The Billion Dollar Bad Boy (16 page)

The breath escaped her entirely, her throat thick with emotion. Stupidly all she could think about was his phone call earlier, the one ceding her the deal, where he’d sounded so impersonal. “But on the phone today—”

“I had a roomful of people. I had to sound professional.”

“And the deal?”

He smiled and it wasn’t empty or meaningless. “I don’t need it anymore.”

“Why not? I thought that was your birthright?”

“I thought it was, too. But it’s not going to make me feel better about what I did for Dad. It’s not going to fill the holes in my soul.” He paused and a hint of uncertainty, of vulnerability crept into his eyes. “Only you can do that. If you’ll have me.”

“What the hell is going on?” Her father’s voice came from behind her. “Morrow? What are you doing here?”f Donovan didn’t look at her father. He only looked at her.

She blinked back the tears in her eyes. Her heart felt full, aching in her chest.

If she went with Donovan now she would be turning her back on her father. Because he would never forgive her for being with a Morrow. She could kiss good-bye her career at De Winter forever.

Is that even a choice?

No. Of course it wasn’t.

She didn’t turn around. . “You damn idiot. Of course I’ll have you. I think I’ve been in love with you since I kissed you in the elevator.”

Green flared in his gaze, brilliant as emeralds.

“Victoria?” her father demanded. “What’s going on?”

Donovan strode forward and before she could protest, he’d picked her up into his arms. “What does it look like?” he said as he turned toward the elevators. “I’m staging a hostile takeover.”

Victoria put her head against his chest, warmth flooding through her.

“Victoria,” her father bellowed. “Don’t think you can come back here!”

“Don’t worry,” she said. “I’m not going to.”

The elevator pinged, the doors opened, and Donovan stepped into it. The doors closed, shutting out the sounds of her father’s shouts.

Slowly, Donovan set her back on her feet. But he didn’t release her, his hands holding her hips tightly. “I probably shouldn’t have done that in front of your father. But I have to tell you, I’m not sorry.”

“I’m not sorry, either.” She reached up, touched his mouth. “I just handed in my resignation. I’m no longer a De Winter employee.”

“Oh … princess. Are you sure?”

“I’ve never been so sure about anything in my entire life.” She rose on her tiptoes, pressed a kiss to his beautiful mouth. “I want passion, Van. I want love. I want acceptance. And I’ve finally realized I won’t get those things from him.”

“I’ll give you those things. I’ll give you everything.”

“I know.” She wound her arms around his neck. “I love you.”

One arm tightened around her waist as he leaned forward to hit the stop button on the elevator. “And I love you. In fact, I could even give you a demonstration right here if you want.”

Her heart began to race. “What is it about you and elevators? I was hoping for more Russian literature.”

He smiled and it was wicked. “Then wrap your legs around me and I’ll show you some War and Peace.”

So she did, and he showed her.

And it had nothing whatsoever to do with Tolstoy.

Don’t miss the first
Billionaire’s Club: New York
novella in this sexy new e-series!

Now available!

And look for the next and final installment…

Coming in April 2014

From St. Martin’s Press

Visit
www.jackieashenden.com/
for more romance!

Jackie Coates

Jackie has been writing fiction since she was eleven years old. Mild mannered fantasy/SF/pseudo-literary writer by day, obsessive romance writer by night, she used to balance her writing with the more serious job of librarianship until a chance meeting with another romance writer prompted her to throw off the shackles of her day job and devote herself to the true love of her heart— writing romance.

She lives in Auckland, New Zealand with her husband, the inimitable Dr. Jax, two kids, two cats, and some guppies (possibly dead guppies by the time you read this).

You can find Jackie at
www.jackieashenden.com
, on Facebook at
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or follow her on Twitter at
@JackieAshenden
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