Highest Bidder Collection - Lauren Landish Page 0,324

in one smooth flourish. I bite my lower lip as I watch him check out his freshly shaven appearance in the bedroom mirror. He has to know that he looks good. This is just habit.

After adjusting his black tie, he turns around, his piercing blue eyes focusing on me.

My skin pricks as the intensity of his stare summons a dull ache between my thighs, a reminder of the passionate night before.

“You’ll be fine while I’m gone?” Zander asks me, giving me his boyish grin that makes my heart skip a beat.

I grip the grey silk bathrobe in my hands, pulling it tighter around my chest. “I think so,” I say. I pause, not knowing if I should pry, but hesitantly ask, "Where are you going?”

Zander’s grin quietly fades. “I have some business to take care of.”

I want to ask him what kind, but I stop myself. There’s a reason he keeps his secrets, and maybe he doesn’t trust me with them yet. But he can’t keep them from me forever.

He can too, says an annoying voice at the back of my head, this is all pretend.

Fuck you, I want to tell the voice. I don’t need any negativity shitting on my rainbow right now. I just want to be happy for once.

I shove down my anxiety and ask, “Do you know when you'll be back?”

Zander raises his right hand to glance down at his platinum Rolex. “I think around six. I’ll bring back dinner.”

Damn, that’s a long time. What the hell will I do until then?

I try to keep my disappointment from showing, but I barely manage. “Okay.”

Zander crosses the space between us, hooking his hand beneath my chin and tilting my head back to force me to look into his eyes. “Don’t be sad, sweetheart,” he says softly. “I have something for you to do while I’m gone.”

“What?” I ask, my mind racing with what it could be.

His boyish grin grows wider. “I bought an easel and painting supplies for you so you could work here when you’re not in the studio. I set it all up in the piano room.”

A feeling of warmth goes through my chest and I stand on my tiptoes to give him a kiss on the lips. “Thank you,” I breathe with gratitude when I pull away. My cheeks hurt from the wide smile on my face, but I don’t even try to hide it.

Zander winks at me. “I thought you might like it.” He gives me several more kisses that leave me wanting more before pulling away. There’s a look of regret on his face as he gazes at me, as if he wishes he could stay. “Don’t go anywhere while I’m gone, and do not answer your phone if you don't know who it is. I don’t want you in contact with him.”

I nod my head slowly, my anxiety slightly rising at his serious tone. “I won’t.” I promise. It's not like Danny’s threat feels real, it doesn’t. But I feel safer here with Zander. I don’t want to see Danny at all. Just the thought makes a chill run through my body. I don’t want to talk to him. I don’t want anything to do with him, and I trust Zander when he says he’s taking care of it.

Zander gives me one more quick kiss on the lips. “Later then, sweetheart.”

He walks over to the door but before he can leave, I call out, “Wait.”

Zander turns, arching an eyebrow in question.

“What am I supposed to paint while you’re gone?”

His brow furrows in thought for a moment and then he gives me that boyish grin. “I don’t know. Surprise me.”

With a wink he’s gone, leaving me alone in the room. I listen to the sound of his footsteps receding down the hallway until they fade into the distance. After a minute, I hear the roar of the engine of one of his cars start up outside as he drives away.

I chew on my lip, wondering what I could paint for Zander. Looking around the room, I feel like he has expensive taste. Hmm... An item of wealth, maybe? Power? I shake my head. No, I don’t think he’d like that.

I got it! Remembering his reaction to my painting of the woman, suddenly I have an idea and my face breaks out into an excited grin. My fingers itching with excitement, I rush out into the hall toward the piano room. I stop just outside of it, grabbing the picture frame off the