Tempted by the Tycoon's Proposal Read online

  She stood up slowly, her eyes not leaving his. ‘I’m not asking you to give me anything, Jack. No promises, nothing.’

  He could believe her as he looked into her eyes and saw her sincerity for what it was. She reached up her hands and cupped his jaw, soft and soothing.

  ‘Truth is, Jack, I’ve never wanted a man, never wanted to kiss a man, not like I do you.’

  ‘And you shouldn’t.’

  ‘But I do...’ Her eyes lowered to his mouth and returned twice as fierce, twice as needy. ‘I want you to kiss me, Jack.’

  ‘But I—’

  ‘I don’t want more...’ She stroked one hand back, her fingers tantalisingly soft in his hair. ‘I want to be there for you now, in this second. I want you to realise you are worthy of more than you know, I want...’

  Her lips brushed over his, finishing the sentence for her, and he couldn’t hold back any more. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tightly to him. His head slanted to take more of her kiss, to swallow up the blissful moan she released, his own groan just as powerful, just as needy.

  He couldn’t remember ever feeling more alive, more out of control. It was heady, intense, scary. He dragged his mouth away, her name leaving him on a pained whisper, and then he kissed her harder, his hold tighter. He needed her to be sure, to know what she was taking on.

  ‘Please, Jack, I want this.’

  He found her lips again, his tongue feasting inside, teasing at her own. He felt the shiver that ran down her spine beneath his fingers, felt the way she curved her hips against him, and he didn’t doubt her, not for a second.

  ‘Even if we only do this once,’ she said against his mouth, ‘I want you to be my first.’

  My first...

  He jumped back as though burned, dragging in a lungful of air.

  She was a virgin.

  Their conversation over dinner that first time... She’d never, not once...?

  He’d been Elena’s one and only. To be Sophia’s too... His gut lurched as he spun away from all her flushed glory. How could he?

  Because you’re a cold, heartless bastard, that’s how.

  ‘You need to go, Sophia.’

  ‘But... Jack?’

  ‘Now, Sophia, just go!’

  Before I pull you back to me and take all that you are offering without a backward glance.

  Before I ruin what’s left of my soul and yours with it.

  Before history repeats itself and this time Lily will witness it all and realise what a failure her father truly is.

  There was silence behind him. She hadn’t moved and this time he looked at her, projecting all the hardness and self-loathing he could. ‘Please, just go.’

  She blinked once, twice, then shook her head and scrubbed her heated cheeks. ‘You know what, Jack, maybe Elena was right. You have no heart, none at all.’

  And then she was gone, her words pulling him apart inside. It was all he deserved and more.

  But it didn’t make it easier to bear. It didn’t stop him wanting to run after her and plead for her forgiveness, to wish that life could be different, that he could be different.

  He picked up his wine glass and necked the remainder before pouring another. He stared into the ruby-red liquid as though it possessed all the answers and felt the cold settle around him, inside him.

  He was alone, very much alone, and he’d never felt more so.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  SOPHIA WAS AVOIDING HIM. He knew it and she knew it.

  She’d managed to prevent any chance meeting in the foyer all week by avoiding it all together. She’d not returned any of the missed calls and messages he’d left and the closest they’d got to any interaction had been a note she’d left at Reception for him with the details for Noah’s party. Today’s party.

  Heaven help her...

  If only she could have backed out of going, feigned illness, or told Jack that he wasn’t welcome. But she couldn’t lie, and she wouldn’t let her messed-up love life get in the way of Lily enjoying this time with the other kids.

  She stared at Sam’s inviting lilac door with its ornate yellow frame just like the one out of Friends and took a deep breath. It would be fine. There would be no scene, not in front of the children, and with any luck he would have dropped Lily off and fled.

  All perfectly fine.

  She rapped her knuckles on the door and tried to stop the near constant playback from starting up again in her brain.

