the bedroom?
They went into the front parlor, a magnificent room with marble floors and a floor-to-ceiling fireplace with a coat of arms carved into the wall. She sat in a green silk wingback, and Drew took the sofa opposite her. He laid his jacket over the arm. Now that she was here in this formal setting and not tucked into the back seat of a car with him, she wondered if she’d imagined his sexual interest. If so, she was about to make a fool of herself.
Taking a deep breath, she gripped the upholstered arms of the chair. When she noticed that she was holding on for dear life, she relaxed her fingers. “I think we can agree that I’m not as worldly as you.”
“I’m not so sure about that.” He leaned forward and clasped his hands loosely between his knees. His blue gaze sought hers. “You knew plenty about the art in the Louvre.”
“I’m educated, especially in the arts, but that’s not the same as worldly.”
“You’re splittin’ hairs.”
“Drew, I’m talking about . . .” She glanced at the open double doors and lowered her voice. “Sex.”
He made a sound deep in his throat that could have been a groan or a laugh. He coughed into his fist and cleared his throat before looking at her. “You are?”
“Yes, and if I got the wrong impression from that moment in the car, I’ll die of embarrassment.”
“You didn’t get the wrong impression, darlin’.”
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. She’d asked for this conversation, but she had no idea what to say next.
He focused those amazing blue eyes on her. “I think you’re wonderful, in every way. Your zest for life is like a shot in the arm. That’s why I want to give you the grand tour of Paris, because I know we’d have ourselves a terrific time. But I also find you tempting as all get-out, and I’ve struggled with that.”
“You have? For how long?”
“Pretty much since I first saw you. Your expression when you were looking at Notre Dame was . . . I don’t know if I can explain it, but I had an instant gut reaction. There was a sensual look about you that I couldn’t resist. I was determined to say hi.”
“Is that attraction . . . Is that why you invited me to stay with you?”
“No. At least I hope I’m not that much of a schemer. But from the moment those bastards grabbed your backpack and knocked you down, I’ve felt in charge of your welfare. The easiest way to make sure that you’ll be safe is to keep you here.”
“I do feel safe.”
“You are.” He paused. “And you’re safe from me, too.”
That was disappointing news. She was just getting used to the idea of having a wild and crazy affair with him. “Why?”
He laughed and shook his head. “You’re something else. Only you would ask that.” He cleared his throat again. “It’s simple. I’ve offered you a place to stay and a top-drawer introduction to Paris. I’m doing it as much for me as for you, but you’ll still feel indebted. After the few hours we’ve spent together, I’m positive about that.”
“You’re right. I do feel indebted.”
He spread his hands, palms up. “There you go. What kind of man would make a woman feel beholden to him and then hit on her? I don’t tolerate that kind of manipulation from others, and I sure as hell won’t tolerate it in myself.”
So he was claiming the moral high ground. She wasn’t sure where that left her. Probably sleeping alone for the rest of her visit. She could protest that she wouldn’t feel manipulated, but that was more forward than she was prepared to be at this point.
Plus she had her own issues. Throwing herself at a billionaire was tacky, even if the billionaire had admitted that she turned him on. She didn’t want to put herself anywhere near the gold-digger category. Her daddy had raised her to be hardworking and honest, so it just wasn’t her way.
“I’m glad we had this talk.” She stood.
“So am I.” He got up, too. “Because I have to tell you, I weakened when we were in the car. When you started getting giggly, I had a tough time not kissing you.”
Zing. That comment certainly put a match to her fuse. “But you controlled yourself.”
“Only because you wouldn’t look at me. If you’d turned your head the slightest little bit, that would have been all she wrote.”
She noticed that his