Ather words, Meg felt the breath leave her body. Billionaire?Of all the things, Shelly could say to blindside her, she had to admit thenasty woman had scored a direct hit. Aware the others were waiting for herresponse, Meg struggled to clear the lump that had formed in her throat.
“Ah,there you are,” a familiar, deep voice said behind her. Turning, she saw Rob,her lovable, dear new friend. Yet this time, she felt as if she was seeing himwith different eyes. His clothing was casual enough, yet she suspected it costtop dollar. Judging from the distraught look in his eyes, she knew he’d heardShelly’s last comment. However, she couldn’t help wondering if he wasdistressed by the comment or that she’d discovered his secret.
Tara bounced out of her seat at Rob’sappearance, clearly feeling victorious since the discovery that Meg was merelya teacher and no serious threat to her claim. “Rob Madison,” she purred. “Younaughty boy, how could you leave me alone for so long?”
RobMadison. The name bounced around in her brain until she thought it wouldexplode. Madison hotels. Good God, she’d been shacking up with the owner ofthe stupid hotel that had screwed up her vacation plans. How could she havebeen so blind? The penthouse, the caviar, room service at twoin the morning. Damn, even the limo proclaimed the truth—MAD 1. Ofcourse, he was the owner. And what a laugh he must have been having at herexpense. No doubt the poor little rich boy had decided to do a little slumming.And she had slept with him. Given him her trust and her body.God help her, she could be carrying his child.
Shedidn’t remember leaving the bar or walking toward the front door of the hotel.She didn’t remember walking out to the parking lot. She didn’t rememberanything until she felt Rob’s hand on her arm, yelling her name.
“Meg,”he shouted. “Dammit, Meg, you have to let me explain.”
“Explain,”she whispered, shock setting in. “Nothing to explain. I have to leave.”
“No,”he said, quieter now that she stopped walking away. “You aren’t going anywhere.Not like this.”
“Robert,”Tara’s voice sounded from behind her. “Let hergo. I’m here now.”
“Tara.” Rob’s voice was filled with more menace than Meghad ever heard. “Get the fuck out of here right now before I have you escortedoff my property by security.”
Megheard Tara’s gasp and through the fog cloudingher mind, she wondered if anyone had ever spoken to the rich bitch in such amanner.
“Comeon Tara,” Shelly’s voice said. “I think it’stime we took our leave. I’m sorry, Robert.” Meg could hear the truth behind herwords. What a waste, she thought with a humorless laugh. He was the one playingthe game. He was the liar who had gotten exactly what he wanted from the dumblittle hick from the sticks.
Shefelt the laugh continue, bubbling out of her in great, gasping hiccups. Shelaughed until she felt tears streaming down her face.
“Christ,Meg,” Rob exclaimed. “You’re killing me, sweetheart. Please don’t cry. I can’ttake your tears. They tear me up inside.”
“Letme go,” she whispered, anguish rife in her voice.
“Never.” Rob lifted her into his arms,turning back toward the hotel.
Jerkingherself from her self-pity, she struggled to get away. Flailing and kicking,she felt Rob fight to keep a firm grasp on her. In the midst of her thrashing,he shifted her, tossing her over his shoulder. She gasped when she felt hishand land hard upon her rear-end.
“Damnyou!” She was aware of the scene they were making in the lobby, but she didn’tcare. The ding of the elevator caused her to renew the fight, knowing herchances of escape would be severely limited if he got her back to thepenthouse. Again, she felt his hand come down on her buttocks.
“Ouch!”she squealed. “That hurts.”
“Thenstop fighting me. I’m going to talk to you and I don’t give a damn if I have totie you to a chair and gag you to make you listen.”
“Oh no, Rob Madison.” Her voice was mocking as she saidhis true name. “You listen to me. I’m leaving. Put me down this second!”
Heignored her request as they entered the elevator and she continued to struggle,feeling more and more trapped as the elevator rose. Too soon, it arrived at thetop floor and Rob carried her down the hall to his penthouse. His penthouse—notthe company he worked for—the company he owned. Her anger returned full-force.
Assoon as he shut the door behind them, he set her on her feet, bracing himselffor her attack. If she hadn’t been so furious, she would have laughed at thesight of a man the size and stature of Rob Madison preparing himself for theblows of a woman who barely came up to his shoulder.
“Howdare you!” She raised her fist and pummeled his chest. “Who the hell do youthink you are to manhandle me like that? You lying, conniving bastard!”
Hewinced at her words and blows and she felt a sense of déjà vu as she lostcontrol of her temper and her tongue, much like she did her first night on theisland.
“You’reright,” he admitted softly. “I am a liar. I lied to you.”
“You’redamn right you did and right from the beginning.” She felt a bit stupidpointing out the obvious and backed away from him, desperate to get somedistance between them. She was finding it hard to catch her breath around thelump that had lodged in her throat. Rob had lied to her. She’d trusted him andhe had lied. Finally, her voice broke around the question she had to haveanswered. “Why? Why would you do that?”
“Youdidn’t recognize me.”
“So?”She was perplexed at his answer and her anger returned full-force. “What, didthat piss you off? Are you so used to everyone knowing your face that youwanted to punish me for not worshipping at yourbillion dollar feet?”
“Good God, no. I liked that you didn’t know me.”
Confused,she just continued to stare, waiting for him to explain.
“Forthe first time in my life, I was able to get to know someone and let them getto know me without my name and
