“Physically, for one thing. It’s not like you’d be able to beat off an attacker.”
“But if I moved away, I wouldn’t have to beat off anyone.”
He shook his head. “They’re watching you too closely. Maybe later, but not now.”
“Oh, God, I feel so stupid,” she said, fighting back tears. “How did I let this get so out of control?”
“It could be worse,” he said. “You can set up a nursery here. I’ll cover the cost. We’ll make the necessary adjustments in the house. Your life will be just like it was before, with a few perks.”
“Just like before,” she said, laughing with gallows humor. As if anything could ever be like before. “There’s no way I could allow you to cover the cost of the nursery. It wouldn’t be right. And I can’t imagine living here. It’s just so—”
“So what?”
“Perfect. This isn’t at all what I pictured for my child.”
“Why wouldn’t my home be appropriate? I’m a blood relative. How is it right for your child not to know his uncle?”
Oh, Lord. She hadn’t even thought of it that way. Her heart splintered. Her father had left before her third birthday and since her mother’s relatives had lived on the other coast, she’d never had an opportunity to meet them, let alone enjoy any sort of family bond.
She shook her head. “I’d never considered any of this. Once I broke off with Tony, I knew it would be just me and the baby. I didn’t think Tony’s family would want to be involved, and frankly I didn’t want anything to do with anyone bearing the name De Luca.”
Max narrowed his eyes. “Tony and I are not the same man.”
“I’m beginning to see that,” she said. “I need to think about this.”
“Finish your dinner,” he said, cupping her arm with his strong hand. “We can discuss this more later.”
Lilli’s stomach jumped. She wasn’t sure if it was a result of Max’s hand on her bare arm or the terrible news he’d just delivered. She looked into his eyes and had the sense that this man could turn her world upside down in ways she’d never imagined. She stepped backward, needing air, needing to think. “I’m sorry, but I can’t eat right now. Please excuse me. I need to go upstairs.”
Max watched Lilli as she fled the patio through the door. With each passing moment, he felt more drawn to her, but for the life of him, he couldn’t explain why.
Her immediate rejection of his offer to pay to furnish the nursery had caught him off guard. He was so accustomed to covering expenses for a multitude of people that he rarely gave it a second thought.
Women had always been more than happy to accept his generosity. In fact, on a couple of occasions, his companions had tried to take advantage of him. One woman had even gotten herself pregnant by another man and tried to make Max take responsibility for the child.
Lilli was the exact opposite. Unless it was all an act, which it could be, he thought, his natural cynicism rising inside him. Still, Lilli didn’t strike him as a woman adept at hiding her emotions or motives.
He suspected she didn’t want him to know that she was attracted to him, but he had seen it in her eyes. The attraction was reluctant, but strong, the same as it was for him.
In other circumstances, he would want her for himself. And he wouldn’t just want her. He would take her.
Lilli paced her bedroom for two hours. With her head feeling as if it were going to split into a million pieces, she lay down and surprised herself by falling asleep. When she awakened at eleven-thirty, her stomach was growling like a mountain lion.
“Sorry, sweetie,” she murmured, rubbing her stomach. The idea of that dinner going to waste nearly made her sob. Max had told her to call Ada, the housekeeper, if she needed anything, including a snack, but Lilli couldn’t imagine imposing at this hour.
Dressed in a tank top and shorts, she quietly crept downstairs to the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and peered inside. She found the leftovers and turned around.
“I’m glad you got back your appetite,” Max said, startling her so much she almost dropped the container she was holding. Swearing under her breath, she managed to save the dish. Her heart racing, she backed away and closed the refrigerator door.
“I didn’t think you would be down—” She broke off when she saw that he was shirtless, his pajama pants riding low on his waist. His chest was a work of art. Her mouth went dry.
“I heard a noise,” he said casually, as if he didn’t know that seeing him half-naked took her breath away.
She needed to keep it that way, she told herself and locked her gaze on his forehead. “I was hungry. I can just grab an apple and go back upstairs.”
He moved closer to her and pulled the dish from her hands. “Why would you eat an apple when you can have this?” He put the dish in the microwave and started to warm it up.
Lilli tried very hard not to allow her gaze to dip across his n**ed shoulders, but she didn’t quite succeed. When the plate was hot, he directed her to a seat at the table.
