Virgin for the Billionaire's Taking

The ache that had taken possession of her heart now spread to the rest of her body, so that every part of her that had touched him or been touched by him longed violently for that physical contact once more.

He was coming towards her, turning his head so that he could look at her. To make sure that she still understood what he had told her? Keira forced her lips into a professional smile, no different for Jay than it was for the man to whom he was introducing her, who was now smiling at her with male warmth and interest that threw into sharp relief Jay’s coldness towards her.

‘My friends call me Bas,’ he told her, ‘and I hope that you will do the same. I have heard a great many complimentary things about your work, and I am looking forward to featuring it in our magazine.’

‘I expect Jay has already told you that part of his remit was that he wanted me to use local products as much as possible?’ Keira asked him as she stepped to one side to allow the two men to enter the show house.

‘Do you feel that interfered with your own creativity?’

‘No, not at all. Using local products and focusing on the nature of the land around the development was very much in keeping with my own way of working. I enjoyed finding different ways to stick to Jay’s remit, but at the same time ensure that the houses reflect the lifestyles and tastes of the people who will buy the properties.’

Keira stopped speaking to allow the art director to look at the décor and inspect what she had done.

‘I’m impressed,’ he told her. ‘Very impressed. This toile, for instance…’

‘Locally made and designed.’

‘Jay, with your permission I’d like to make Keira and the work she’s done here a lead feature in our magazine. In fact I’d love to devote an entire magazine to what’s going on here, with interviews with the local craftsmen, articles on the history of those crafts, that kind of thing. What’s happening here really is revolutionary. Now that I’ve seen what Keira’s done I’m really blown away.’

Jay was frowning, and Keira wondered if perhaps he wasn’t as pleased with the interiors as she had hoped.

‘What I need to do is get a crew up here and some interviews set up. I know you want the feature to coincide with the launch of the development via your own advertising. You said you’d be launching officially at the World Trade Fair in six months’ time? Keira, I’ll want to do an in-depth interview with you, and I’d like to get an idea of how you work. Would it be okay with you if I attached myself to you and followed you around for the next couple of days?’

Jay was frowning even more now.

‘Well, if Jay doesn’t mind…’ she told Bas helplessly.

‘Of course he doesn’t mind. That’s what he’s brought me down here for—isn’t it, Jay?’

Ignoring the other man, Jay turned to Keira and said tersely, ‘Come and see me in my office at the palace in an hour’s time. I want to go through a few things with you. I’ll take you to your hotel now, Bas, and leave you there to get yourself settled in.’

The art director smiled warmly at Keira.

‘It’s only a flying visit for me this time, but I’m already looking forward to coming back and getting to spend more time with you.’

At least someone had admired the work she had done, even if that someone wasn’t Jay, Keira thought sadly as she waited for the houseboy to come back from telling Jay that she was here to see him.

She had arrived early for their appointment, and now she was feeling slightly sick and very nervous. The only thing that was keeping her going was her pride—and her determination to prove to Jay that she could be utterly professional.

Rakesh had returned and was asking her to follow him.

With every step that took her closer to Jay’s office and Jay himself her apprehension increased, until she would have given anything to turn and run away. What if he told her that he knew how she felt about him? What would she do then? How would she survive that humiliation?

Rakesh had knocked on the door and was pushing it open for her. It was too late now for her to run away. Keira stepped into the room, and then froze as she realised that Jay was standing so near to the door that she had virtually walked straight into him. When he reached past her to shut the door she felt close to dizziness with the effort of not allowing her body to react to his proximity. It was like depriving her lungs of oxygen, leaving her feeling dangerously weak and off balance. She had missed him so much. She ached for him so much. But she must not feel like this—she must not be like this.