  With the devastating realisation that he was more tormented by Elena’s death than she had ever thought possible came the fact that she cared more than she should. That even though they’d barely met, she’d already been reeled in so completely. And though he claimed he was incapable of having one, he was suffering with a broken heart. One that had been well and truly trodden on by the words Elena had thrown at him in a fit of anger.

  And she didn’t blame the poor woman. She’d learned enough from Jack to understand the kind of man he was. She knew work would have filled his days and most likely his nights too. But he had done it because he cared, because he did have a heart, and he absolutely did love.

  She also knew she had to apologise to him. She’d lashed out, her words callous and unkind, but then she’d not been thinking clearly. She’d been so hurt by his rejection, embarrassed by her confession that she wanted him to be her first, only to have him reject her. It had crushed her. Made her feel foolish and stupid.

  It wasn’t until she’d slept on it and replayed it all that she’d understood he’d done it out of concern for her; he’d done it out of the goodness of his heart, not the lack of one.

  She shuddered even now as she remembered the whole scene, wishing she’d never divulged that secret. It hadn’t been easy to tell him the first time around, and having him label her as too naïve, too innocent to be...to be what? Defiled by him.

  Maybe if she hadn’t been so honest things would be different now. Maybe they’d have made love all night and every night since. Maybe they’d have made a pact to spend every spare private moment together, entwined like the images her dreams taunted her with.

  She felt her cheeks colour and her body respond to the idea, and of course the door was opened at that precise moment.

  ‘Sam, I’m so sorry—Jack!’

  She squeaked and gulped, the sight of the man before her colliding with the naked one still rampant in her heated thoughts.

  ‘Hi...sorry. Samantha has her hands full with the rabble so I said I would get it.’

  ‘You did?’ she blurted.

  ‘I figured it would be you since everyone else is here. The kids that is; all the parents have dropped and run.’

  ‘And you didn’t want to do the same?’ Oh, please, why couldn’t you have done the same...?

  ‘No, I’m not one for just leaving her places.’ His frown told her he thought she was crazy to even suggest it. ‘She’s either with me or the people I employ to take care of her.’

  ‘You’re kidding, right?’

  His frown deepened. He was just as incredulous as her and she realised too late the error of her words. Of course he wouldn’t entrust Lily’s care to just anyone. Samantha hadn’t earned his trust and neither had she. And it stung, overtaking her thoughts of an apology, the things she had wanted to take back from the other night, replacing it with more anger, more hurt.

  ‘Well, for your information, Jack,’ she bit out, ‘Lily is safe with us, regardless of what you might think to the contrary. Now, if you’ll just excuse me...’

  She needed to get out of his company before she did something she’d regret, like say something else that she’d need to take back once she’d calmed down. She lifted Noah’s present to her chest, an extra barrier between him and her, and made to go past him but he reached out, his hand gentle on her arm.

  ‘Hang on one sec...please
.’

  She looked down the hallway to the crack in the door through which she could see the kids playing and hear their excited chatter as they talked over one another and the music that played in the background.

  ‘What is it, Jack? I’m late enough as it is.’

  ‘I didn’t just stay for Lily, Sophia.’ His voice was soft, ardent, and she could feel her resolve wavering as her gaze met with the warming sincerity of his. ‘I wanted to see you.’

  She wet her lips. ‘You did?’

  ‘I’ve been trying to all week but...’

  She looked away, her cheeks pinking up. ‘I know, I just—I just wasn’t ready to see you again.’

  ‘I understand that, but I wanted to apologise.’

  ‘Apologise?’ She frowned at him. ‘Why?’

  ‘Because I shouldn’t have backed you into a corner.’

  ‘You didn’t—’

  ‘Let me finish. I wasn’t fair on you. I just wanted you to understand why.’

  ‘Why what?’

  ‘Why there could never be an us.’

  She started to shake her head.

  ‘I didn’t do a good job of it,’ he continued. ‘Of any of it. I didn’t want to push you away, but I felt I had to, for your own good, not for mine. Do you understand?’

