Bad Boy (An Indecent Proposal) - J.C. Reed Page 0,23

smelled fantastic—a deep, manly scent.

A deep pull settled between my legs.

I wanted him so bad, it hurt, and yet I couldn’t act on my desire.

I really had to change the topic—do whatever it took to distract myself from my stupid attraction to him.

“You didn’t answer my first question. What are you doing here?” I found a pair of jeans and a top

“Relax, Laurie. I have no intention of staying here.”

I squeezed my clothes against my chest, the layers of fabric helping to strengthen my mental barrier. “You still had no right to come and see me.”

“You’re right.” Something hard flashed across his face. He tried to hide it by turning his back to me and walking out of the closet, but I caught it nonetheless. I thought he had left so I peered out. He regarded me from the minibar, which I had raided earlier.

“May I?” He pointed to a bottle of something.

“I’m going to change.” I shrugged, not bothering to answer.

While he kept himself busy with the bottles and glasses, I used the opportunity to dress quickly, all the while listening to make sure he wouldn’t try to come in.

But my fear was unfounded.

He left me alone.

He didn’t look.

Not once.

He gave me all the privacy I needed.

When I returned to the bedroom, he was sitting on the bed, two glasses of alcohol in his hand, his gaze focused on the floor. He passed me my glass, then patted the space next to him. “Sit down.”

Under different circumstances I wouldn’t have followed his command, but there was something in his voice—an urgency—that made me listen to him.

That, and the fact that the room had no other sitting opportunities.

It was just the bed—a bitter reminder of our time together.

At last, I sat down, watching him. In the silence of the room, he took a few sips from his glass, his gaze avoiding me.

“I admit I wasn’t always truthful,” he started. “I admit a few wrong things.”

“You married me to get my inheritance,” I said coldly.

“I can’t deny that,” he whispered and closed his eyes. “But it needed to be done.”

Tears began to sting my eyes, and bitterness rose in my chest. Somewhere at the brink of my mind, I realized that everything I had feared was true. He had been after my inheritance all along. He had used me. And now he was talking more bullshit.

“Wow. You’re an asshole.” I almost choked on my voice. “You don’t even try to claim otherwise.”

“I told you a few lies, Laurie. But not everything I told you was a lie.” He took a deep breath. I could see that he was struggling with something.

“Yeah?” My eyebrows shot up, my voice dripping with bitterness. “Like what?”

“Like the fact that I’d never harm you.”

“Really?” I laughed. “Liar.”

He lifted the glass to his lips, but didn’t take a sip. “It’s not a lie.” He frowned. “I really like you.”

“Liar.”

He turned his head to me, his eyes meeting mine. “Not a liar enough to know that I’m attracted to you. I’m also not afraid to show it, as opposed to you.”

“Liar,” I whispered again. “And I’m not attracted to you, which is why there’s nothing to show.”

His eyes narrowed on me. “Now, who’s the liar here? I know for a fact you’re attracted to me.”

His ego was taking new proportions.

“How would you even know that?” That he thought so made me angry.

“I can feel it.” His fingers brushed my neck. His touch, warm against my still damp skin, felt electrifying. “The moment I met you, I knew something would happen between us. Trust me, I didn’t mean for this to happen. I was never supposed to fall for you, Laurie.”

His words caught me off guard, and my heart gave another almighty thud.

He was playing with me. He had to be because Chase Wright couldn’t possibly have feelings for me.

And yet, for a moment, I wished I could believe him.

“I can’t say I’m sorry for what I did,” he whispered. “I can’t even say I’m sorry for being attracted to you or for fucking you. I know you have many questions, and I’ll be more than happy to explain.”

I closed my eyes. My head was spinning with the same thought.

He had married me for my inheritance.

“I can’t,” I whispered.

“I’m still the same man, Laurie.”

I let out a sarcastic laugh. “No, you’re not. You’re someone I don’t know.”

“Meet me in an hour, and I’ll show you who I really am. I’ll explain everything.”

“Even if I let you explain, you really