and time.”

He chuckled. “So difficult. I’ll concede on this point, but I warn you now. It’s likely the last concession I’ll make where you’re concerned.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You aren’t making a very good case for me to go to dinner with you.”

The corner of his mouth lifted. “Just shooting you straight, Josie.”

“Time? Place?” she prompted.

“Seven thirty,” he answered softly. “Bentley Hotel. I’ll meet you in the lobby.”

“And you’ll bring the jewelry with you?”

He glanced down at the box in his hands and then back up to her, amusement twinkling in his eyes. “If I weren’t sure you’d bail on tonight, I’d give you the jewelry now. I have no interest in keeping something that evidently means so much to you. But if it gets you to dinner tonight then I’ll keep it as collateral. And yes, I’ll bring it. I don’t break my promises, Josie. Dinner with me, you get the jewelry. No matter what else happens.”

She breathed out, her shoulders sagging in relief. “Okay then. I’ll see you at seven thirty.”

He reached out to touch her cheek, his fingers just grazing her jaw. “I’m looking forward to it. We have a lot to discuss.”

As he said the last, he let his hand drift downward until it touched the hollow of her throat where the collar had once rested. There was no mistaking his meaning. He wanted to know her status. What had happened to the collar. And why she was no longer wearing it.

She sighed and then turned to walk away. How could she possibly explain that he was what had happened?

Chapter six

Ash checked his watch as he stood in the lobby of the Bentley Hotel, one of the many hotels owned by HCM. He let out his breath in irritation as his gaze tracked toward the entrance once again.

She was late.

Or perhaps she wasn’t coming.

He would have bet any amount of money on her showing up. Her mother’s jewelry obviously meant a great deal to her, and while he’d been a complete bastard to blackmail her into having dinner with him, he couldn’t muster any real regret. Not if it got him what he wanted.

A few hours in Josie’s company.

He had a dozen questions simmering on his lips. He wanted to know why she wasn’t wearing the collar anymore. He wanted to know if the guy who’d given it to her was out of the picture now. While it wouldn’t change his plans if she hadn’t cut the other guy loose, it would certainly make things a hell of a lot easier for him if she weren’t in a relationship.