―You can‘t! ― She protested, ―That‘s a lot of money.‖
―Lily, I‘m certainly not starving.‖ Max finally smiled with a hint of arrogance.
She knew he was far from it. Luke was filthy rich because of Max and if he could afford to pay her brother such an outrageous salary, he could probably do without the contract, but she didn‘t want to be responsible for it.
―So what…I flash him a smile here or there.‖
―He‘s Greek,‖ Max said, ―The aggressive form of an Alpha male. A smile won‘t do. He‘ll manage to get you in a situation where you can‘t say no.‖
―You‘re joking….and that‘s not possible. I‘ll be with you.
You‘ll look out for me.‖ She saw something flash in his eyes, but it vanished just as quickly.
―Max has a solution Lily.‖ Luke added solemnly.
―Although I‘m not sure if I like it, but the final word comes from you.‖
52
The Billionaire‘s Secret Desire Lily turned back to Max, ―All right. Let‘s hear it. I come down with the flu and stay locked up in my room in Greece?‖ she smiled trying to ease the tension between the two.
―No, not quite.‖Max came around his desk and approached her.
The strange determined look in his eyes caused her to let go of the chair and step back, but he managed to grab both of her hands in his.She flicked a glance at Luke who looked entirely helpless. ―What are you doing?‖
―You‘re brother and I.‖He gave Luke and odd look,
―Thought that maybe we could convince Nikos that we‘re engaged.‖
Lily tilted her head at him completely puzzled.
―Engaged?‖
―It‘s just for cloaking purposes.‖ Said Luke quickly, ―To discourage him.‖
She was speechless.
―If we‘re convincing, Nikos will leave you alone. That way Luke and I can protect you from him.‖
She looked back and forth at the both of them, ―You‘re serious.‖
―The idea has merit Lily.‖ Said Luke.
―You two are that worried about Nikos.‖Like she said before, she could always say no.He was a man, a really nice looking man, but he still didn‘t hold a candle to Max and although she was flattered by his attention, she certainly wasn‘t going to hop into bed with him.
Luke nodded, ―Max can protect you. Nikos will not let up his pursuit unless we give him reason.‖
―Like I told you before Max, I am a big girl.I can say
‗no‘.‖
Luke straightened himself to his full height and stared down at her, ―Max will have his hands full trying to keep Nikos 53
L. R. Wards
away from you if he thinks you‘re single.Although I‘m apprehensive about this, it does make sense.You need to hear him out. That boy that practically had you in his back pocket when Max went to pick you up and he is a long line in a string of men who will use you.‖
Lily swung her accusing eyes to Max, ―You told him about David?‖
―I did. He‘s your brother. He should know what kinds of men are interested in you. Before you argue. I checked the man out. He‘d been inquiring about your relationship with me weeks before you dated him.‖
―How could you!‖ she glared at him and snatched her hands back.
―Lily,‖ cut in Luke, ―I‘m not always here. In the past year, I‘ve been away eight months. Max can take good care of you.‖
―I‘m not a puppy!‖ She made her way around the front of the chair she was holding on to earlier and sat down, ―I can‘t believe you two discussed me like a piece of meat.‖ She placed her face in her hands. ―It makes me feel so incapable.‖
Max winced, ―Lily.‖ He came around the front of her and crouched down to level his gaze with hers, ―I apologize.You certainly aren‘t. We think you are very precious. Neither one of us mean to demoralize you in the least.‖
She looked up at him, ―Too late.‖
Max took her hands again and held them in his,
―Listen, have you even looked in the mirror lately.‖ Her puzzled expression made him smile, ―I don‘t think you realize how appealing you are to men.I‘ve mentioned it before when we went out for dinner and Nikos couldn‘t take his eyes off of you.‖
He also mentioned that his thoughts turned toward the bedroom too, but she‘d since brushed it off, because he said it as if it was nothing special. Although deep
