Bound To Him: Three Dates with a Billionaire Read Online Free PDF Page A

want to spoil your seating arrangements so I asked Mr. Witley to take care of her while I spoke. I believe my invitation included a guest?” He glared at Witley. “My father sends his regards.”
    Whatever that meant, it kept Witley from spilling the truth to my boss. “Ah, yes, I haven’t seen him for a while. Give him my best wishes, won’t you?”
    He sidled off. I tried not to groan with relief. No tip, but it could have been so much worse. I probably still had a job.
    “I didn’t know you knew each other,” Steve said, his gaze going from Troy to me and back again.
    Troy hugged me to his side. “We didn’t until you introduced us this morning.” He glanced at me, warning in his eyes. “I didn’t have a guest, and I didn’t want to disrupt your plans, so Witley offered to look after her while I was doing my guest of honor thing. Witley and my dad have known each other for years.”
    “I see.” Steve looked at me doubtfully. “Well it was a pleasure seeing you, Troy. Any time you want a guided tour, let me know.”
    “Sure.” Troy urged me to turn. When I stumbled, he righted me, seemingly effortlessly. “We were going for a late supper. Care to join us?”
    “Ah, erm—”
    I’d have thought Steve would have jumped at the chance. But perhaps he had more tact than I thought. Troy led me away, the pool of speculation widening as we passed through the crowd and to the exit.
    The air outside was cool, scented with the aroma of damp sidewalks. Oh great, it had showered again. More to slip on. A limo stood waiting at the bottom of the steps, as if summoned by magic. Troy winked at me. “The power of speed dial. Come on.”
    I kept my arm tucked in his until we had reached the bottom of the flight of stone steps. He didn’t hurry me down. The driver had opened the car door. Troy turned and faced me.
    “Th-thank you,” I stammered. “I really appreciate your help.” I moved away, ready to turn and leave.
    “Wait.”
    I stopped and turned back to face him.
    “Get in. If your boss is watching he’ll think it’s a bit strange if you don’t get into the car.”
    I hadn’t thought of that. “Thanks.” I got in and settled myself on the lush leather seat that stretched the width of the car. Troy got in beside me.
    “You can drop me at the nearest taxi rank,” I said.
    “I have a better idea.” He turned in his seat, so he was looking at me. “Have supper with me. Then you won’t have to lie to Steve.”
    I swallowed. “You mean it?” I sounded like a star struck schoolgirl. What had gotten into me? My panic was subsiding now and I was taking stock.
    “Sure. You intrigue me, Cassie. I can call you Cassie, can’t I?” I nodded dumbly. “Why would you dress like this at night and the way you do during the daytime? Are you into Cinderella?”
    “Something like that.” How could I begin to explain? I moonlight as a paid escort wouldn’t have gone down well. If Witley didn’t tell Steve. Somehow I knew he wouldn’t. There’d been an implicit threat in the comment about his father, one I was sure I hadn’t invented. “I—I have a room mate, and she said I couldn’t go out like I was.”
    “Hence the hair rinse?”
    Of course, he was an actor. He’d know all about those. “Yes.” I fingered my hair, which had come loose from its style sometime between leaving the gallery and arriving in the car.
    “I like your original color best.”
    “This is only temporary. It should wash out in a few shampoos.”
    The corner of his mouth twitched. “Good.”
    Why would he care? Unless he was planning — I swallowed.
    The car came to a halt. “Here we are,” he said.
    Now this hotel I knew. One of the most prestigious in the city, this place was home to a thousand stars, when they were in town.
    He climbed out of the limo and offered me a hand up. I needed it. My feet were throbbing by now, and my arches were killing me. I managed to stand upright, and let him take me inside, and into an