“Thank you.”
“You do not want the free publicity?”
She shook her head decisively. “I am no more interested in seeing my date as a trophy on my arm than I am in being one myself.”
“I approve your stance.”
She grinned at him. “Thanks. Are you often considered a trophy?”
“I tend to avoid certain relationships and therefore the possibility, but sometimes the exchange is worth it.”
“Sex for temporary access to your wealth and position?”
“As long as they understand it is temporary, it works.”
“That’s very cold.”
“I do not see it that way.”
“It makes the women you share your bed with little more than paid companions.”
“What a subtle turn of phrase, but the choice to trade on sexual compatibility is theirs not mine. I do not make them anything.”
“But your attitude encourages it.”
“I assure you, a woman must convince me it is worth my time to be used as her temporary ticket into a certain lifestyle.”
“But you let yourself be convinced.”
“Yes.” There was no use denying it. Not that he wanted to. His life was what it was. He had accepted that long ago. “We have already decided that such an exchange is not the driving force behind what is happening between us, have we not?”
The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. He guided her out into the hall, keeping his hand on her arm.
She slid a sideways look at him, biting her lip in that endearing way again. “I’m not sure how I feel about being with a man who admits to having relationships of that sort even if he wants me to believe ours won’t follow the same pattern.”
“First, we have both acknowledged we are not looking for a trophy, yes?”
“Yes.”
“Second, would you prefer I pretend to be someone different?”
“No, I just…”
“Accept that I left naive idealism behind in the nursery.”
She stopped in front of a door and pulled her key card out. “I do not consider respect for my sex naive.”
“I respect women.”
She pushed the door open and stepped inside. “Really?”
He followed her, pushing the door closed behind him. “Yes. I respect women enough to believe they are capable of deciding what sort of relationship is best for them.”
CHAPTER THREE
HE SHRUGGEDout of his jacket and laid it over the back of one of two armchairs on either side of a small, low table. The suite wasn’t as spacious as his usual accommodations, but it was modern and decently decorated. And it was a true suite with a door between the bedroom and the tiny living area. He would expect no less from his company.
She had stopped at the door leading to the bedroom, and stood there appearing somewhat agitated. “I could never settle for something so cold.”