If she moved any closer, she’d be on Max’s lap, Lily thought, missing Max‘s look entirely.She looked up at her brother who shot her an amused smirk and shook his head slightly.Like Luke, Max knew that Lily spoke French and understood every rude thing the woman said about her.He should know. He tutored her when she was in high school. The first thing out of the woman‘s mouth was an insult over her gown, the same gown that Max had asked her to buy. Wouldn‘t it ruffle the woman‘s feathers if she knew that it was her boyfriend that suggested the style?She got a sense of smug satisfaction knowing that Cybil just insulted Max‘s taste not Lily‘s. It may have not been the three thousand dollar Christian Dior that the model was wearing but she did think it was just as nice.
Dinner started out well.The Greek clients happened to be a billionaire and his son who was about Max‘s and her brother‘s age. It was then that Lily realized that Greek men were ruthless at pursuing women and confident in their abilities just 36
The Billionaire‘s Secret Desire as much as Max was.Nikos, the son, consistently flattered her throughout the evening regardless of the fact that she came with Luke, but no one had let on that she was his sister. Several times she began to tell them when either Max or her brother interrupted her.Finally she caught Luke‘s look which basically told her not to say anything and it wasn‘t until later that she found out why.
―I have a daughter your age.‖ Said Nikos father Hektor, in broken English as he gave Lily a look of approval. Then a look of sadness seemed to fill his eyes. ―She‘s nineteen.‖
―Then we‘re close.‖ Offered Lily pleasantly, ―I‘m twenty as of last month.‖ She said ignoring Cybil‘s indignant huff.Lily decided right then and there that she didn‘t like her. She‘d been extremely condescending and no matter what she was talking about Cybil made some childish noise, even if it was a simple statement like now.How Max could be interested in someone like that went beyond her.After all, he was such a deeply intelligent man.
―She is very beautiful, like you.‖ Nikos added and smiled seeing her rising blush. ―Greece refers to her as their sweetheart.
Even though she‘s nineteen, she does an enormous amount of charity work.‖
Wow, thought lily, what a compliment.
The evening continued on and Cybil had long since given up trying to gain his attention and was now sulking despite having the most gorgeous man there sitting next to her she obviously wanted all of the attention.Lily noticed that Max didn‘t even take notice of her mood and clearly ignored it. She knew him well enough to know that he didn‘t put up with the pettiness that women were capable of.Lily on the other hand was raised with a brother, no sisters, so she didn‘t understand the cattiness that women showed each other.Because of that 37
L. R. Wards
most of her friends were male acquaintances, not female and she was closer to her brother than anyone.
Then when Nikos asked her out to dinner the next night, she suddenly felt Max‘s hand on her upper thigh squeezing a warning. Trying not to jump out of her chair at the unexpected touch and ignore the heat of his large hand she flicked him a puzzled glance and he subtly shook his head.
Gritting her teeth she politely turned him down.
Although he didn‘t come close to Max, the man was still tall dark and gorgeous and Max took it upon himself to tell her she couldn‘t go out on a date with him. She sent a pleading look to her brother who frowned at her expression. Strike two, she fumed. She wasn‘t a baby anymore, yet both of the men in her life basically told her she wasn‘t old enough to make a decision on who she could date.
On the ride home she
