The Tycoon's Defiant Southern Belle Page 0,11

smaller vehicle.

The powerful engine roared to life and the trembling started almost immediately. Would he kiss her again at her door? Did she want him to? Of course she didn’t! She admonished herself mentally for even thinking she might want him to kiss her. He was a bad man, the enemy!

And Dave! What was she thinking? She had Dave that she was going to marry! She had a wonderful man who was sweet and kind and….maybe a little boring at times but she couldn’t do this to him.

When he pulled up outside of her little cottage, she practically jumped out of the car. His gentle but firm touch stopped her just as she was about to slide her legs out.

“I’ll be gone for a couple of weeks but my assistant will be in touch about the house and how to pay for the expenses so you can get started immediately.” He waited a heartbeat, then said, “Break up with your boyfriend, Jade. I don’t like to share.”

Jade’s mouth dropped open and she shook her head. She desperately needed to put him in his place, give him a sound set down. “Don’t you think you’re assuming too much? It was just one kiss.”

Angelo shook his head and Jade could see the heat in his eyes even in the dim light. “No. I’m definitely not assuming too much. You will be in my bed Jade. Count on it.”

She shivered and started to say something, but she couldn’t think of anything appropriate. Or even inappropriate.

In the end, she stepped out of the car as gracefully as her wobbly legs would allow and raced into the house. She was grateful that he didn’t follow her because she wasn’t sure what she might do if he kissed her again. She almost slammed the door once she was inside, but remembered that she didn’t want to show the man any weakness. She caught her frantic motion and stopped the momentum of the door in time to gently press the wood closed. But as soon as it was in place, she clicked the lock and leaned against the wood, taking in deep breaths and trying to get herself back under control.

Chapter 3

Two weeks later, Jade jumped every time she heard a noise. And since the workers were going at their tasks in full force with many strange noises, she was pretty jumpy.

Unfortunately, her mood didn’t have anything to do with the stress of the renovations. In fact, those were coming along better than she could have hoped.

No, her nervousness was due solely to the fact that Angelo, with his dark, dangerous eyes, was due to inspect the house today. She’d gotten word from his assistant that he was flying in from Madrid and would arrive at the house sometime in the early afternoon.

Jade wasn’t sure what to expect, but she definitely wasn’t falling into his bed. She would just quickly tell him that she appreciated his generous job offer and was doing an excellent job with the renovations, but he would have to be disappointed in their relationship progressing beyond professional. And if that meant that he no longer wanted her in his employ, so be it. She loved this house, thought the lines and structure were amazing and the history of the building needed to be carefully reconstructed. It would break her heart if she had to stop and turn over the work to someone else, someone who might not be as gentle with the renovations.

But she would leave it all behind her, watch someone else complete the work from a distance if Angelo continued to consider her his next mistress. No, that wasn’t what she wanted for herself. She was not for sale! And especially not for some heartless man who had too much money. So what if the man fascinated her like no other man had ever done in the past? She wasn’t one to be pushed around. She didn’t want to have to compromise her scruples…

And then she saw him. All thoughts of telling him to stuff his offer went out of her mind. In fact, every thought left her brain as she watched him approach.

He didn’t just walk into the house like a normal person. No, the dark, dangerous, demon-like man walked towards her with a purpose unlike any she’d ever seen in her life. It was as if there was no one else in the house, no one else even close by. The hammering, sawing, banging and clattering simply didn’t exist.