If it weren‘t for the teasing look in his eyes, she would have blasted him for such a suggestion after what she‘d just told him, ―Yeah, sure.‖
―Then I could fire him because he wasn‘t as good as you.
Revenge can be sweet.‖
She actually laughed, ―You really would wouldn‘t you?‖
―Of course.‖ He gave her a lopsided grin, ―Anything for you button.‖
She had to force herself to breathe after that statement,
―As mad as I am at him, I just couldn‘t subject him to that.I would feel too guilty.‖If he says button one more time in that deep voice, I’m going to faint, she thought.
13
L. R. Wards
―Ah, there‘s the sweet Lily I know.‖ He flashed her another smile and his eyes went to her mouth again.
Sweet? Blood rushed into her cheeks at his flattering tone, ―Okay…enough.‖ She held up her hand in surrender causing him to chuckle.
About ten minutes passed before she found her voice again, ―Is it true that you‘re dating that model Cybil Dawn?‖ He gave her an unreadable expression.
―Dating, yes.‖ His eyes roved over her with his expression not giving anything away, ―Why?‖
―She‘s not your type.‖ She heard herself say wishing she‘d just kept her mouth shut.
He chuckled, ―No? Then what is my type honey?‖
She shrugged trying to hide the shiver that just ran through her, doing her best on trying to act indifferent,
―Someone who is down to earth, yet challenges you enough to keep you on your toes. ―She cleared her throat,―You know, someone who‘s witty—― she nearly said intelligent, but that was an unfair judgement because she didn‘t know Cybil and for all she knew the woman had a two hundred I.Q.
―How do you know she doesn‘t?‖ he said casting a careful look in her direction searching her expression for a betrayal of her indifferent tone.It was subtle, but he did see it.Her eyes glanced off of him and he didn‘t miss the vulnerability that was displayed in them. A sense of satisfaction washed through him.
―She‘s a model.‖ She said nonchalantly.
―There‘s the stereotype.‖ He gave her a slanted grin, ―And you‘re one to talk. Didn‘t you get offered a modelling job?‖
―That‘s different and I turned it down.‖ She cast him a shy sideways glance.It was embarrassing to be categorized along with the women he‘d dated. She‘d met quite a few of them over the years and they were mostly shallow and self absorbed.She never understood why an intelligent man like him was interested 14
The Billionaire‘s Secret Desire in them. Years later, she began to understand that it wasn‘t their intelligence he was after.Yet, to know that he desired women like that made her feel insignificant modelling offer or not. There was no way on God‘s green earth that she could compete with those women.
―Turned it down?I thought Luke threatened to disown you.‖ He offered watching her cheeks pink up.
―Oh God….he told you?‖ She groaned. ―Just the same I turned it down.Luke said that lifestyle would ruin me.Geez, don‘t you guys keep secrets?‖
―Luke‘s right.‖ He added, ―And no, he‘s my best friend.‖
It was actually Max that told Luke not to allow Lily to go into modelling.Luke was almost willing to let her do it until Max reminded him of the lifestyle.Both of them had extensive experience in dating women like that and he didn‘t want Lily to be ruined. She was special to him. More than she knew.
―Regardless, you‘re one to talk. You‘re dating a model.‖
She defended, ―And you tell me I shouldn‘t choose that career.‖
He grinned, ―That‘s different.I didn‘t know her before she was a model.What I see is what I got. With you, it would destroy that sweet quality you have.‖
She stared at him, sweet, he thought she was sweet? He‘s said it moments ago, but hearing it twice made her catch her breath.Max was always good to her, but he never really complimented her before.
―And then there‘s the dieting, the late nights, long hours…‖
―Dating rich fabulously handsome men like you…‖ she added without thinking. She held her breath hoping he didn‘t hear her, but he caught
