Page 11 of The Billionairess
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He madeshort work of piercing her other ear. Once he had it cleaned up, it seemed like he was going to usher her out of hisoffice.
“Don’t I get a lollipop for being a good girl?” She attempted to lighten themood.
He stalked over to his desk, opened the drawer and presented her with a bowl of Hershey’skisses.
She gladly grabbed three, unwrapped one, and popped it into her mouth. Not willing to let the moment slip past, she grinned at him. “My first kiss from you… absolutely marvelous.” She wasn’t sure if it came off as sexy or silly, but she gave herself props fortrying.
“I don’t want a one-night stand,” he said out of theblue.
Her head jerked back as if she had been smacked. “I don’t recall asking for one,” she snapped, uncertain what his dealwas.
“We can’t be anything more than that,” he told herfirmly.
She felt furious that he was telling her to her face that she would never be anything more than a fling to him, but she respected his honesty. Her first instinct was to hightail it out of his office, yet the aching hole in her chest yearned to hear what he had to say. Deciding to hear him out, she finally asked, “Why isthat?”
“We’re too different. Don’t you see it? I wouldn’t fit in your world, and you certainly don’t fit in mine. We are doomed for failure before we even begin.” His direct gaze was making her uncomfortable. She was used to people diverting their eyes from her, especially when they were forced to give her badnews.
She refused to admit how hard she had tried to fit into his world with her stupid casual outfit that she had stressed over, especially since he had just told her that she didn’t belong here. Blinking a few times to hold back the unwanted tears, she fumed and tried to think of an appropriateresponse.
Before she could say anything, he went on. “You belong with someone who is wealthy and dignified. You need a man that can go to your fancy parties and talk to anyone in the room… someone who has social graces… someone not likeme.”
“Are you done telling me what I need?” she asked, fully annoyed. At his nod, she told him, “I can’t stand guys like what you are describing. We are too much alike. I need someone different… someone like you.” It was the most she had put her feelings out there in a very longtime.
“We don’t have anything in common. We are too different to make it work.” He seemedadamant.
She didn’t particularly like this stubborn, negative side of him, but she wasn’t about to back down. “I bet we have plenty in common,” she guessed. “We just have to discover it. What do you like todo?”
“I do a lot of camping,” he revealed toher.
“I love camping!” she lied. He raised his head with a hopeful look at her, and she immediately wondered if she had gone toofar.
