“Ava,” he said her name like a prayer. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
She swallowed her smile and forced her gaze from his. She noticed a table with chocolate covered strawberries and two bottles chilling in the center of a silver ice chest. One bottle was probably some kind of fancy grape juice, since Joel would never allow her to have champagne. Still her fingers shook because she knew what the chilling bottles represented.
They were waiting for her say, “I’ll marry you.”
Butterflies thumped in her stomach.
Was he going to propose again?
“We need to talk,” she said, sounding breathless.
He nodded and pulled out a chair at the table for her. The evening’s sixty-degree breeze blew her hair into her eyes. She pushed the curls back and kept her hand at her head, so she could read his expression.
“I won’t marry you, unless you can tell me you love me. I’ve agreed to live with you and give our child two parents under one roof. But that’s all I’ve agreed to.”
Please don’t propose again. Please don’t tempt me. It would be agony to say no to something I want more than air.
“You may not say yes, but I’m going to consider you my wife. I’ve already called a lawyer to update my will, so you’ll be protected, even if you won’t do the practical thing and marry me.”
Practical thing. He might as well have taken out his ice pick and slashed through her heart.
“You need time, here with me. I’ll show you we’re right for each other. You’ll see I won’t hurt you like your father did. And you will marry me,” he said.
“I’m going to unpack.” Hoping to hide the fact he’d already hurt her, she gave him a false, plastic-feeling smile.
“My staff is already unpacking your things. Let me pour you some juice, and I know you love chocolate strawberries.” His eyes were dark and steamy-hot when they met hers. The air around them became heavy, so did her limbs. When his lips curled into a seductive smile, her mouth dried.
She nodded and fell back into her seat. There wasn’t much to do if she didn’t need to unpack.
He filled her glass then sank next to her and laid his arm around the back of her chair. The way he smelled and the way his body heated hers—so tempting. She had to bite her lip to resist rubbing back against him.
He sat too close for her to think he wanted to share a snack. He wanted to share something all right, and it wasn’t food.
As she opened her mouth to protest, he reached out and caressed her lower lip with his thumb. Instead of offering her own plate of strawberries and canapés, he fed her from his. All the while, his eyes held hers.
For a moment, all she could do was stay captivated, locked in his gaze, as she surrendered and tasted the ripe fruit he offered. Her heart hammered. Her body heated and trembled. Her skin tingled with sexual awareness.
“No, I should—” The words stuck in her throat as he lowered his head and licked a drop of sweet, strawberry juice from her lips.
“It tastes much better on your skin.” His voice was a velvety rumble against her mouth. She shivered.
Then he brushed his lips over hers, the gentle pressure melting her. While his hands roamed from her face, down her neck, to her chest. He cupped her breasts, her nipples beading into his palms, and she arched into his touch. When she moaned in bliss, his tongue dove in to find hers and drive her mad. His taste, the way he moved his mouth, the way his fingers flicked over her nipples. Perfect.
Her body burned, and her pulse raced. She was on the verge of begging him for more. If he kept caressing her and kissing her like that she was going to be lost.
Is that what she wanted?
She had a feeling if she offered her body, even one more time, she’d fall in love. She couldn’t do that. She couldn’t take that suicidal risk. She’d allowed him too close already.
She cleared her throat. “No. Show me where my room is. I’m tired.”
“You’re not tired, you’re running away, again. But I’ll take you to your room because there will be plenty of time for me to show you that you belong in my bed.”
Her throat constricted, and she had to swallow twice to loosen it. This Joel was dangerous and predatory. What had she been thinking moving in here?
She’d been thinking she could make him fall in love with her. That he cared enough to demand she move in, when all he had to do was financially support the baby.
But he was right. She was running away, to the safety of her room. Because he was too consuming.
Running was all she could do. It was the only smart thing. She needed to cool down and protect herself.
Her heart pounded in her ears as she followed him up a grand circular staircase, past four bedrooms on their way to her room, the suite adjoining the master.
“If you need anything, my door is always open,” he murmured huskily.
She knew what he wanted when he said, “anything,” so did her body. Her body ached for him. Her breasts were still heavy from his caress. But after he left, she’d cool down, and she’d be fine.
