Read Online 1925 - Millionaire's Secret Seduction by Jennifer Lewis - Free Book Online Page A

foist on its consumers. Though, if they sold you that dress I’ve got to thank them.”
    “I bought it at Ann Taylor.” She smoothed the skirt and hid her smile of satisfaction.
    “You would.”
    They were stuck in traffic. Dominic still had the window open and a chorus of honks pummeled her ears.
    “I bet your dad would be really proud of what you’re doing with his work.” His tone, warm and intimate, made her breath catch.
    “He wasn’t interested in cosmetics. I think he’d have loved to work for the military, but they wouldn’t hire him.”
    “Why not?”
    “He was politically radical for a while after he came to the U.S. Belonged to some fringe Marxist group. He was out of politics by the time I was born, but I guess the stain lingers in the CIA files.”
    “That’s a shame.” His sympathetic look almost affected her. “Maybe you inherited his risky passion for lost causes.”
    Her back stiffened. “It’s not funny.”
    “I know. That’s why I don’t want to see you screw up your life over something that can’t be changed.”
    “Did you drag me out of my lab to lecture me?”
    “Among other things. Feeding you and kissing you were higher on my agenda, but we seem to have gotten out of order.”
    He leaned forward and slid the partition aside, tapped on the driver’s shoulder and gave him some incomprehensible directions. They headed east on Fourteenth Street.
    “Since we’re working backwards, can I kiss you now?”
    The question was straightforward.
    Her answer more so. “No.”

Four
    B ella’s pulse picked up. Would he force her? Hold their “deal” over her head?
    His expression serious, Dominic raised his thumb and brushed it gently over her lips. “Shame.”
    How dare he? Her mouth quivered under his insolent touch.
    How would he feel if she reached out and—say—ran her fingers through his hair? His thick black hair was combed back, but a natural wave pulled it into disorder that begged to be “fixed”. Her palms tingled.
    Bella jerked her focus off him and stared out the window. The cab was taking them into the gridless labyrinth of the West Village. “You still haven’t told me where we’re going. Wouldn’t that be polite?”
    “You know by now that I can be quite rude when the occasion calls for it.” Humor thickened his voice.
    “Why do I feel like I should be calling a cop?”
    “Maybe you should be.” He leaned forward and muttered something to the driver, who pulled over outside a small brown-stone storefront.
    She climbed out onto the sidewalk, self-conscious in her smart dress among the jean-clad people perched on the edges of sidewalk planters.
    He held out his arm, gallant. Aware of all the eyes on her, she took it. He led her up some concrete stairs. Inside people packed in front of a narrow counter. A chalkboard menu covered the far wall. Delicious aromas wafted in the air and she could hear the clatter of pans.
    “Best food in the city.” Dominic squeezed her arm in his.
    “What kind?”
    “Italian, of course.”
    Of course. And to compound his crimes of arrogance, he ordered for both of them without even asking her what she wanted. Or liked.
    Or even if she was hungry. Which unfortunately, she was.
    He chatted with the guy behind the counter as if they were friends, but didn’t introduce her. “Let’s sit outside.”
    Of course, Your Lordship.
    “You know, you are a lot like Tarrant.” She arranged her skirt on the hard bench that ran under the storefront window. “You do everything you damn well please and don’t care what anyone else wants.”
    “There’s a lot to be said for being decisive.”
    “In business, yes, but it can be hard to take in personal relationships. Look how many times your dad has been married.”
    That got his attention. Dominic’s lips pursed like he was about to say something. Then he looked thoughtful. “How many times has he been married?”
    Regret rippled through her. She’d forgotten that Tarrant wasa