Penniless And Secretly Pregnant - Jennie Lucas Page 0,1

tailored suit, she’d known he was a thousand miles out of her league.

Yet somehow, they’d ended up in bed. Since that magical day, they’d spent nearly every night together, whenever she wasn’t at work.

But it was strange to realize how little she actually knew about him. She didn’t know where he worked, or where he lived. He’d always evaded personal questions.

There were all kinds of good reasons why, she’d told herself. Perhaps Leo shared a tiny rat-infested studio with three roommates and was self-conscious about it. After all, not everyone had a wealthy artist friend, as Daisy did, who’d asked them to house-sit. If not for Franck’s generosity, Daisy would undoubtedly be sharing a studio with three people, too.

She hadn’t pushed Leo for details about his life. They were happy; that was enough.

Now, for the first time, a horrible idea occurred to her. Could there be some other, more sinister reason why he hadn’t told her where he worked, or invited her to his apartment? What if—could he possibly be—

“Are you married?” she blurted out, her heart in her throat.

Leo blinked, then gave a low laugh. “Married? If I were married, could I be here in bed with you?”

“Well, are you?” she said stubbornly.

He snorted, his black eyes glinting. “No. I am not married. And for the record, I don’t ever intend to be. Ever.” His voice dropped to a husky whisper. “That’s not the problem.”

Daisy stared at him. She was relieved he wasn’t married, but...

Leo didn’t want to get married? Ever?

She took a deep breath. “I just know so little about you,” she said in a small voice. “I don’t know where you work, or where you live. I’ve never met your family or friends.”

Pulling away from her, Leo pushed off the sheets and abruptly stood up from the bed. She enjoyed the vision of his powerful naked body in the rosy morning light. She drank in the image of his muscular backside, the strong muscles of his back.

Without looking at her, he reached down to the floor, and started putting on his clothes. Finally, as he pulled on his shirt, he turned back to face her. She was distracted by the brief vision of his muscular chest, laced with dark hair, before he buttoned up the shirt. He looked down at her. “Do you really want to see where I live? Does it matter so much?”

“Of course it matters!” Sitting up in bed, holding the sheet over her breasts with one hand, she motioned around the spacious bedroom with its view of the Manhattan skyline. “Do you think I’d be living in a place like this if my dad’s oldest friend hadn’t taken pity on me? So please don’t feel self-conscious, whatever your apartment is like. Or your job. Whatever it is, I will always think you’re perfect!”

Leo stopped buttoning up his shirt. Dropping his hands to his sides, he stared at her across the bedroom, silhouetted by the view of the East River and Manhattan beyond.

She realized he was going to break up with her. She could see it in his grim expression, in the tightness of his sensual lips.

She’d always known this day would come. Leo was ten years older, sexy, tall, broad shouldered and darkly handsome. Daisy had never quite understood what he’d seen in her in the first place. She was so...ordinary. How could a badly dressed, not very interesting waitress from Brooklyn possibly keep the attention of a man like Leo Gianakos?

And if she was pregnant...

No. She couldn’t be. Couldn’t.

Leo took a deep breath. “Would you like to come to my house? Right now? And then...we can talk.”

His voice was so strained, it took several seconds for Daisy to realize he was inviting her to his apartment, not breaking up with her.

“Sure.” She realized she was smiling.

No, quick, don’t let him see; he can’t know I’m falling in love with him.

It had been only a month. Even Daisy, with her total lack of romantic experience, knew it was too soon to confess her feelings. Turning her face away, she rose from the bed. “I’ll go take a shower...”

She felt Leo’s gaze follow her as she walked naked across the luxurious bedroom. Entering the lavish en suite bathroom, she tossed him back a single glance.

Before she’d even had time to turn on the water in the enormous walk-in shower, Leo had caught up with her, already rapidly pulling off his clothes. He kissed her passionately as she pulled away from him with a light