Twenty minutes later, she’d polished off a reasonable portion of beef, bread and a brownie he’d insisted she eat.
She leaned back in her chair and stretched her legs. “That was delicious. Thanks.”
His gaze enigmatic, he gave a slight smile. “You’re welcome. Not bad for Mr. Steel.”
Lilli blinked, then realized there was only one way he could have known she’d called him that. Her cheeks heated with embarrassment. “How long were you listening to my phone conversation?” she accused.
“It wasn’t premeditated,” he said. “I was going to tell you about the report I got from Jim, but you were so absorbed in your conversation that you didn’t notice me.”
Lilli closed her eyes, wishing she could hide. “Great.”
“And no, I don’t have a wife or mistress tied to my bed. I haven’t found it necessary to tie women up to keep them in my bed.”
She opened her eyes. “I didn’t mean it the way—”
He waved his hand. “We may as well get this on the table. I know you’re attracted to me,” he said without a millimeter of arrogance.
She opened her mouth to deny it, but her throat closed around the lie.
“I’m flattered that you think I’m hot,” he said. “But it’s probably a good idea that you also think I’m cold because, for some reason, I find you attractive.”
Lilli gaped at him, sure he was mocking her. “No.”
“Yes,” he said.
“But I’m pregnant,” she blurted out. “And not with your baby.”
“Your pregnancy doesn’t conceal your other assets. It doesn’t conceal your fire.” His gaze traveled to her br**sts and lower to her legs, then all the way back up to her mouth, making her feel as if a hot wind had blown over her. He gave a short laugh as if the joke was on him. “Don’t worry. I’ll get over it. You may have seduced one De Luca, but I’m not as easily impressed as my brother.”
She felt as if he’d slapped her. “I haven’t been trying to impress you,” she told him. “Besides, your brother did the seducing, not me.”
“It doesn’t sound like you fought him.”
“I didn’t,” she told him, but there’d been a time he’d taken advantage of her. “My mother died one week before I met Tony and I freely admit I was a mess.” She met and held his gaze for a long, fierce moment. “And besides the fact that you’re hot, what makes you think I would want to go round two with anyone with the last name De Luca?” She stood and whirled away.
He snagged her wrist, pulling her against him when she stumbled. Her hand fell against his chest and she felt his heart against her palm, his heat all over her.
“Hold on to that thought,” he said. “You’re going to need it. But just so you know, if you ever went to bed with me, you would never think of it as round two.”
Looking into his hard, sensual gaze, Lilli felt a shiver run through her. Somehow, deep inside her, deeper than her bones, she knew that again he wasn’t bragging. He was just telling the truth.
Chapter 3
Lilli awakened to the sound of the Bose alarm clock on the elegant bedside table. The strains of classical music lulled her into consciousness. Rolling to her side, she pulled the pillow over her head.
Just a couple more minutes. This bed was divine. It felt so wonderful she hated to leave it. Much better than her lumpy mattress back at her apartment.
She stiffened at the thought and immediately sat up in bed. Frowning, she told herself not to get used to this level of luxury. Sometime, more likely sooner than later, she would be living in a place where she was both the chief housekeeper and assistant housekeeper. There would be no Bose stereo systems and the closest she would get to a gourmet meal prepared by a chef would be a frozen dinner.
Rising from the bed, she padded across the luxury carpet to the large shower in the connecting bathroom. She would need to get up earlier since her commute to work was longer from Max’s home. The very thought of him made something inside flutter and flip.
Hunger, she told herself. It had to be hunger or the baby. After she donned her colorful scrubs, she headed downstairs and was surprised to see Max pacing and speaking into a cell phone via a Bluetooth in his ear. He wore running shorts and a tank top that showed off his muscular legs and arms. Everything about him oozed strength. “Tell Alex we’re limiting our domestic expansion until we see what happens with the dollar.”
He saw her and lifted a hand. “Yes, I know Alex still resents that I was promoted over him. We each serve an important purpose. I provide the balance. He provides the fireworks. Tell him I said to think global. I’m working from home this morning. I’ll be in the office this afternoon and will get an update then. Thanks. Bye.”
He immediately turned to Lilli. “Good morning. Did you rest well?”