Played by the Billionaire Read online

  “What does your gut tell you?” Mandy sat on the arm of the sofa and stared into Lorelei’s eyes so there was no hiding.

  “I wish I knew. At the moment I just want to be with him. I guess I’ll take it one day at a time and try to get to know the real man this time.”

  “Or maybe you already know him. The rest is window dressing.” Mandy shrugged.

  “Díos mío, I hope so.”

  “But obviously my man senses are off or I wouldn’t have gotten engaged to a dog.”

  “Wanna burn more pictures of him?”

  “No. He’s not worth the paper. Hey, do you have the number for that architect guy you were going to meet?”

  And Mandy was back.

  …

  Lorelei jumped a foot in the air when the door buzzer blared out Liam’s arrival. She couldn’t believe she was having this reaction to seeing him again. After wiping damp palms on a tea towel, she checked to make sure she hadn’t dripped anything down her dress. With a shaky hand, she pressed the entry button.

  She glanced around the kitchen with a satisfied nod. The enchiladas she’d spent all day preparing were under the broiler, crisping the cheese. A large salad sat on the counter, and a bottle of red wine waited, breathing, next to two large glasses. Her best dishes, the ones her mother bought her on her eighteenth birthday, to start her collection for when she got married, were on standby. Everything was perfect.

  Pasting on a smile, she waited to hear his long strides come down her hallway.

  Wait for him to knock, wait for him to knock.

  She counted to three, then flung open the door. Who was she kidding? She’d never had patience when she wanted something. And she wanted Liam—badly. Two nights with little sleep hadn’t helped matters. She’d lain awake thinking of him, replaying every conversation, every touch. He’d deceived her about his name but never really lied to her. He’d never said he wasn’t rich. She’d assumed, based on his car and clothes.

  And she couldn’t deny that despite everything, she liked him more than was possibly healthy at this stage, probably more than was healthy at any stage. She’d regret it for the rest of her life if she walked away now. She had to see if they could have a future together. Díos, she hoped they could because she couldn’t imagine any other man competing with Liam.

  Okay, so you couldn’t wait to see him. Wait to kiss him. Remember last time!

  When he caught sight of her standing at her door a smile creased his lips and the dimple reappeared. Screw waiting—what had that ever gotten her?

  She shifted her weight from one foot to the other as he approached. Flattening herself against the wall, she took a deep breath as he crossed the threshold. He smelled of warm spice, and heat radiated up from her lower abdomen. After he closed the door, he leaned against it, watching her, his eyes roaming up and down the red dress she’d bought during their sightseeing day.

  Opening her mouth, nothing came out. Damn, why was this so hard?

  “Good evening, Miss Torres. My name is William Mackenzie Manning, but I prefer to be called Liam by my friends. I am the Chairman and CEO of IWC Security. I have a net worth of approximately two point eight billion dollars. I own three houses, one in San Francisco, which you have visited, one in the Russian River Valley attached to a small vineyard, and another in Antigua. I mainly drive a black Aston Martin Vanquish, but I also have a couple of other cars.” He took a step closer. “And recently I’ve met a woman who interests me more than anyone. So I would appreciate the chance to get to know her better.”

  Another step brought him toe to toe with her. Intensity exuded from his body; the scent of his aftershave drifted over her. Only by locking her knees did she stop herself from leaning into him.

  “Is there anything else you’d like to know about me?” he whispered.

  She had to clear her throat twice before she could speak. “Have you eaten any peanuts lately?”

  “Not in weeks.” His face was deadpan.

  “Then I have one last question.”

  Liam raised an eyebrow. “Yes?”

  “How long before you kiss me?”

  He reached out and pulled the clip out of her hair, letting it tumble down before his hand slipped to her cheek, cradling it gently. As though in slow motion, his head descended, his lips parting as they approached hers. She sucked in a huge breath. “I think that can be arranged very soon,” he whispered against her lips.

  The kiss was slow and languid; every time she tried to increase the pace, he’d pull back slightly. His hands moved to her shoulders and stayed there, rather than threading through her hair or wandering down her back. Lorelei put her hands on his chest, feeling his heartbeat increase beneath her palm. He kissed her as though he had all the time in the world.

