Caught Between Three Billionaire Tycoons - Willa Hart Page 0,33

so hard.”

There it was. The big admission. I had mentioned it in pretty simple terms. It was like asking for a bonus just because you knew money had come in, not necessarily because you deserved it.

I felt like I was out on a limb and hid my face behind the cup.

“I’m sure you’ll be fine,” he said casually. “We will always work something out.”

I felt my guts sinking. I gripped my cup even tighter, wondering if I should drop more hints or if that would be rude.

“Well, you know. I wanted to look at the house I’ve picked and some others nearby. I want to strike off by myself some time and do some field work.”

Aleksy looked at me like I had just shot him. His big, gold eyes were wide and gleaming, his face frozen in shock. He tried to recover, but he didn’t do a very good job of it.

“Where do you want to go?” His tone, instead of being soft and supportive as it had been a few minutes ago, was challenging and full of suspicion.

“I’ll be sticking with you, though, Aleksy.” I smiled warmly. “I wouldn’t want to walk out on the guy who gave me my start! I’ve just have to get out of the city. I was hoping to get out to some archaeological digs, but honestly, I think I’ll only find it tiring and complicated. I’ve gotten used to working through the phone and computer, only going out occasionally to meet clients.”

I looked down into my cup, not wanting to meet his eyes. He kept changing his expression so abruptly I was scared of what I would see there next. His reactions weren’t anything like I thought they would be. Maybe I didn’t know him at all.

“I’d really like to live somewhere like this.” I looked up and out the window, letting the amazing view fill my eyes. “I didn’t realize until I got here yesterday, but this is exactly what I needed. Mountains, trees, the silence of mother nature.” I grinned up at him, hoping to find a warm expression in return. “Maybe I’m part wild animal!”

Aleksy’s eyes glinted. Sometimes they looked very different to human eyes. I felt I was groping for a certain explanation, but all the ones that fit didn’t make sense.

Eyes like a cat or a wolf. Not just such a soft, light brown they appeared gold, but with an unnatural sheen. The way he sat there, staring at me impassively, I was getting worried I had offended him or something.

“So, Whitney.” He looked down at the table, breaking the gaze. “What’s going on with that boyfriend of yours? You guys moving in together or what?”

“Boyfriend?” It took me a minute. I had three hot guys in my life, but I didn’t think any of them were my boyfriend. Not officially, anyway. Wouldn’t I have to choose one for that to be true?

“Boyfriend.” Aleksy echoed, watching me.

“Oh! Yeah.” I shook my head. “He has left the scene, unfortunately.”

“Oh.” Aleksy looked happy and excited, and the expression was awkward as he tried not to let it show.

“Yeah.” I watched him over the rim of my cup, this moment of closeness and sensual connection so intense it blew all thoughts of money from my mind.

Then I realized I was still in my pajamas and excused myself for a second. I wasn’t about to have a seriously sexy conversation in my nightgown. We weren’t that intimate yet.

I got back to my room and threw on some warm jeans and a sweater. When I got back to the kitchen Aleksy was clearing up.

“Did you want any more?”

“Oh, wow, thanks, but no.” I rubbed my belly. “I haven’t eaten like that in ages. Probably since my grandmother hosted thanksgiving.”

“Okay, good.” He smiled at me and those gold eyes were shining warmly. Not in the weird, scary way they sometimes could, just warm and inviting.

I smiled back, not even realizing that the silence was stretching out between us.

“Did you want some help or…”

“Oh, no. I’ll sort all this out.” He clattered some plates. “Why don’t you take a walk or something? Relax by the fire. Read a book? Enjoy that calm you seem to crave, Whitney. Enjoy yourself.”

I turned to look out the window, intending to check what kind of day it was so I could decide if I wanted a walk or not. What I saw when I looked made me grab Aleksy’s arm, gasping aloud.

“Aleksy! Look! Two little bear cubs!” I couldn’t