The Greek's Unwilling Bride Read Online Free PDF Page B

haven’t answered my question. Why did you keep looking at that woman?”
    Because I chose to. Because you don’t own me. Because Laurel Bennett intrigues me as you never did, not even when our affair first began.
    Damian blew out his breath. It was late, they were both tired and this wasn’t the time to talk or make decisions. He ran his knuckles lightly over Gabriella’s cheek, then reached across her lap and opened her door.
    â€œGo on,” he said gently. “Wait in the lobby while I park the car.”
    â€œYou see what I mean? If we’d come by limousine, you wouldn’t have to drop me off here, in the middle of nowhere. But no, you had to do things your way, with no regard for me or my feelings.”
    Damian glanced past Gabriella, to the brightly lit entrance to the inn. Then he looked at his mistress’s face, illuminated by the cruel fluorescent light that washed into the car, and saw that it wasn’t as lovely as he’d once thought, especially not with petulance and undisguised jealousy etched into every feature.
    â€œGaby,” he said quietly, “it’s late. Let’s not argue about this now.”
    â€œDon’t think you can shut me up by sounding sincere, Damian. And I keep telling you, my name’s not Gaby!”
    A muscle knotted in his jaw. He reached past her again, grasped the handle, slammed the door closed and put the Saab in gear.
    â€œWait just a minute! I’m not going with you while you park the car. If you think I have any intention of walking through that gravel in these shoes...” Gabriella frowned as Damian pulled through the circular driveway and headed downhill. “Damian? What are you doing?”
    â€œWhat does it look like I’m doing?” He kept his eyes straight ahead, on the road. “I’m driving to New York.”
    â€œTonight? But it’s late. And what about my things? My clothes and my makeup? Damian, this is ridiculous!”
    â€œI’ll phone the inn and tell them to pack everything and forward it, as soon as I’ve dropped you off.”
    â€œDropped me off?” Gabriella twisted toward him. “What do you mean? I never go back to my own apartment on weekends, you know that.”
    â€œWhat you said was true, a few minutes ago,” he said, almost gently, “I do have an obligation to you.” He looked across the console at her, then back at the road. “An obligation to tell you the truth, which is that I’ve enjoyed our time together, but—”
    â€œBut what? What is this, huh? The big brush-off?”
    â€œGabriella, calm down.”
    â€œDon’t you tell me to calm down,” she said shrilly. “Listen here, Mr. Skouras, maybe you can play high-and-mighty with the people who work for you but you can’t pull that act with me!”
    â€œI’d like us to end this like civilized adults. We both knew our relationship wouldn’t last forever.”
    â€œWell, I changed my mind! How dare you toss me aside, just because you found yourself some two-bit—”
    â€œI’ve found myself nothing.” His voice cut across hers, harsh and cold. “I’m simply telling you that our relationship has run its course.”
    â€œThat’s what you think! What I think is that you led me to have certain expectations. My lawyer says...”
    Gabriella stopped in midsentence, her mouth opening and closing as if she were a fish, but it was too late. Damian had already pulled onto the shoulder of the road. He swung toward her, and she shrank back in her seat at the expression on his face.
    â€œYour lawyer says?” His voice was low, his tone dangerous. “You mean, you’ve already discussed our relationship with an attorney?”
    â€œNo. Well, I mean, I had a little chat with—look, Damian, I was just trying to protect myself.” In the passing headlights of an oncoming automobile, he could see her