The Renegade Billionaire

That meant two nights alone with him. Her body started to tremble. “I think you’re an exceptional man.”

He studied her through veiled eyes. “Yet you don’t trust me?”

“That’s not the point.” I’m the one I don’t trust.

“Then there’s no problem, is there?”

She lifted her head. “If Sakis hadn’t asked you to come to his office, this wouldn’t be happening.”

“Contrary to what you believe, I would have gotten hold of you earlier in the week. But certain business matters prevented me from doing what I wanted to do. I purposely arranged this meeting with your boss at the end of your work week so we could be together.”

Oh, Stavros, she moaned inwardly. “I’m not sure this is a good idea.”

“My mother’s interruption upset you, but she won’t do it again.”

“This doesn’t have anything to do with your mother. I’m just not ready to get involved with another man.”

“You’re still mourning Ferrante, aren’t you?”

“Yes. I may not be actively grieving for him, but I have a full plate with my work and can’t handle anything else.”

“Up until today you’ve been honest with me. Why can’t you be truthful now?”

“Because I don’t want to get hurt again!” she blurted in exasperation.

“I don’t plan to hurt you,” he said in that velvety voice she couldn’t ignore.

“Mother died. Ferrante died.”

“I don’t plan on doing that anytime soon,” came the wry reply. “What happened to the girl who takes risks traveling around to third-world countries and was willing to spend the night in a forest with a near stranger? Where did that girl go?”

“You know what I meant,” she murmured.

“No. I don’t. Do you think I’m some kind of womanizer?”

Andrea couldn’t look at him. “I have no way of knowing, do I?”

“Did you give Ferrante this much trouble when he showed interest in you?”

“Let’s not bring him into this.” To care about Stavros meant going through more heartache again. After Ferrante, she couldn’t handle it.

“Why not? Afraid to give me an answer?”

“No.”

“He was a mountain-climbing guide and would have been around beautiful women all the time. Did you accuse him of using them?”

“Of course not.”

“So how come you’re having trust issues with me when you don’t really know me yet? I thought you liked me a little.”

“You know I do,” she whispered fiercely.

“Then spend the weekend with me. If you discover I’m not worth knowing, then so be it.”

Andrea couldn’t find fault with his logic. It was her heart she was worried about. He might decide she wasn’t worth knowing.

“We’re wasting time. What’s your address?”