“And, Ava,” he said from the open doorway “We have a black tie charity ball to attend on Friday. Your name has been added to all my credit cards. Find something expensive, exquisite, and designer. Tell me what color you buy, so I can provide the proper jewels.”
Jewels? She wondered if her eyes widened in shock. She’d never had an occasion to wear jewels. Aside from her mother’s wedding ring and a pair of ruby studs, she didn’t own a lot of jewelry. Now, as Joel’s significant other, she’d be wearing fancy gowns and flashy diamonds. It was surreal.
Joel left to make some business calls, and Ava shuffled into her new closet. She gawked at the vast space, already housing her entire wardrobe of clothing. She’d need a hundred years to fill this cavernous thing. Well, at least, on her previous, generous salary. But now she was Joel’s. His billions were her billions. Maybe it wouldn’t be so hard to fill.
But she didn’t love the way Joel tried to buy her expensive trinkets to go with her dress. She remembered how Claudia had bragged in the company restroom that Joel always bought her jewelry when they had an event. Ava didn’t want to be just another Claudia.
But buying Ava bling was nothing new. It was something Joel did. And Ava wanted him to act out of the ordinary to show her she was special. At least more special than Claudia had been.
Yet she wasn’t. The only reason to consider herself above Claudia was because she carried his child. She had to remember this five-star glamorous life wouldn’t exist if the condom hadn’t failed. Joel should be on his way to the altar with Claudia, not her.
What was Ava thinking in coming here? Joel Stanfield was someone accustomed to the best—the finest homes, the fanciest vacations, the most desirable mistresses. He would never fall in love with her. Because she was not the best, she was too plain-Jane girl-next-door.
No amount of designer clothing or sparkling diamonds would disguise that fact.
Chapter Fifteen
As soon as Joel guided her from the limo and onto the red carpet at the charity ball, flashbulbs blared in Ava’s eyes, blinding her. Being Joel’s assistant, Ava had seen the way the press hounded her billionaire boss. But also being Joel’s assistant meant the questions were hurled at him, not at her. Ava had been no more important than his driver.
Being his date changed everything. Suddenly Ava was visible, and the limelight burned into her skin. Hostile questions were shouted at her.
“Who are you?”
“Are you the reason Joel Stanfield broke off his long term engagement with Claudia LeMure?”
“Are you pregnant?”
Ava froze below the steps to the five-star hotel.
Joel must have seen the blood drain from her face, must have felt her fingers stiffen in his, because he grabbed her arm and dragged her up the steps. “Chin up. Smile. You own this world now.”
Yeah, right
.
How did the reporter know she was expecting? Ava didn’t look pregnant yet. She was only nine weeks, and she doubted her doctor’s office would leak her confidential medical records. The insinuation behind the question stung. The reporters thought Joel wouldn’t be with Ava unless he’d made a mistake and impregnated her.
The truth stung.
When they reached the inside coatroom, a tuxedoed man took her shawl and glittery bag, and Joel put his arm around her, tucking her close to his body. Her legs trembled, her knees weak from the sizzling public scrutiny. For a moment Ava let herself sag into Joel’s strong body, so hard and unmoving. She inhaled his warm, masculine scent, let it wash over her frayed nerves.
“You did well, not answering those questions. Next time remember to smile. Don’t give the parasites a meal.”
She nodded. No wonder they’d guessed she was pregnant. The way she behaved had been a clear giveaway. And the fact Joel was a man who dated the Claudia’s of the world…Was Joel disappointed with her red-carpet performance? How could he not be, when he was used to supermodels?
Could her stiff performance tonight be a liability to someone like Joel?
Maybe. And maybe with enough practice she would get used to the paparazzi. If she married Joel, she’d attend at least one glittering charity event a week. Sometimes more.
Tonight Joel’s company hosted an annual gala, benefiting New York City’s hospitals. It created an account that paid medical expenses for lower income people injured by uninsured drunk drivers.
Joel was a man who used his money, his connections, and these parties to help others. She had to respect that. Joel wasn’t a playboy billionaire out for his pleasure. He was so much more than the press portrayed.
