Page 19 of The Billionaire's Temptation

“We’ll join you,” Sean replied, ignoring Levi’s irritation. “I’m never in the mood for whatever hoity-toity crap Marjorie was planning for dinner.”

Matteo walked with them as they slipped out through a pair of French doors. “She was going to serve steak again. We had steak last night at…the other party. I don’t even remember who hosted last night’s party.”

“That was Dennis Hillman,” Levi replied, handing his ticket to the valet. The young kid took all three of their tickets and rushed away.

Clarissa stood between the three tall men, fascinated by each of them in turn. Matteo was the more charming of the three, but there was a flintiness to his eyes that made her shrink away from him. Sean seemed like an interesting fellow, and his Irish accent came and went as his emotions shifted. He was devastatingly handsome, with a dimple in one cheek. His blue eyes and dark hair were appealing, but not nearly as compelling as Levi. Sean’s eyes were a light crystal blue, while Levi’s were a deeper sapphire shade. She much preferred the more lively color of Levi’s eyes to the coldness of Sean’s.

Moments later, three valets drove up in the front of the house. Each was driving a powerful sports car and they reluctantly handed over the keys to each man.

“Where are we going?”

“I’m going to that dive over on Wilmont Avenue,” Levi announced. “You two bugger off and find your own place to eat.”

Clarissa giggled as Levi led her to the passenger seat of his low slung, black sports car. She didn’t recognize the make, but she enjoyed the sensually soft leather seat.

“I love those burgers!” Sean replied, looking over at Matteo. The two men grinned, clearly eager to follow their friend, if only to irritate Levi.

“Isn’t that the place that has the beer-battered fries?” Matteo asked.

“One and the same!” Sean replied. They ducked into their own vehicles and sped off, ready to race through the streets of downtown Philadelphia.

Levi sighed as he folded his large frame into the driver’s seat. “They are harmless,” he told her.

She laughed again, delighted with his aggravation. Shifting her knees towards him, she replied, “I doubt either of your friends could ever qualify as harmless. They seem like sharks that have merely hidden their teeth for the night.”

He thought about that description for a moment, then nodded. “You’re right about that. But I guarantee that the burgers at this place are the best you’ll ever have.”

Thirty minutes later, Clarissa agreed with him. She moaned as she took another bite of the juicy cheeseburger. Levi sat beside her while Matteo and Sean sat across from them. All three were happily scarfing down their own burgers and Clarissa couldn’t stop laughing at their outrageous insults. It was obvious that they were very good friends and had known each other for a long time.

So, when Levi drove her home and walked her to the door of the monstrously enormous house, everything felt strangely…right. Turning, she smiled up at him. “Thank you for the rescue tonight,” she told him, the key to the front door dangling in her fingers. “It was very chivalrous of you.”

Levi stood several feet away, his hands in the pockets of his dark slacks. “It was my pleasure, Clarissa.”

“Your friends are nice.”

“They aren’t,” he replied, and she suspected that he was serious.

“Are you going to show me ‘The Bastards Club’?”

He was startled by her question. “Where did you hear about that?”

“Tonight. As soon as you walked in, everyone started whispering. Some were angry that they weren’t allowed into your precious club. And others were smugly triumphant that they were already members.” She grinned. “They all seem to think TBC stands for ‘The Billionaires Club’, but after talking with the three owners and learning about your past,” she tilted her head, assessing him carefully, “I bet the “B” actually stands for bastard. Am I right?”

He shrugged noncommittally.

Clarissa’s smile widened. “Mysterious. Intriguing!” She shifted awkwardly. This was the point in the night when the man kissed her goodnight. And yes, she desperately wanted to know what it would be like to be kissed by Levi Harris. The desire was quickly becoming an aching need!

But he stood firmly on the lower step, his body language telling her that he wasn’t interested in a goodnight kiss.

“Well…” she looked over her shoulder at the massive doorway, her keys dangling in her hand. “Thank you again for tonight. Dinner with you and your friends was far more entertaining than staying at that horrible dinner party.”

“I agree. Thank you for coming with us and…,” he shrugged. “Are you going to be okay?”

She laughed and looked around. “Why wouldn’t I be?” Could he hear the sarcasm in her tone? She hoped not, but looked down at her keys to hide her expression. “Thank you,” she whispered and turned, blinking back sudden tears. She shoved the key into the lock and pushed the heavy door open, then rushed over to the wall to enter the security code. A moment later, a beep indicated the code had deactivated the security system.

Sighing with relief, she turned to watch Levi get into his car and drive away. Closing the door, she forced her feet to carry her up the stairs to the massive bedroom, her heart heavy with this new “wonderful” life that she’d inherited from a man she didn’t know.

Levi drove home as fast as his powerful car could go. It felt as if the fires of hell were licking at his heels. But the need to turn around, go back to Clarissa, to kiss her and make sure that she was safely inside! No, he didn’t need to make sure she was safe. Okay, yeah. He’d like to go through the rooms of her house and make sure that there were no predators lurking in the shadows. But he really wanted to make love to her, to show her so much pleasure that the shadowed sadness in those pretty, brown eyes would go away forever.

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