  Understand? Her eyes flared and her body stilled. Of all the patronising, chauvinistic, belittling... She dragged in a breath.

  ‘I understand perfectly.’ Her eyes darted between the empty outer hallway and the bustling room ahead, wanting no one to hear what came next as she poked him in the chest. ‘You used my V plates as reason to reject me. You think I’m not woman enough to take what you’re willing to offer and walk away in one piece. Well, I’ll have you know, Mr Up-Your-Own-Behind McGregor, I am a woman who knows her own mind, and when I say I want you I mean it.’

  His eyes widened with every word, his mouth parting. She’d shocked him. Good.

  But now she couldn’t tear her eyes from those lips, those tantalisingly full and extremely kissable lips, because now she knew how they felt and could remember every last detail.

  Her belly fluttered alive, her limbs filling with such lustful warmth she was scared her knees would buckle.

  ‘Just because you’ve lived that little bit more than me, Jack, it doesn’t mean you get to tell me what I should and shouldn’t want.’

  ‘Sophia, do you have any idea of the effect you have over me?’ He raked an unsteady hand through his hair, turned away from her and came back, then reached for her and stopped. ‘I want to kiss you so badly right now, and I don’t care who sees!’

  It wasn’t what she’d expected. It wasn’t anything close, and before she could really think about it she was reaching out for his jumper and grabbing a fistful as she pulled him into the outer hallway. Noah’s present was crushed between them as she pressed her lips to his. Hungrily, she moved over him, her mouth driving it, her tongue. There was nothing soft or sweet about her now. She wanted him to know she was all woman and she knew her own mind and would take what she wanted.

  As soon as his hands lifted to her hair, his lips softening beneath her own, she pulled back and stared him down. ‘Just because this is new to me, Jack, it doesn’t mean I’m not a quick learner and it doesn’t make me weak.’

  And then she left him, his clothing still ruffled, his hair too as he sucked in air and she walked into the flat to join the lively party ahead. She took a moment to pat down her appearance, to wipe her lips and catch her breath. Samantha would likely think she’d applied an extra layer of blusher, not kissed the face off Lily’s egotistical and far too appealing father.

  As for the apology she owed him, that would have to wait until later. If he dared to be alone with her again.

  What had she done?

  ‘Sphea! At last!’ Lily ran up to her, her face aglow, her happiness adding to the endorphin rush already in her system and she grinned wide.

  ‘Hey, kiddo, you having a good time?’

  ‘The best.’ She nodded fiercely, her arms wrapped around her legs.

  ‘I’m glad.’

  ‘Yes, where’ve you been, Auntie Sophia?’ Sam’s tone was loaded. ‘It’s lucky Jack hung around else it would be utter carnage—I’m talking swinging from the chandelier stuff.’

  Sophia laughed. ‘You don’t even have a chandelier.’

  ‘Yes, well, at least you’re here now. Drink?’

  ‘Please.’

  Samantha disappeared off to get her one and she sought out the birthday boy amongst the kids huddled into the living area. ‘Hey, Noah, I’ve got something for you here.’

  She lifted the present up so he could see it and he bounded over. ‘Thank you, Aunt Soph!’

  ‘You’re welcome,’ she said, bending down as he gave her a hug and a kiss to the cheek. ‘Happy birthday!’

  He took the present and raced to the sofa, his friends and Lily all circling around him as he opened it. She looked back in the direction of the door, to where Jack still was. What was he doing?

  ‘Here...’ Sam appeared at her side, a glass of fizz in each hand and offered one out to her. ‘Drink this; we’re going to need it.’

  Sophia laughed but gratefully accepted it, her eyes back on Noah as he ripped through the packaging but her head returned to Jack and his absence. She also knew Sam had noticed, the way her friend’s eyes kept flicking to her, trying to read her, and any minute now she would ask, What have you done with Jack?

