Page 14 of Cinderella's Fling with the Off-Limits Billionaire

If she’d been overawed by the view from the foyer, then stepping into the living area was something else entirely. Not only was it grand and luxurious, but she couldn’t get over how well designed it was. Every window had been framed in some way to capitalize the view. One had a morning bench against it, for sitting and having coffee and bagels, another two armchairs angled to enjoy the outlook of the park. Then there were the French doors that opened out onto a terrace. She shook her head, completely over-whelmed.

“You just…bought this?”

He concentrated on opening a bottle of champagne. Even that was expensive—she knew from the hotel wine list. Not that she’d ever had any herself. He poured two glasses and brought one to her.

“We can think of tonight as a housewarming,” he said with something approaching a wink. Only his voice was graveled and husky, laced with intent.

“I don’t understand,” she said, honestly. “You’re a really hot guy, and obviously very, very rich and sophisticated and you could have literally any woman you want. Why the heck would you go to all this trouble for me?”

“It was no trouble.”

“That’s not really an answer.”

“Okay,” he stopped right in front of her, handing the glass over. She took it, but didn’t sip. “I could tell you it’s because we started something last night and I want to finish it. Or I could tell you it’s because you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and I just want to look at you a while longer. Both are true. But even more so, Skye, I want to be distracted right now. I want to lose myself in you, the way I started to last night. I want you to help me not think about things I’d prefer to ignore. Of all the women I’ve known, I think you might be best at that.”

“At making you forget?”

His eyes hooked to hers and though he didn’t speak, she felt the answer pulsing from him.

“What are you trying to forget?”

“Talking about it won’t help.”

She bit into her lower lip. He stared at her mouth and her body felt quivery.

“I am only in the States for a little over a week.”

She sipped her champagne, mainly because her mouth was as dry as the desert and she needed some relief.

“After that, I’ll go back to Rome.”

She nodded slowly.

“I don’t come here often. My business is mainly in Europe.”

“And yet you’ve just bought this place.”

“Don’t think about that.”

“I’m sorry, I’m having a hard time not thinking about it. I can barely afford gas for my car half the time…”

His eyes softened a little. She bit back the rest of the sentence. She didn’t want sympathy from a filthy rich tycoon.

“My point is that I’m not offering anything long term.”

She took another sip of champagne.

“After this week, we wouldn’t see one another again.”

“Right, it’s not like we really move in the same circles,” she joked nervously.

“And I want to be very clear about that. The last thing I need right now is guilt over hurting a woman needlessly.”

Her brows knit together. “You won’t hurt me,” she said almost robotically. “I’m not interested in a relationship, believe me.”

He lifted one brow. “No?”

She shook her head with gusto. “Definitely not.”

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