1925 - Millionaire's Secret Seduction Read Online Free PDF Page A

a genius.” Dominic had his arms around both hourglass waists. “She’s in charge of cosmetics research. She’s going to make everyone in the world beautiful.”
    Bella’s face heated further. Apparently he also felt the need to excuse her dullness.
    “Would you like to join us?” She spoke up, her voice a little squeaky. She knew Dominic would rather be with them than her.
    Dominic’s smile disappeared and he lifted a brow at her.
    “We can’t, darling!” The redhead seized the opportunity to kiss his cheek again. “We’re just passing through on the way to tonight’s party.”
    “They’re event planners,” Dominic explained. “They love to serve my products and pretend they paid a fortune for them.”
    The cream-dress girl leaned toward him. “Don’t tell anyone how much you charge for the mushroom pâté.” Her French accent gave her words an air of sexy conspiracy. “The hostess is crazy for it. She thinks we buy it from Paris by the ounce.”
    “It’ll be our secret that it’s two-fifty for a half-pound tub.” Dominic’s dimples showed. “I doubt one of your clients would ever go into an actual store, anyway. They have ‘people’ for that.”
    The two beauties threw their heads back in musical laughter.
    Bella took a bracing swig of her champagne. She’d seen hisstores here and there—Trader Dan’s, was that the name?—but had never actually been in one. Apparently she’d been missing out.
    She was in danger of shrinking out of existence altogether when both girls chimed, “Must fly!” They kissed him on both cheeks, then back on the first one. Three kisses. Each.
    Bella managed to keep a poker face.
    “You have lipstick on your cheeks,” she said, as the goddesses stalked off toward the door.
    Dominic shrugged. “Occupational hazard. I bet you know the best way to get it off.”
    “The fresh mayonnaise would work, but it might clog your pores. I’d go with the napkin if I were you.”
    Dominic scrubbed at his chiseled features with the white linen. “Better?”
    “Much. I’ve never seen someone kiss three times before. It gets messy.”
    “That’s how they do it in Europe. There it’s just like shaking hands. You get used to it.”
    “I’ll bet. Anyway, I must get going too.” She stood. “It’s been lovely.” She gulped. “The food, I mean.”
    His eyes narrowed slightly.
    She blinked. “And the company, of course. Very nice to meet you, Mr. Hardcastle.”
    “Dominic.” His tone chastised her. He stood and slid his hand into hers. “I’m offended that you’re abandoning me here.”
    “I’m afraid I have a train to catch.” She tried to release her hand, but he tightened his firm but gentle hold on it. “I need to visit my mother.”
    His espresso-shot eyes fixed on hers. “Family’s important.”
    “Yes. Well, I’d better be going.” She tugged at her hand again. He didn’t release it.
    “No way you’re leaving without a traditional Europeangoodbye kiss. That would add insult to injury.” He tilted his head. His dark eyes glittered.
    Deep breath and get it over with. She leaned forward. The warm salty musk of his skin assaulted her as he lowered his head and pressed his cheek to hers. She kissed the air by his ear and tried to ignore the strange shivery sensation in her arms and legs.
    Was he really going to kiss her on both cheeks? A swift movement of his head confirmed her suspicion. She held her breath as his lips brushed her other cheek and a shimmer of desire rippled inside her belly.
    She was about to step back and gulp air when she remembered the other girls had kissed three times. Ugh. So pretentious. But she could handle it. Hang tough. She lowered her eyes for the return journey to cheek number one. Braced herself against his male scent. She was almost out of here.
    Then something went very, very wrong.

Two
    S he never knew quite what happened, just that Dominic’s mouth collided with hers.
    Not a hard, fast kind of impact where things