Captivated by the Millionaire

“All right. You can share mine.”

The milkshake arrived with two fat paper straws sticking out of the tall sundae glass just as Jordan had requested. He pushed it toward her. “Ladies first.”

She took a hesitant sip as he watched. There was something deliciously intimate about sharing a beverage out of the same glass. An explosion of coffee and chocolate filled her mouth. “Wow.”

“What did I tell you?” he asked with a laugh.

“You weren’t kidding. I’ll admit, this place could give Bimby’s a run for its money.”

“Change your mind about wanting your own?”

She shook her head. “I’d better not.”

The real truth was, she liked the idea of the picture they must have made. As if they were a real couple, with their heads bowed over a single sundae glass. As if they’d been together for a while, intimate even. Two people in a solid relationship enjoying each other’s company.

Is that the way they looked to the other customers sitting in this ice cream parlor? But there was an even bigger question that nagged at her.

Would she ever really have that with anyone? Least of all the man sitting next to her now?

* * *

Jess had no idea how badly Jordan wanted to crush his lips to hers. So he’d had to get them both away. Before he did something stupid in front of all those theatergoers. Like pull her to him and devour her mouth like he so badly wanted to do since he’d laid eyes on her this morning.

She’d looked right in his penthouse. Like she belonged there. With him.

He had to wonder how things would be between them if they’d just been two normal strangers who’d met under normal circumstances. Who knew? Maybe there was a small chance he would have met her even if he hadn’t made the move to Martha’s Vineyard. If his life was back to normal and he was a bachelor businessman without the responsibility of caring for a small child who was dealing with a developing disability. Maybe they might have even crossed paths while she was on this trip to accept her mom’s award.

It was a fanciful notion, but he wanted to believe that he would have met Jess regardless of life events.

He sighed and watched her take another sip of the milkshake, those luscious, full lips tempting him even further. There was no use in speculating about what might have been. The reality was he was responsible for a child. He had to do everything in his power to make sure Sonya grew up healthy and happy. He’d messed that up once already with colossal results. He would never forgive himself if it were to happen again.

Heeding reality meant that he couldn’t offer Jess the type of relationship a woman like her deserved from a man. Things like a full commitment, his full attention, his time.

He just didn’t have any of it in him. Not now, not after the events of the year. Which made him oh-so-wrong for her. So he should have never asked her if she wanted him to kiss her. If he could take it back, he would. He would tell her how temporary this weekend was. He would tell her she deserved much more than what he could give her. She wasn’t the type to indulge in a fling. Given what she’d revealed about her past and her childhood, it just wasn’t in her nature. It would be unfair and cruel for him to pretend otherwise.

CHAPTER TEN

HOW FORMAL COULD a charity auction be? Jess decided the dress she’d worn last night would work for tonight’s festivities, too. She’d freshen it up by hanging it in the bathroom as she took a steamy shower. It wasn’t like she’d done much in it last night, just sat at a table then walked up on a stage where a little metal statue of a camera lens was handed to her. Plus, she happened to have packed a delicate, gold lace scarf that would serve to highlight the subtle golden detail in the fabric. Couple that with the huge gold hoops she hadn’t worn last night, it was almost a completely new outfit.

Besides, the other option was the only other thing she’d packed—her little black dress, pretty boring now that she considered it in hindsight.

None of this had anything to do with the way Jordan had reacted to seeing her in the blue number last night.

Jess knew the exact moment Jordan had entered the main lounge area of his suite and was ready to go. Not that she could explain how she could sense such a thing. Somehow, she just did. The more time they spent together, the more in tune with him she seemed to be.