  She thrust aside her inclination to rush the moment. If Liam just wanted her body, surely he would be pushing home his advantage. Instead, he was taking the time to make her feel special, make her feel…treasured. And she loved him a little bit more for it.

  At last he pulled back a fraction. His lips returned to hers several times for small sips.

  “I know it’s getting hot in here, but I think something might be burning.”

  She sniffed. Sure enough there was a trace of smoke in the air.

  “The enchiladas!” she wailed. She raced into the kitchen and pulled the smoking dish from the oven. While she stared at the blackened mess, wondering what to do next, the quiet was pierced by the shrieking of the smoke detector. “Quick, open the window,” she said to Liam, who was leaning against the doorframe.

  He hurried to do her bidding while she grabbed the tea towel from the counter and waved it frantically, trying to dissipate the smoke. When silence was finally restored to the apartment, she flung the towel on the floor and slumped into a chair at the small table that passed for her dining room.

  “It’s okay, sweetheart. I thought we’d go out for dinner. I want to take you someplace worthy of your beauty.” Liam rubbed his hand along her shoulders before running it down the length of her hair.

  “I wanted to eat here, to cook for you. I don’t want to go out and have everyone compare me to your other girlfriends.” She kept staring at the table, not wanting to see his eyes.

  “No one will compare you, no one who matters. And even if they did you’d come up tops. I don’t think you realize how beautiful you are, inside and out.” He sat in the opposite chair and put his hand over hers on the table. “Look at me, Lorelei.”

  She raised tear-filled eyes to him. Her plans for tonight had gone up in smoke, literally. She’d wanted to stay here, where she was comfortable, to spend some time with Liam, without wondering who was waiting in the wings ready to take her place. There must be a line of women a mile long wanting to go out with him.

  “I don’t want to go out. I’m not dressed.”

  “Are you kidding me? This is how you dress for eating at home?”

  “Of course.” She pushed a smile past the tears.

  “Well, I’m rather fond of charcoal. I’m happy to eat what you’ve cooked.” Liam stood and walked purposefully toward the kitchen.

  “No, Liam. It’s inedible.” Lorelei followed him. He couldn’t honestly mean to eat the ruined dinner.

  Ignoring her, he grabbed a plate off the counter. After a brief search he found a spatula, and shattering the top layer of burned cheese he pried a portion from the dish. “Can I serve you some?” His face was polite, his eyebrows raised, as though he were inquiring about her mother’s health.

  “Please, don’t eat that.”

  Too late; he’d found a fork and already popped a morsel in his mouth. Horrified, she couldn’t avert her eyes.

  He chewed for some time before pronouncing, “Tastes just like my mother’s cooking.” The dimple appeared and her heart melted.

  He put the plate down on the counter and strode over to where she stood paralyzed by the doorway. “Really, you didn’t have to eat it.”

  “You spent hours work
ing on that dish. I wasn’t going to ignore your efforts because I distracted you at the crucial moment. What do you say we get a pizza delivered and relax on the sofa until it arrives?”

  “You read my mind.” She raised her face to his, surprised at the understanding and compassion in his eyes.

  “Yes, I did read your mind. But don’t you think we should wait until after the pizza arrives to do that?”

  Chapter Eleven

  “And he went home after you ate the pizza? You were at your place, feet from your bed, and he went home?” Mandy stared at her as though she’d said she’d been abducted by aliens and taken to another planet.

  “I know. I couldn’t believe it either. Then he reminded me I told him I didn’t sleep with men I’d just met, and as this was our first date now that I knew his secret, he wasn’t going to push me for a physical relationship.” Lorelei couldn’t quite believe Liam had left after dinner. She’d lain awake for hours wondering what was wrong with her, why he’d gone home rather than stay with her. And that old devil self-doubt had wondered if he’d gone off to see some other woman.

