The Tycoon's Baby Revelation - Elizabeth Lennox Page 0,28

shoulders, his lean waist, and…well, all of him. Every time he did this, she couldn’t seem to keep her eyes from surveying him.

And yeah, she knew he was muscular. Not because she’d ever been privileged to touch him. No way! But because she’d felt that strength last night in the casino, plus she’d seen him in workout clothes and after a long run. Many times actually. They traveled together, always shared a suite, and she knew the man. She’d even seen him swimming several times. He was...extraordinary!

“Sloane?” he prompted softly.

Was his voice huskier than a moment ago? She looked up at his face and noticed the intensity in those emerald eyes of his.

She cleared her throat, pushing the thoughts aside. She turned away and focused on packing up her bag. “I think that you date enough for both of us,” she teased.

There was silence behind her and she turned, hoping that he hadn’t taken offense. “I mean…”

“I know what you meant. But I don’t date that much,” he said. He smiled briefly. “Okay, so I used to. But recently…” he trailed off and shrugged. “So why don’t you? There were several men admiring you last night in the casino, but you didn’t even notice them.”

She shrugged. “No one bothers to ask me out,” she laughed.

“I don’t believe that. You could have had any man in the casino last night, but you were oblivious to the attention.”

Sloane sighed, leaning against the back of one of the hotel chairs. The truth was, she’d been too aware of Josh last night to notice anyone else. The way he’d touched her had felt…different.

Unfortunately, Josh was in one of his moods where he’d discovered a mystery and was determined to ferret it out. When Josh Starke discovered a puzzle, he was merciless until he figured it out.

She could offer him nothing more than complete honesty. Well, not complete. He didn’t need to know about her interest in him, but she could explain why she didn’t date other men. At least, she could tell him enough to satisfy his curiosity…she hoped.

“Well, there’s the fact that my father vanished as soon as my mother informed him that she was pregnant.” She laughed harshly, crossing her arms protectively over her chest. “Apparently, my father thought that my mother was enchanting enough for a roll in the hay, but when it came to anything more, he wasn’t interested.”

“That’s…!”

She interrupted him, not wanting pity. “It’s fine. I’m sure a therapist would tell me that I have abandonment issues. But since Rayne’s biological father, and Pepper’s too, did the same thing, I prefer to say that I have a healthy distrust for the romantic inclinations of men.”

He waited, watching her carefully. “And?”

“And what?” she shrugged self-consciously. Damn the man for being so spookily perceptive.

“And what are the other reasons?”

She rubbed her forehead. “Well, there’s also the issue of freakish levels of fertility among the women in my family. And men aren’t interested in dating someone who refuses to have sex.”

“You don’t have sex?” he demanded, more than slightly stunned.

“Well, I’ve…um…” she blushed, wishing that the overhead lights weren’t so bright. “No. I’ve never trusted a man enough to get to that point. Again, refer to issue A.”

He stared for a moment, then nodded. “Abandonment issues and freakish fertility. What else?”

“Do I need more issues?” She asked, refusing to tell him that she’d never found any man that was more fascinating than he was. Boy, that would be a career killer, wouldn’t it?!

“Probably not,” he replied, still watching her with a strange look in his eyes. “But even if you don’t want a long term commitment, why not dabble a bit? Why not try casual dating?”

“Like you do?” she replied, trying to tease him and lighten the mood. He was too intense at the moment, and it worried her for some reason. Why did she always want to make him feel better? He was so intense most of the time and it felt as if the sun came out whenever he smiled or relaxed. It gave her a triumphant feeling. Why, she didn’t know. It had sort of evolved over the years.

Of course, when he sounded all grumpy and angry, she didn’t bother him, preferring to keep her distance.

Odd, how their relationship had evolved over the past eight years together.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked, jerking her back to the present.

She stiffened, startled by what she had been contemplating. “Oh, um…well, just…?” she didn’t have an explanation for what she’d been