Page 3 of The Billionaire's Obsession

Cole merely smirked as he sipped his wine. “Good to know,” he murmured.

Jesus, was this the most unflappable man in the world or what?

“Next year, I’m thinking of that operation where they remove some ribs, you know that one?”

“I’m not familiar with it, I’m afraid,” Cole said, sounding less than impressed.

“I also don’t plan on working when I get married,” I said, deciding that the surgery angle wasn’t bothering him enough, and it was time to change track.

“Do you work now?” His tone made it clear that he expected me not to. The arrogance of it got under my skin.

“Yes, I sculpt,” I shot out, a sudden nugget of truth in the cloud of lies.Crap, why had I said that?Ella wasn’t interested in art.

A gleam of interest fired in Cole Preston’s blue eyes. “What do you sculpt?”

“People, mostly.” Again, the truth just slipped out. Man, I needed to get it together. “Mostly er, male nudes, and that’s not something I plan on stopping,” I babbled.

“How interesting. I don’t think I’d be opposed to sitting for you, for practise,” he said, just as I took a sip of water. The mouthful exploded out, as his words shocked me, stretching across the table to spray his face again. I clapped a hand over my mouth. It was a move I’d used before, and usually it meant the end of the date. Cole simply picked up his napkin and dabbed at his skin once more.

“I’m so sorry, that was terribly impolite of me. Despite my upbringing, I struggle to remember my manners in public,” I simpered. Why wasn’t he running for the hills by now? What was wrong with this guy? Maybe he was super interested in the wealth that Ella would bring with her marriage? Maybe, but he looked powerful and rich as hell. Why did he need to sit through the worst date in the world?

A throat cleared beside us, and I looked up to see a fancy silver cloche being set before me. When it was lifted, the most delicious looking cheeseburger sat on my plate, plump and juicy, and begging to be devoured.

“I think everyone around us might be jealous right now. You made a wise choice,” Cole was saying, as he picked up his cheeseburger, totally uncaring of our audience, watching curiously.

“Thanks,” I muttered, giving in to the urge to taste it. As soon as the perfect beef and sharp tang of ketchup hit my tongue, I moaned, and then froze.

Risking a glance up, I saw Cole had also frozen, his icy blue gaze fixed on my mouth. Had I moaned loud enough for him to hear?Kill me now.

“It’s good,” I muttered, turning as red as the ketchup.

“I hear,” Cole said, his deep voice strangely rough.

“I’m sorry, please excuse me. Like I said, I have no manners.”

“It’s alright, Ella, it’s fine. I liked that sound,” Cole said.

Heat hit me deep in my belly. Oh, this man was dangerous. “Why?”

“It was honest,” he said simply, throwing me completely. I couldn’t keep up with the turns and swerves in this conversation. “I’d like to be half as happy about anything as you look right now, eating that burger.”

“You’re a billionaire, living in one of the most exciting cities in the world. I’d imagine you have plenty of opportunities to be happy,” I pointed out quietly.

Cole’s mouth quirked. “You’d be surprised. I’m afraid the adage is true. Money doesn’t buy happiness.”

“But it helps–right? Money buys safety, security and the chance to do the things you want with your time, before you die,” I challenged back.

He blinked at me, tilting his head slightly to the side, and seeming to go over my words. “In that case, you must be relieved to be Ella Clarke, heiress to a great fortune.”

I met his gaze, and it felt like the entire restaurant around us fell away for a moment. There was just him and me, and the little act that I was putting on, and he was seeing right through.You should tell him the truth, a little voice in my head urged. He isn’t some weirdo, like some arranged dates. He’s a normal, sexy as hell guy who should know the truth. He’d probably laugh about it before leaving, and it would be done and dusted. But what if that got Ella in trouble with her father? Their relationship was rocky at the best of times. As I agonized over what to do, my phone vibrated on the table.

Ah, it was my prearranged call. My killing blow to any potential date.

“Answer it,” Cole ordered, and damn it if I didn’t comply before I could help it.

“Hello?” I shied away from his eyes as I listened to Ella babble on the other end.

“Here’s your official reason to bail! I can’t wait to hear how he reacted to your schtick. You’re really saving my life right now. I can’t even with these arranged dates.”

---