“Let me find you a drink, then we’ll mingle,” Joel said, leaning forward to kiss her temple before he disappeared.
Without the temptation to stare at her gorgeous date, Ava was free to scan the room. She took in the candlelight, the multitude of sparkling, crystal chandeliers, and the tables set with burgundy linen and impressive china. But her favorite part of being in the lap of luxury was the stunning array of designer dresses, every style represented, every color dazzling.
“You’re with the man of the hour.” A woman with auburn hair and sequined white gown came up to her.
“I’m Ava Carson.” Ava reached out her hand. The one with Joel’s ring.
“That is one gorgeous rock,” the woman said then shook her hand. “I’m Danielle VonFirstner, and I’ve read all the nasty things they’re writing about you. And now that I’ve met you I can tell they’re all lies. The press will write anything to drum up an interesting story.”
Ava was starting to like this woman.
“I’ve been married for six years now. We have three kids, and I’m not ashamed to say our first baby came only a few months after our wedding. With true love sometimes, we can get carried away.”
Ava smiled. “Carried away. That’s a good description for what happened.”
“You know I would never have changed a single moment of—” Danielle gasped. “I wondered if she’d show.” Her new friend glanced up the dramatic stairway.
Ava followed her gaze. So did the rest of the crowd, and the room fell silent for a long, tense moment.
Claudia LeMure waved and smiled as she descended in a semi-transparent teal silk that left little to the imagination. At the bottom of the staircase, she posed on the arm of a handsome rockstar. Even though her famous date was striking and watching Claudia with evident lust, the supermodel searched the room for someone else.
The oppressive weight of the crowd’s eyes sank into Ava, making the hair on the back of her neck stand at attention. Their gaze ping-ponged from Claudia to Ava. They were waiting for something gossip-worthy to happen. Claudia’s face illuminated when she finally spotted Joel at the bar.
Ava’s jaw tightened. Blistering heat flushed over her cheeks and neck.
She watched, with the mesmerized crowd, to see what the supermodel would do next. She expected anything, but was still stunned when Claudia excused herself from the rockstar and dragged Joel to the hotel’s private balcony.
What the hell? Ava’s muscles tensed.
“I…I better go check on my husband.” The woman, who had been chatty a moment ago, disappeared into the crowd. Probably too uncomfortable with what she assumed would be a dramatic scene about to unfold.
It didn’t matter. Ava was through making small talk. She, like the rest of the crowd, gawked at the French doors leading to a terrace, where Joel and his ex-lover had disappeared.
Fifteen excruciating minutes later, the couple, who shouldn’t be a couple anymore, finally emerged as a unit. Claudia’s arm snaked through Joel’s. She smiled up at him, eyes glowing like they’d made secret plans, and Claudia still belonged to him.
Pain sliced into Ava’s chest.
No. Joel would never cheat on her. Never.
So why did he escape onto the balcony, with his ex-lover?
Ava froze, heart pounding, holding her breath, her eyes on Joel. He caught her stricken gaze, then removed Claudia’s possessive hand from his arm.
With the room watching his footsteps, Joel strode back to Ava’s side and leaned close, so he could whisper in her ear. “Nothing’s going on.”
“Then why did you leave with her?” she whispered back.
“Claudia needed to hear why we can’t continue our affair. Having that private conversation in the middle of a society event was not a good move.”
Ava chewed her lip as she considered his words and weighed them for truth. “Claudia wanted to continue your affair even though—”
He nodded. “Even though I’m marrying you. Yes, she did. But I told her it isn’t going to happen. That I am committed to you.” His eyes were charged and sincere. He draped his arm over her shoulders and tucked her against him, his body warming her.
He held her like that even when the director of the hospital came over to thank him again. As the woman smothered Joel with praise, Ava searched the room until she spotted the rock star and Claudia, who were ambling up the dramatic staircase, making their exit.
Interesting. For once, Claudia’s tawny complexion looked milky white, and her exotic blue eyes weren’t sparkling. Her lean shoulders weren’t held as high, nor was her chin triumphant. She almost looked human.