  “Girl, the man is gorgeous and rich and he ate your burned dinner. You’ve got to jump his bones before the Vatican considers him for sainthood.” Mandy put down her sandwich and took a long drink of her soda. “And take my advice. Don’t wait years once you’ve got his ring on your finger. Forget the white wedding, go to Vegas. Get him attached to you in a way only a judge can pull you apart.”

  “I don’t think we’re talking marriage yet.” They may not be talking about it, but she was already thinking it. She’d written Mrs. Lorelei Manning in the steam from the shower on the mirror this morning.

  “When are you seeing him again?”

  “Tomorrow. He’s asked me to take the day off work. We’re going to the Russian River Valley. He’s got a house there.”

  “He’s got a house in Russian River? Will you adopt me once you’re married?”

  “Sure, I’ve always wanted a sister.”

  “Oh, by the way, have you seen the final figures from the gala? One point two five million. Dustin is claiming it’s all his doing but I suspect most of that came from your date. At least the office is safe from closure for now.”

  Lorelei tried to paste a smile on her face. It was a hollow feeling knowing the only reason the night had been a success was because she’d somehow managed to pick up a billionaire in a bar. The famous line from Casablanca flitted through her head—of all the bars… It seemed blind luck was better than her talent.

  Her phone buzzed on the table. She snatched it up, hoping it was Liam. He hadn’t called since they’d parted after another long kiss on Sunday evening, but then he said he would be busy trying to clear his schedule to take her out on Wednesday. Her heart plummeted when it was her mother’s number and not Liam’s on the caller display.

  “Hola, Mama.”

  “Lorelei, I know you have a boyfriend now. However that doesn’t mean you can forget all about your poor madre.”

  “I haven’t forgotten you, Mama. I’ve been busy at work.” She turned away from Mandy, who was making kissing faces.

  “Well, listen. I’ve downloaded Skype on my computer and got a camera and everything. So next time your boyfriend comes around I want to see his face. I can’t believe my little girl is dating someone I’ve never even met. It’s not right.”

  Lorelei groaned. “You never met Barry until we’d been dating for six months,” she said.

  “Sí, and look how that turned out. If I can’t see him on the computer, then I’m going to come out and meet him.”

  “Okay, okay. Next time he comes over I’ll Skype you.”

  “All right, querida. See you soon,” her mother said before hanging up.

  Lorelei put her head in her hand. She wondered if she should ask Liam to hack into her mother’s computer and permanently disable it.

  …

  Liam pulled up in front of Lorelei’s apartment building and was surprised to see her standing on the sidewalk, waiting for him. Her eyes widened as he came around and opened the car door for her.

  “Everything okay?” he inquired after giving her a brief kiss in greeting. He’d rather hoped to have a more intimate, lengthy encounter in the confines of her apartment. His need for this woman was out of control.

  “Yeah, it’s just I promised my mom that next time you came to my place we’d video-call her. By meeting you outside, technically you haven’t come up, and therefore I won’t be lying when she asks why I didn’t Skype her today.” She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. He almost laughed at her sheepish expression—she had the worst poker face, ever.

  Liam was torn. Lorelei had spoken often of her mother, with a mixture of love and exasperation, and he was curious to see the woman who inspired such devotion from her daughter. If their relationship were conventional, he really should meet her, even if only via webcam. However, their relationship wasn’t ordinary. And he’d chosen Lorelei specifically because she was new to town and he wouldn’t have to do the whole meet the family thing.

  “Maybe another time,” he murmured.

  He started the engine and the car roared to life. Lorelei ran her hand over the butter-soft leather seat, a look of awe in her eyes as she surveyed the interior.

  “You know, we could always take the bus,” he teased as he pulled away from the curb.

  She snuggled into the seat, making a soft purring sound. “Oh, I think we’ll go your way today. We did my thing last time.”

  “Excellent. Sit back, relax, and let me wow you.”

  “You could have done that on my sofa,” she said. Immediately her face went red and she turned away. She was such a mix, confident one minute, shy the next. She was like a baby bird, afraid to trust her wings.

  “Patience, sweetheart. Good things come to those who wait,” he said.

