Illegitimate Tycoon Read Online Free PDF Page A

“It
never has been,” she protested.
                 One
dark brow arched up. “Hasn’t it? In the past year we’ve only managed to be
together once, and that was far too brief.”
                 “I
know, but we are both at crucial points in our careers,” she said. “To have
shirked our responsibilities and commitments would have had adverse effects we
might never have recovered from.”
                 Especially
for her as a model. Right now it was crucial she kept her name out there. That
she stayed on top, for that brought in the big money that enabled her to help
others. It gave her purpose and pride to have succeeded so well at something.
It gave her control.
                 But
she admitted with a heavy heart that she’d also avoided any kind of close
encounter with Rafael after the miscarriage. It had been wrong of her, but she
had needed to protect herself. Ah, maybe she was selfish.
                 What
else could explain why she’d done that to the one person she trusted
implicitly? Fear, that’s what. Losing their baby had been the first tragedy she’d
suffered since her recovery from anorexia and it had almost destroyed her.
                 She
had learned a painful lesson. That while she adored Rafael, deep inside was
that fear of losing herself if she ever totally put her life in another person’s
hands again. She had to guard herself closely, for it would be easy to let one
compulsion morph into another. For her to slip back to the destructive ways of
her teen years.
                 “I
think there is more bothering you than weariness,” Rafael said, snapping her
attention wholly back to him again.
                 And
my God, but this man knew how to probe one’s soul with one long scorching look.
                 She
lifted her gaze just enough to break the magnetic pull that was drawing her
closer to him. “I’ve been on a grueling pace for the past six months. Rest is a
luxury I haven’t afforded myself.”
                 His
dark eyes narrowed, assessing, as if gauging whether to believe her. “Then I
insist you enjoy a good night’s sleep tonight.”
                 As
if she’d be able to do that knowing she had only to reach over to touch him! To
slip her arms around that magnificent specimen of masculinity and claim him as
her own. That all she had to whisper was I
want you and they’d both be lost in a passion so deep and so consuming that
nothing or no one else would matter.
                 “You
won’t get any argument from me,” she said, but doubted sleep would come easily
for either of them.
                 Showered,
coiffed and makeup carefully applied, Leila slipped into the vibrant blue
designer gown that had been provided for tonight’s premiere of Bare Souls . The skirt was sleek and
straight with a side slit to allow ease in walking.
                 The
strapless bodice hugged her middle and flared upward like flower petals to
cover her breasts. She had just the right amount of faux tan to complement her
natural golden coloring and make her skin glow with this electric shade of
blue.
                 Fiery
blue diamond studs sparkled at her ears and a matching pendant with a larger
diamond would soon hang from a fine golden chain around her neck. She’d slipped
a companion dinner ring on her right hand—all had been birthday gifts from
Rafael that had stunned and surprised her.
                 But
she still wore her simple wedding set on her left hand, and the tiny diamond
solitaire and smaller stones in the wedding band winked back at her as if in
approval. For years Rafael had insisted on replacing this set with a more
lavish one, but she’d told him flat out she didn’t want to exchange these for
new opulent ones.
                 These
rings meant the world to her for they were the first pieces of jewelry