Page 17 of How To Tempt The Off-Limits Billionaire

But nobody would realize that by looking at Muzi. He embodied the threeCs: cool, calm and collected. Until she looked into his eyes, turbulent with unspoken emotion. She immediately placed her hand on his, linking her fingers with his. She shouldn’t be touching him but, under his implacable surface, she was sure he needed comfort, a little reassurance that she was on his side.

Not that he wanted, or needed her, to stand in his corner—the man was very able to take care of himself—but didn’t everyone, at one point or another, need support? She sure did.

“Who are those people?” she asked, hoping but not expecting him to answer her.

Muzi tugged his hand away, pulled his linen serviette off the table and carefully laid it across his lap. “The older woman is Susan Matthews-Reed and she’s, despite our age difference, legally my sister. The redheaded guy is her son Keane Matthews-Reed. I don’t know who the younger woman is. Probably Keane’s current girlfriend.”

Muzi waited for the waitress to pour them a glass of red—Ro noticed that Pasco didn’t ask them for their preferences but just sent over what he thought they should be drinking—and leave before asking for clarification. “I’m confused. Can you explain that again?”

“My maternal grandmother was Mimi’s housekeeper, and they were great friends. Lu died when I was ten and Mimi adopted me. Susan is her daughter and Keane is Susan’s son, Mimi’s grandson. I’m, legally, Mimi’s son but I’ve always considered her to be my grandmother, not my mother,” Muzi added.

Got it, Ro thought. “Where are your parents, your other grandparents, Mimi’s husband?”

“Mimi’s husband died young. As for my birth parents, I had an uninterested mother and have no idea who my father is.”

Right. His “Don’t go there” expression and flat voice suggested she not ask any more personal questions.

“Did you have a happy childhood?” Ro asked, trying to keep her question as casual as possible.

Muzi shrugged. “I had everything I could want, and I got a great education.”

Good to know but he didn’t answer her question as to whether he’d been happy. Ro was about to push for more when he spoke again. “I’m very close to Mimi. She’s always treated me like her own.”

Ro started to ask him another question, but he cut her off, asking her what she wanted to eat. Right, he didn’t want to discuss his family or his place within it. She got the message.

She wanted to find what made this fascinating man tick, but he’d slammed that door shut. Maybe it was better that it stayed closed, she was already ridiculously attracted to Muzi, she didn’t want to become completely fascinated by him.

At this point in her life, she needed a romantic relationship like she needed a hole in her head.

“A menu would be good,” Ro said, looking around for a waitress.

Amusement returned to Muzi’s eyes. “You won’t get one. Pasco doesn’t care whatyouwant to eat, he’s going to send us what he thinks weshouldeat.”

Ro placed her chin in the palm of her hand and pulled a face. “Oh.” She wrinkled her nose and leaned forward. “Look, I know I’m sitting in one of the best restaurants in the country but, damn, I want a hamburger.”

Muzi’s eyes lightened with amusement. “I can ask Pasco if he’ll make you one. He’ll probably curse, but he’ll do it if I ask.”

Ro raised her eyebrows. “Really? You’re that close?”

Muzi grinned. “Hey, I fought off boarding school bullies for him, he can make me a damn burger. If he gave me a choice, not that he ever does, I’d just order a steak.”

“Rare?”

“Is there any other way to eat steak?”

“According to my mother, the vegetarian, I’m going to hell for killing God’s creatures and so is my father. He’s, mostly, a vegetarian but occasionally takes a trip over to the dark side. Once or twice a year, or when he’s annoyed with my mom, he brings out the barbecue and murders a steak, cooking it until it’s the consistency of old leather.”

Horror jumped into Muzi’s eyes. “Tell your dad to stick to being a vegetarian.”

“I have, on numerous occasions,” Ro replied. She looked across the patio, saw that Susan was still looking their way, and tried to ignore the ripple of unease running up and down her spine. What was that all about? Why was she having a weird reaction to someone she didn’t know and, probably, never would? Susan was part of Muzi’s life, his business, not hers.

But if she and Muzi...

No, now she was being over-the-top fanciful. There would be no “she and Muzi,” now or in the future. She was avoiding relationships. She didn’t need the drama. She had enough trouble in her life already.

“So you and Pasco went to school together?” Ro asked him, running a finger up and down the stem of her wineglass.

“We—Digby, Pasco, Keane and I—all started at Duncan House at the same time. Most of us have been friends ever since.”

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