Maid for the Billionaire(9)

―Did you really think I‘d have sex with you for money?‖ she asked sharply.

―I wasn‘t sure,‖ he said honestly and realized his mistake when he heard her harsh intake of breath. ―After reading over your life story, I can see how that might have offended you.‖

―Might have? Reading over my life story? There is nothing about this conversation that is changing my original impression of you as an arrogant ass.‖

―And yet you kissed me.‖ Just saying the words sent his blood rushing downward in anticipation of a pleasure he knew he‘d enjoy again and soon.

―You kissed me,‖ she corrected.

―I don‘t remember you exactly fighting me off. In fact, I distinctly remember you making a soft moan when the kiss ended. It made me wonder what other noises you‘d make for me.‖

He wished he could see her expression. By her labored breathing, he could tell his comment had hit the mark. She was furious with him. Unrepentant, her anger just made him want her more. He could barely focus on the conversation as he imagined how he would redirect all that emotion if he were there.

Before she began to question his own heavy breathing, he said, ―A limo will pick you up at your house tomorrow at 11 in the morning. Wear something nice.‖

She gurgled with anger. ―Are you insane? I‘m not going anywhere with you.‖

―You know you want to see me again,‖ he challenged.

In a wasted, desperate attempt to evade him, she said, ―What if I have a boyfriend?‖

―You broke up with your last one months ago,‖ he said smugly.

Another indignant gasp. She sounded gloriously flustered. ―You think you have all the answers, don‘t you?‖

However amusing this was, he was beginning to lose patience with her continued resistance.

―The limo will come for you at 11-‖

―I don‘t care if you send a fleet of limos. I‘m not going anywhere with you tomorrow.

Have your investigator bring a camera so you‘ll have a nice photo of my door not opening.‖

Enough. ―You will get in the limo I send.‖

―Try me.‖

Something in him snapped. The possibility of her refusal hadn‘t occurred to him, nor was it now an option. ―You will come -- or is your sister‘s job now unimportant to you?‖

―You‘re not seriously suggesting that you would blackmail me into going somewhere with you, are you? Is that how rich men get dates? Isn‘t that a bit over the top?‖

Unlike almost everyone else he knew, she wasn‘t intimidated by him or his threats and that just added to his attraction to her.

She paused and seemed to consider something. ―Or is this about your car?‖

What the hell? He stood to look out the window at his vehicle. ―What about my car?‖

―Oh, nothing. Nothing. Forget I said that,‖ she said with her first hint of nervousness.

Strike two for Luros. Their report had missed an apparent bout of vandalism. Even in the dim illumination of the street lights he could see the damage to his bumper. He shook his head in amazement.

None of this conversation had gone the way he‘d planned it in his head. He‘d meant to cordially request her company and he‘d expected her to readily accept.

She was delightfully, unexpectedly difficult to predict or control. Her resistance would make the win that much sweeter, but her guilt was just the edge he was looking for.

―Do you realize how expensive that car is?‖ he asked, using her discomfort to his advantage.

―I have no idea what you‘re talking about,‖ she hedged.

His Abby was a poor liar. Confident that they‘d reached a resolution he ordered, ―Be ready for 11.‖

―Go to hell,‖ she said and hung up.

Which was an apt description of what the following day promised to be, but he had no intention of going there alone. If she thought she‘d won, she‘d grossly underestimated the lengths he‘d go for something he wanted.

One call would get her in that limo. He said, ―Duhamel.‖ into his phone. It rang exactly twice before his personal assistant picked up. Without waiting for a response, he said, ―I need you to do something for me. Consider it a personal favor.‖



Chapter Five

Abby turned from hanging up the phone to see Lil, baby on one hip, shaking her head in amusement.

Lill said, ―I don‘t believe it! Abby Dartley is engaging in reckless behavior.‖

I deserve this, Abby thought. She‘d lectured her sister about the right and wrong type of man countless times over the years. Before tonight, it had been easy to dismiss Lil‘s protests that a person couldn‘t choose who to be attracted to.

But that was before Dominic.

Rude, bossy, blackmailing Dominic. Just the thought of him sent a shiver of sexual anticipation down her spine. Whatever illicit outing he had planned for her tomorrow, she had no intention of going – but that didn‘t mean that she couldn‘t indulge in a momentary fantasy.

Lill shifted Colby onto her other hip. ―Was that really Dominic Corisi?‖

Abby walked past her sister and started to remove some of the clutter from the room. Lil‘s fever had finally broken. Now perhaps the living room would stop looking like an infirmary.

―Yes, it was. I told you that I had met him.‖

Lill followed her to the kitchen. ―You did, but I think you forgot to mention a few other things.‖

Abby flushed.

Her sister leapt on the involuntary response. ―Well you obviously made a good impression on him if he wants to send a limo for you and you can‘t tell me you don‘t want to go -- you look positively smitten.‖