The Tycoon's Reluctant Bride Read Online Free PDF Page B

her face and forced a smile. “Nothing,” she said brightly.
    He looked at her thoughtfully. “If you’re finished, I’ll show you the rest of the place.”
    She glanced down at her dessert. To her surprise, most of the delicious dessert was gone. Did Alex have such an effect on her that she didn’t even remember eating the most decadent chocolate mousse she’d ever tasted?
    “Sure.” She rose from the table and followed him into the kitchen. It almost rivaled her commercial kitchen for space and equipment.
    Alex gestured at the large, gleaming refrigerator and double oven. “You might like to cook sometimes.”
    Laura gazed at the kitchen counters, the gorgeous paneled cupboards and the double sink. It put the tiny kitchen in her apartment to shame. “It’s great.”
    He nodded, then clasped her hand in his, guiding her though the living-room into a short hallway. Her hand felt dwarfed in his grasp, and she couldn’t escape a shiver of awareness at his touch.
    “This is my study.”
    Laura peered around the doorway into a generously proportioned room. A large mahogany desk, a leather executive chair and a computer graced the den. A photo of five good-looking men, including Alex, all with dark hair, hung on the wall, and she could see the family resemblance.
    “Are they your brothers?” She stepped into the room and looked at the photograph.
    “ Yeah.” He came up behind her, his breath almost tickling her neck. They stood like that for a moment, before Alex ushered her to a room at the end of the hall. “The guest room.”
    A double bed took up the center of the room. Cream carpet, and soft green and blue tones completed the neutral look.
    “Both the bedrooms have private baths,” he continued, grasping her hand once more as they walked a short way to the final room. “And this is the master bedroom.” He ushered her into the large room. A huge king-sized bed dominated the room, with a large walk-in closet and plush, royal-blue carpet. Matching rosewood nightstands stood next to each side of the bed.
    “ This is where we’ll be sleeping.”
    Laura couldn’t help noticing the emphasis he put on the word “we” and the fact that he hadn’t let go of her hand. She nodded, not sure what to say. This was all happening so fast!
    He turned to look at her. “You can redecorate anything you like in the apartment.”
    “ Thank you.” She tried to swallow as he gazed at her with his midnight eyes. The moment stretched, and for a second Laura thought he was going to lean in and kiss her. He didn’t. She couldn’t help the disappointment that flickered through her. Clearing her throat, she began, “Alex, about the pre-nup.”
    “ What about it?” His eyes tracked the expression on her face.
    “ I don’t want your money if we … divorce.” She didn’t realize until seconds later that she’d squeezed his hand.
    “ You signed the pre-nup.”
    It was a statement, not a question and she wondered if he’d been notified the instant she’d put down the pen after scrawling her name. “Yes.”
    “It’s a binding contract, Laura.” His eyes were fathomless.
    “ Yes, but--”
    “ You’ll receive the money.” His voice was almost a growl.
    She stared at him for a minute, then nodded reluctantly. Her heart panged with regret at his tone, that made it sound like their marriage failing was already a foregone conclusion.
    “We’ll move you in when we get back from the honeymoon.” His fingers tightened momentarily on hers, reminding her that he was still in possession of her hand.
    Should she give up her apartment? Or should she keep it? How long would the marriage last? Could she ask him such a question? Laura resolved to wait and see what happened after the … honeymoon . Her one-bedroom was in a nice block and conveniently close to King Royale headquarters . She didn’t want to give it up, only to find herself apartment hunting in a few months’ time because her marriage of convenience had