The Billionaire's Christmas Bride (Big Bad Billionaires #3) - L. Steele Page 0,21

closes the distance between us, "Even then, you’ll be paying off your loans for the next twenty years."

My pulse rate ratchets up. Shit, those numbers… Not that I wasn’t aware of them. I prefer not to think about it, that’s all. I mean, sure, I could look on the negative and the fact that I’ll be paying off the loans forever… But I’ve been confident I could turn the corner at some point. What’s the other option? Not take risks, work a nine-to-five… Nothing wrong with that. It’s not for me, that’s all.

"So?" I sniff.

"So, you’ll work back-breaking, long hours, behind a stove—"

"An oven, you prick."

"If you keep alluding to that part of me, I’ll have to assume you’ve been thinking of it."

"No, I haven’t."

He grins. Bastard. My cheeks heat. So, fine, I’ve been thinking about that particular attribute of his nonstop since I sucked on him, like my own private lollypop. Gah! So? Hey, it was a bloody good blowjob too, thank you very much.

"As I was saying," he drums his fingers on his chest, "you’ll waste away your best years, working non-stop, trying to pay off the loans. Before you know it, you’ll be forty and single, not having had the time to find a man—"

"I don’t need one," I snarl.

He laughs, "Meanwhile, the debt is going to stop you from expanding your business further… And that, you do want, hmm?"

I scowl. He’s got me there. I have plans. I want to grow my business to set up a store front… Then a chain, not only in England, but abroad. And while I’m sure I won’t let debt stop me, not with the help of expert advice on how to structure my business holdings… Still, nothing like cash in hand to inspire confidence, especially from future creditors.

"One million, huh?"

His eyes gleam.

I frown. Damn it, have I walked into a trap? I shouldn’t have shown interest in his offer, but I’m human, okay? I mean… No, I won’t sell my principles for money… But this is an awful lot of money. Not something to sneer at, get me? Besides, what principles is he really trying to pay me to betray? It’s not like he’s offering to pay me for sex. I chew on my lower lip; his gaze drops there. The tendons of his throat move as he swallows. Huh? He’s affected by me as well? I mean, I know he wants me… That entire blowjob thing between us… It had confirmed he wants to get in my pants… But this… His hooded eyelids, the way he watches me with single-minded focus… My scalp tingles. A bead of sweat trickles down my spine.

I clear my throat.

He jerks his chin up, "Per day."

"What the—?" I gape. "You didn’t… Why would you—?" I rake my fingers through my hair. "This entire thing is bizarre."

"It’s a little out of your comfort zone, I understand." He shoves his hand in the pocket of his jeans, "But opportunities like this don’t come often."

"You’re telling me," I laugh. The sound comes out weak. Shit, I sound uncertain. And I am not. Not about my answer… Just his intention. "Why?" I frown. "Why are you so keen on ensuring that I stay?"

"You said it." He tilts his head, "I am not much use with this—" He holds up his finger in the splint. “Until you pointed it out, I hadn’t realized it." He nods.

Nice one. Blame it on me that he’d come up with this insane idea, huh.?

"You could get a housekeeper…or something."

"Not over the holiday season. Besides, why would I look for a stranger when I want you?"

"Umm, because you don’t know me well either?"

His gaze drops to my mouth.

"That…that was a one off." I redden. "It doesn’t mean you know me as a person."

He raises his shoulders, "You’re a friend of Summer and Victoria’s, women who are trusted by the Seven."

"Right," I draw in a breath.

"So?" He tilts his head.

"So?" I shuffle my weight from foot to foot. What do I say? I twist my fingers together. "One million for every day makes it…"

"Six million pounds." He nods.

"S... six?" I squeak.

"It’ll set you up for any kind of expansion you want to finance for your business."

I narrow my gaze. How could he have intuited my plans? "How do you know that?"

"You’re ambitious, I get it." He stares back, "Not that much of a stretch, to know that you’d be planning to grow your enterprise.

"Right." I scowl at him. "I guess that makes sense. I