Page 71 of No More Billionaires

But what if he’s not?I was through being a rich man’s plaything, even if the man in question was Larson.

I stared at him, shaking my head, unable to respond for a moment. And then I found my voice. It sounded exactly as perturbed as I felt.

“I’m not going to be your… your… live-in mistress, if that’s what you think.”

Scooping my shoes from the floor, I headed for his bedroom door. I needed to get away from him—now.

Maybe I was overreacting, but hurt and humiliation boiled in my veins.

Larson followed me. “Kenley—don’t be mad. I was trying to help. Of course I don’t want you here just for sex.”

I ignored him and kept walking toward his front door, hopping as I slipped on one shoe then the other without breaking my stride.

He probablyhadn’tmeant anything by it, but I had opened myself up to him emotionally, andthiswas exactly what came of doing something so stupid. I was struggling fiercely to keep the tears from coming.

“Please don’t go like this.”

Larson caught me and placed his hands on my shoulders, stopping me in the foyer. He turned me to face him.

“I’m sorry. That came out wrong. I didn’t mean to suggest that you were—I mean, I don’t think of you like that. At all. It’s more than that. In fact I—”

He stopped himself and stared down at me, some sort of internal battle playing out on his face.

He sighed. “I just want to see you more—a lot more. The best parts of my day are when I get to be with you. And Ireallyliked waking up beside you those two mornings at the cabin.”

Just like that, my fury melted. As I watched the worry swim through his expressive eyes, my irrational anger was replaced with a warm, ticklish feeling rising from my belly up through my chest and coming out as a soggy smile.

“I liked it too,” I whispered, sniffling softly.

“Oh God, I made you cry? I’m an idiot. Someone should kick my ass. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay. I’m just… emotional. Come here.”

I lifted my arms to him, and Larson stepped into my embrace, squeezing me so tightly it was almost painful.

“I don’t want you to leave. When can I see you again?” he murmured against my neck, the warm waft of his breath stirring the baby hairs at my nape.

I giggled. “Um, tomorrow at work?”

He loosened his hold enough to see my face. “No. You know what I mean. Hey—you know what? I have to go to this boring fundraiser thing Friday night. Would you go with me?”

“Wow—you’re really selling it.” I laughed and pulled away to re-button my cardigan—I’d missed one and it was gaping in one spot.

“No, actually, this one’s probably going to be better than most. Tom’s one of the sponsors.”

“Tom, as in Tom Thompson, our boss?”

“Yeah—he and my parents know each other socially. He’s having this big fundraiser for inner city schools, and Mom and Dad are flying in from New York Friday morning for it. You could meet them.”

His voice adopted a teasing note. “Unlikeyou,I actuallywantto introduce you tomymom and dad.”

I laughed and gave him a brief kiss. “It’s not you who’s the problem—believe me. I’m actually keeping you apart for your own good.”

“Oh—Dad handy with a shotgun?”

“No—Daddy’snot the problem, either. Don’t ask.” I lifted my purse from the long table spanning the foyer wall. “I’d love to go with you. What should I wear?”

He shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I think the invitation said ‘Black Tie,’ but whatever you’re comfortable in is fine.”

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