Page 39 of The Billionaire's Temptation

“Flowers.”

The word shattered his concentration. He turned, looking curiously over his shoulder. “Excuse me?”

Sean stepped into Levi’s office and sat down in the second chair, stretching his long legs out in front of him. “ You have woman problems. Send her flowers.”

Matteo snorted. “I don’t think flowers will fix her understandably wounded feelings.”

Sean rolled his eyes. “Women always love flowers.”

“I’ve tried that,” Levi admitted, shoving his hands back into his pockets. “I’ve sent her about five bouquets. She always sends me a polite text message, thanking me, but then doesn’t answer my call. She makes sure that she’s out of the house if I try and stop by.”

Sean and Matteo looked at each other, then back at Levi. “Jewelry,” Sean announced. “Women will forgive just about anything for a pretty trinket.”

Levi rolled his eyes. “You met Clarissa already. So, you both know a pretty piece of jewelry would only insult her more.”

Both men appeared stumped. Obviously, they’d never encountered a problem with women that a trip to the jewelry store wouldn’t resolve.

“Besides, Clarissa just inherited her father’s empire. If she wants jewelry, she could go out and buy the whole freaking store.”

“So could you,” Matteo pointed out. “And I know how much Arthur Fuque was worth. Your net worth is more than double that.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Levi sighed. “She’s not impressed by material things.”

“Such a pity,” Sean teased, then shrugged dismissively. “Just move on to another woman. There are plenty to choose from. Ladies throw themselves at you constantly.”

Levi wanted to growl with anger. Instead, he replied, “Clarissa is different!”

“How is she different?”

Levi was stumped by the question and glared at Sean. “She justis!” He rubbed a hand through his dark hair, mussing it and unconcerned. “Flowers and jewelry aren’t going to soothe Clarissa’s wounded feelings.”

Matteo turned to Sean. “He walked out on her after…” He left the last part unspoken, but lifted his eyebrows expressively, and all three of them understood.

Sean winced. “That’s…bad.”

Levi didn’t bother to glare at either of them. Especially since they were right. Hence his frustration with trying to get Clarissa to listen to him about why he had had to leave so abruptly. And why he hadn’t contacted her after that morning.

Sean and Matteo shared a knowing glance, pissing Levi off. “What? Do you guys have some sort of silent language that I’m not privy to now?”

The men chuckled. “No silent language. We just don’t understand the need to ease the anger of one lady, no matter how lovely,” Matteo explained.

Sean nodded. “Women are lovely,” he chuckled again, “but one is just as good as the next.”

Levi rolled his eyes. “I will remind you that you said that when you find someone like Clarissa.”

Chapter 14

Clarissa touched one of the delicate blooms, then read the note once again. “Please, can I explain?”

Clarissa tossed the note into the trash.

She didn’t want to let Levi into her house. It was a miserable enough house, but at least it didn’t have too many memories of Levi to haunt her. She’d already moved out of the bedroom where they’d made love…no, had sex…so many times that one night. But if she let him into her house, trusted him again, she wasn’t sure what she would do with the additional memories.

No, it was better to keep him at a distance.

Granted, every time she had a question about business or financial issues, she wanted to talk to Levi about it. She wanted his advice. She wanted to see his smile and feel his strong arms tighten around her. She didn’t just remember that horrible morning when he’d left her so abruptly. She also remembered the day he’d come to her rescue after the police had tried to arrest her. She remembered the way he had held her, reassuring her that she was going to be okay. She thought of the night at that horrible party when Levi had rushed to her, helping her escape the humiliation of a formal party where she didn’t know anyone. And she thought about the night when Chad and Blaire had tried to get her arrested for drug possession and Levi had swooped in to save her.

Sighing, she forced herself to focus on the present.

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