  Pretending to concentrate on the traffic, he sneaked peeks at his companion as she stared out the window. He’d only just managed to leave on Sunday night before ravishing her. It had actually hurt to walk out the building, seeing the disappointment on her face. Still, it was for the best. Today, however, he wasn’t sure he had the strength.

  It was sheer stupidity, taking her to his place in Russian River. Of all his homes, it was the most him. He’d sat with the architect for hours, making sure each room matched his vision—personally picked out each piece of furniture and painting. If any one place on the earth told the story of Liam Manning, it was that house.

  As they left San Francisco behind, he relaxed. It was a warm, sunny day. He was with a beautiful woman, who, as far as he could tell, had no agenda and he was going to one of his favorite places, driving his favorite car. He glanced over at Lorelei. Her eyes were closed, contentment on her face. She opened her eyes and smiled at him. His breath caught in his throat and he turned his attention back to the road before she could see his longing. How the hell had he let himself become so entangled with this woman?

  “It’s so different here from the East Coast, but I expected the trees to be taller. I’ve read about the giant Californian redwoods and this is Old Redwood Highway.”

  Liam looked over at her and smiled. “There are a few still standing. One day I’ll take you to see the trees at Redwood National Park.” He swallowed and stared straight ahead. What was he doing promising her future dates? By the end of next week, at the latest, the manuscript would be done. Then they could go their separate ways. He’d have to remember to arrange a trip for her and Mandy to go to his house in Antigua in a few weeks when they were finished. It hurt to breathe when he thought of breaking up with Lorelei.

  Maybe they didn’t have to break up. She’d weathered the revelation about his wealth rather well. And she was unlike any other woman he’d dated. Perhaps Lorelei wouldn’t find him unlovable. The thought lightened his heart. Did he dare give love another chance? He glanced at her again and his heart rate accelerated when she smiled.

  Then he remembered he hadn’
t told her about Marcus’s book and hacking into the dating site. Should he delete the book, pretend it never happened? Go back on his promise to his brother? Could he keep the secret from her about their first meeting? No, she deserved the truth—even if she left him after learning it.

  “How often do you get out to your place here?”

  He cleared his throat, hoping it sounded normal and didn’t show the emotional turmoil of his recent thoughts. “Not often enough. I usually spend the long weekends here, if I’m not working or away. And every six months or so my secretary forces me to take a week off and I either come out here or go to Antigua, depending on the weather.”

  “Your secretary forces you to go on holiday? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?”

  “Probably. But she is such a valuable assistant. When she’s had enough of my demanding ways then she threatens to quit if I don’t take some time off so she can catch up.”

  Lorelei’s hand twirled a lock of her hair and her teeth nibbled on her lower lip. What had he said to unnerve her?

  “Has your secretary been with you a long time then?” Her voice was quiet, as though she wasn’t quite sure she wanted to hear the answer. Could she be jealous?

  “About five years. I dread the day when she tells me she wants to retire.” Gretchen was an incredible assistant, but the thought of being physically attracted to the domineering matron made him laugh.

  Lorelei relaxed when she worked out that his secretary was a much older woman. Her gorgeous lips curved in a smile. He thought about pulling over and kissing her, but that wouldn’t get them to Russian River.

  Twenty minutes later, they pulled through the iron gates of his home. He stopped on the driveway when the house came into view, wanting to watch Lorelei’s reaction when she first saw it.

  Her eyes opened wide and her mouth formed an O before she whispered, “Díos mío, that is the most beautiful house I’ve ever seen.”

  Liam couldn’t help the elation that filled him or the grin that spread across his face. He hadn’t realized how much he’d worried about her reaction. What did it matter whether she liked it or not? It wasn’t as if she was going to be living in it. Closing his eyes for a second, he imagined driving up the tree-lined lane, except instead of stopping halfway he’d race to the door only to have it flung open as soon as he shut off the engine. Lorelei would stand in the doorway, a welcoming smile on her lips, and he’d feel at home, at last. He shook his head. Such imaginings weren’t helping him keep focused.