“That doesn’t mean I want to have sex with you,” she said, but her skin was heating and her heart was racing.
“I could make you want to be with me,” he said. “I could make you want it more than you ever have.”
For a sliver of a moment, she believed him and the possibility sent her into turmoil. She had to shut this down once and for all. She took his hand and put it on her belly. “There will always be this between us,” she said. “Always.”
Max returned to his suite and poured himself a glass of red wine. There was something electric between him and Lilli. He could feel it in his skin and deeper in his gut. She was a little afraid of him, but still determined to hold her own. That attracted him even more. She was resolved to push him away, but she was fascinated by him. He could see it in the way she looked at him, hear it in her quick intake of breath and he felt it in her response to him.
The passion she tried to hide got to him more than any other woman’s overt seduction had. He was still aroused from being so close to her.
Plowing his fingers through his hair, he walked to his office and pulled out another legal proposal from his attorney. After watching what had happened to his brother because his guardian had been permissive and irresponsible, Max couldn’t stand the idea of another De Luca plunging down the same path.
He suspected Lilli would never sign a document giving him guardianship unless she became ill, and she might not even sign it under those conditions.
There were other options, though. Other ways to make sure this De Luca was raised properly. His attorney had outlined each of them. Some were more costly than others, and not just in terms of money. Rubbing his chin, he remembered when he’d got the news of his brother’s death. The feeling of loss and despair had slammed into him like a concrete wall.
He would never let the same thing happen to another De Luca. Never.
Four
The next evening, after a full day at work, Lilli entered the De Luca house to the sound of jazz music, tinkling glasses and animated conversation. She’d noticed a few extra cars in the driveway, but she hadn’t known what to expect once she got inside.
The scent of grilled food permeated the house, making her mouth water and her stomach growl. Then she remembered. This must be the barbecue gathering Max had mentioned the other day. All she wanted was a sandwich and she could fix that herself. Heading for the kitchen, she found two men and two women preparing food and placing it on serving trays.
A large bald man barked orders from one end of the large kitchen island. The man pinned her with his gaze as she approached the island. “No guests in the kitchen, bella,” he chided and pointed to himself. “Louie can’t have you stealing secrets.”
This was Max’s fabulous chef. She hadn’t had a chance to meet him yet because he seemed to cook and disappear.
“I’m not really a guest and I won’t steal your secrets. I just want to make a peanut butter sandwich. It won’t take a minute.”
He gasped in horror. “Peanut butter sandwich, when you can eat this?”
“I need to make this quick,” she said, more than ready for the solace and quiet of her room. She stepped behind the island. “I just want to take it to my room. Upstairs.”
Louie’s eyebrows shot upward. “Upstairs? You are a special friend of Mr. De Luca. Only the best—”
“No, no, I’m sure he doesn’t think of me as a special friend.”
“I don’t know why not,” a man said from behind her.
Lilli whipped her head around to look at a tall, muscular man with brown hair and luminescent green eyes. “Alex Megalos,” he said with a smile as he stood on the other side of the kitchen island.
“Nice to meet you. Lilli McCall.”
His eyes crinkled when he smiled. She liked that. She liked that he smiled at her instead of frowning. But she felt the need to disappear. She didn’t want to call attention to herself. “I really should go,” she said. “This is a business gathering.”
“No reason we can’t mix business and pleasure. Let’s get you a drink. Come out on the patio.”
Lilli shook her head again. “Thank you, but I—”
Max stepped into the kitchen and Lilli felt her heart take an extra beat. “When did the party move in here?”
“Max, you’ve been holding out on us. How did you lure this angel into your dark castle?”
Max met her gaze and she took a deep breath. A snap of electricity crackled between them. “Just lucky, I guess,” he said.
“Well, if you need anyone to take her off your hands,” Alex ventured.
Max shot him a sideways glance. “Always competing,” he said, then turned to the chef. “Louie, the lady is hungry.”
“We can’t have that,” Louie said and quickly put a plate together.
“Max, don’t be so greedy. You’ve already got Kiki,” Alex said. “Share her with the rest of us. She should join us tonight.”
Lilli stared at Max in panic.
“If you would like—
“I wouldn’t,” she said. “Like,” she added, gulping and shot Alex an apologetic look. “I’m a little tired. Thanks, though.”
“I’m crushed,” Alex said. “Maybe I could give you a call when you’re rested.”
Confusion rolled through her as she watched a beautiful brunette appear from behind him. “Max, sweetheart, you disappeared,” the woman said.
He turned to the woman. “Kiki, I’ll be back before you finish your next drink. I need to take care of a personal matter.”
The woman looked at Lilli and lifted one of her perfectly arched eyebrows. “Is this the personal matter?” She narrowed her eyes.
“I—uh—need to go,” Lilli said.
“No need to rush,” Alex said.
“Exactly,” Kiki said.
Lilli felt as if she were suddenly surrounded by vipers. There were too many competing agendas for her comfort. “All I wanted was a peanut butter sandwich,” she murmured.
Kiki snickered. “How charming.”
“Here’s your plate, bella,” Louie said.
“Bless you,” she said. “Thank you. It looks delicious.” She turned to Alex and Kiki. “It was nice to meet you. Have a lovely evening.”
“I will,” Kiki said and slid her hand around Max’s well-developed bicep.
Lilli nodded, feeling an odd combination of emotions, most of which