  She threw back a gulp of fizz and pondered her answer. Sorry, hon, I think I just accosted him in the hallway and now he’s run for his life.

  ‘You okay?’ Sam eventually asked. ‘You’ve looked strangely flushed since the moment you walked in.’

  Sophia almost choked on the bubbles. Trust Sam to say it how it is.

  ‘I’m fine.’

  ‘You sure, ’cos you’ve only gotta say the word and I’ll go sort him out.’

  She gave Sam a warning glare that was half Thank you and half Don’t even think about it. She just prayed Sam didn’t come right out and say something to him.

  Maybe she shouldn’t have spilled her all to her friend last Sunday. But when Sam had turned up on her doorstep at the crack of dawn, a tasty bag of fresh pastries and two coffees in hand, with a please-let-me-live-vicariously-through-you look in her eye, Sophia hadn’t been able to keep her mouth shut. And, to be fair, Sam had been a good listener, a good listener who’d sympathised greatly with the nature of her predicament, but also advised in no uncertain terms that Sophia should be in it for the fun and shouldn’t expect more. She’d also been quick to add that should he hurt her she’d go after him with her—

  ‘Nutcracker at the ready, Soph...’

  She looked to the doorway and, sure enough, Jack had returned...

  * * *

  Jack leaned back against the wall and counted to ten, then twenty...then thirty because there was no way he was walking back into a kids’ party in this...situation. He glanced down then breathed some more. His tent-like situation wasn’t the worst of his problems either. It was the fact that he’d been so close to suggesting they end this the one way he knew how: in his bed.

  And then what?

  She’d have given him her virginity and he would fly away to his next destination—in this case Tokyo—like it meant nothing.

  No, just no.

  Then why was he still so torn?

  Because you want her and you know she’s different; you just don’t understand why.

  And it was his job to understand everything: the people he did business with, the people he employed, his daughter. But Sophia was an enigma—the power she wielded over him, the all-consuming need she sparked.

  Maybe he really had been off the dating scene too long. He’d had plenty of offers over the years, but none had tempted him. Not like this. And
again, there was the problem—it was her. He wanted her and no one else would do.

  Was he really worried about her and her innocence, or was it his own ability to move on that he doubted?

  He shook off the crazed thought and headed back inside. Sex could be just that. Sex. It didn’t need to be complicated with more so long as they were honest from the outset.

  He would let Lily have her fun, enjoy time with her peers and when it was all over he would take this up with Sophia. They would thrash it out until they both understood what the other wanted from this and there’d be no overstepping that agreement.

  He couldn’t deny that the prospect excited him far too much to let his worry back in. There would be time for worry later, much later, when he was far away from London and the past.

  ‘Ah, Jack, thought you’d got lost between here and the front door for a second,’ Samantha teased, turning away and picking up a chilled bottle of beer. ‘Here’s one I prepped for you.’

  She walked up to him, her eyes seeing far too much, he was sure. What exactly did she know? Had Sophia talked to her? And what was she thinking now as she narrowed her gaze on him? Why did women have to talk?

  ‘Cheers!’ she said, offering up her drink.

  ‘Cheers.’

  He chinked the bottle against her glass and took a long pull of the cold liquid, realising not only how much he needed its cooling temperature but that he hadn’t drunk straight from the bottle in a long time.

  He heard a giggle behind Samantha, an easily recognisable giggle, and he looked over her head to see Sophia’s sparkling blue eyes on him.

  He raised his brow at her. ‘What?’

  ‘Nothing...just the sight of you slumming it with the rest of us, no champagne in sight... It tickles me.’

  His eyes didn’t leave Sophia’s laughing ones; the urge to kiss her was overwhelming. ‘So, it tickles you, does it?’

  He stepped around Samantha and headed towards her.

  Her eyes flared, her smile turning wary. ‘Uh-huh.’

  ‘If you want something real to tickle you, I’m game.’