Page 20 of The Billionaire's Temptation

That sadness was going to haunt him. He gripped the steering wheel, forcing himself to drive away. To not turn around. Because if he turned around and headed back to Clarissa, he would make love to her. He would kiss her everywhere and watch as she came alive in his arms.

But Clarissa was a distraction that he didn’t need right now. He had goals. He had priorities and they didn’t include losing himself in the arms of a beautiful woman with big, brown eyes and curves that made his brain short circuit.

He had to focus. He was still determined to beat his half-brothers in every competition. Levi’s half-brothers weren’t great at business and they thought that the only thing they needed was to find another investor.

Bringing on another investor would be a bad solution at this point. Another partner would take control of what was left of their inheritance. However, those two thought that they just needed a connections from TBC and everything would fall into place.

Idiots! Maybe he should go over to their headquarters tomorrow and offer them some advice. He knew they wouldn’t take it, but…?

Then another thought occurred to him.

Clarissa’s pink dress didn’t make sense. Why had Blaire suggested that the pretty but casual pink dress would be appropriate for one of Marjorie’s famously formal dinner parties? Marjorie Whitman was renowned in Philadelphia society as a hostess with very high, very glamorous tastes. Clarissa would never be invited to Marjorie’s house again.

Was that the reason Blaire had publicly humiliated Clarissa? So she wouldn’t be accepted into the snobbish, Philly society?

Or was there something more behind her viciousness?

He’d have to look into that. Yet another reason to not complicate his life with what could only be one night in Clarissa’s arms. One night of bliss and passion beyond anything he’d ever experienced before. One night…!

Nope, he couldn’t even have that. Because one night with Clarissa could never be enough!

Chapter 6

“Hi there!”

Clarissa jumped. It was Sunday, so Martha and Joseph had the day off. She knew they were heading south to see their grandkids, so there shouldn’t be anyone here.

However, Blaire was standing in the great room, looking cool and beautiful in designer jeans, a leopard print top, and huge diamond earrings sparkling from her ears. The black, suede ankle boots lifted her height so that she was literally looking down at Clarissa, who had pulled on a pair of well-worn cargo shorts and a frumpy tee shirt. She’d retrieved her clothes from her apartment, but hadn’t yet told the landlord she was moving out. Clarissa was still too unsure about how her life had changed. She was even heading to work in the morning, unwilling to be unemployed.

So why was Blaire here? And more importantly, how had she gotten in?

The blond woman’s hands came up, halting the expected flood of questions.

“I know what you’re thinking and I’m so sorry!” she blurted in a rush. “I knew my daddy had found his little girl and that you were moving into the family home, but,” she paused and shrugged, “Chad and I had never met you before. And we love this house. We have so many fond memories of living here.”

Clarissa blinked. “I thought your mother was only married to Arthur for two months before he passed away.”

Blaire waved a hand as if the length of time didn’t matter. “Oh, that’s true. But we spent a lot of time here before they married. My mother and father had a long, torrid affair for years!” She laughed, shaking her head as if that were the funniest comment.

“So why are you here now?”

“Oh, well,” she paused, then brightened. “Chad and I want to make it up to you for how those horrible police officers treated you.” She bounced over to Clarissa and linked arms with her. “So we’re going to introduce you to Philadelphia society! Isn’t that great?”

Clarissa didn’t think so, but obviously, this was a “boon” that Blaire wanted to provide. It was an olive branch, so to speak.

So instead of rejecting the offer, she smiled and said, “That would be lovely, but Levi took me out to dinner last night after we left the party. I think I’m doing okay on meeting Philadelphia society members.” Not that she wanted to meet more of them. For the most part, the people she’d met last night didn’t impress her. Even after only a short time at the party, Clarissa had realized that most of them were a bunch of pretentious snobs with nothing more interesting to discuss other than where they’d last vacationed.

Blaire flipped her blond tresses over her shoulder, tugging Clarissa towards the terrace. “Levi only knows the boring business people,” she explained as if business people weren’t good enough to grace Blaire’s dinner table. “Chad and I,” she sighed as she looked out at the pool, “we travel in much higher circles. We know all of the right people who get things done in this town.” She smiled. “Well, the world actually.” Then she got all bouncy again. “So here’s what we’re going to do for you!” she released Clarissa’s arm and shifted so that she was standing in front of her. “We’re going to throw a party so that you can meet the ‘right’ people.” She added a small giggle and tapped Clarissa’s arm.

Another party? Ugh! That sounded miserable. “I don’t think–”

Blaire grabbed Clarissa’s hands and squeezed. “You don’t have to think at all. We’ll take care of everything!”

Clarissa tried again. A party sounded horrible. “Blaire, there’s really no need. We can just move on from the arrest.”

Blaire tipped her head slightly. “We’re friends though, right?”

Clarissa didn’t want to have anything to do with this woman, but if agreeing to be friends would make her go away, then she’d agree. “Yes. Of course we’re friends.”

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