The Billionaire's Bidding Read Online Free PDF Page B

time.”
    He set the briefcase down on the dining table and held up his palms in surrender. “I apologize. But I just got out of a meeting.”
    His gaze seemed to snag on her outfit once again.
    â€œI take it you had a free evening?”
    â€œNo, I did not have a free evening. I had a conference call, three supply contracts to approve and an accounting meeting that lasted past ten.”
    â€œBut you’re free now.” He opened up the case.
    She stared pointedly down at her robe. “Do I look free?”
    He fought a grin. “You look…”
    â€œForget it.”
    â€œI was going to say cute.”
    â€œYou were going to say awful.”
    His brow furrowed for a split second. “Why do you always—”
    â€œWhat do you want, Alex?”
    He shook his head, then he lifted an envelope from his briefcase. “I want to swap financial statements.”
    â€œCall me in the morning.” She wanted to sleep. Nothing more, nothing less.
    â€œI’m booked up all day.”
    â€œWell, I’m booked up all night.”
    He stilled. His glance shot to her bedroom door. “You have company?”
    It took a moment for his meaning to set in. Of all the nerve. “ No, I do not have company. ”
    â€œI thought maybe you were having a final fling.”
    â€œI’m not a final fling kind of girl.”
    He checked her out one more time. “Really?”
    â€œAnd if I was, would I dress like this?”
    â€œI told you, you look cute.”
    She groaned in frustration.
    He abandoned his briefcase and moved toward her. “Seriously, Emma. I don’t know where all this insecurity comes from.”
    She had no idea how to respond to that. Zero.
    His voice went soft. “You’re a beautiful woman.”
    â€œStop it,” she rasped. He was obviously practicing his lines, spinning his lies, trying to put her off balance for his own reasons.
    He came to a halt directly in front of her, the intensity of his perusal causing waves of reaction through her body. “Don’t sell yourself short, Emma.”
    She tried to breathe normally, tried to squelch the unmistakable creep of desire working its way along her limbs. “You have…surprising taste.”
    His mouth curved into a slow grin.
    It was a smooth mouth, a shapely mouth, a very sexy mouth, set under a luminous laserlike gaze that surrounded a woman and made her feel like the only person on the planet. Emma felt herself being dragged under his spell.
    â€œYou think I prefer silk and satin?” he asked softly.
    â€œI think you’d prefer black lace and heels.” As soon as she spoke, she regretted the impulse.
    His nostrils flared ever so slightly. “Really?” And his eyes telegraphed his thoughts.
    â€œNot on me. ”
    He glanced at her cleavage. “Why not?”
    This was getting crazy. “Alex.”
    He nodded to her bedroom door. “You got something back there I might like?”
    God help her, she did. A little teddy and matching panties that Katie had bought her on her birthday.
    Not that Alex would ever see them.
    A trace of laughter rumbled deep in his chest. “Still waters run deep?”
    â€œI have nothing,” she lied.
    He reached up and smoothed a stray lock of her hair. “Sure you do. Go ahead, Emma. Let me in on your deep, dark secret.”
    She blinked into the polished obsidian of his eyes, steeling herself against his pull, promising herself she wouldn’t let him take control of their relationship. She needed to stay strong. She needed to stay focused. She had something he wanted, and the transfer was going to be on her terms.
    But then his palm paused on her temple, distracting her thoughts. His fingertips brushed her hair, and every reluctant nerve in her body zeroed in on his point of contact, zinging hormonal messages that flushed her skin and softened her lips, and pushed her body in toward him.
    His hand