Read Online Desperate Domination (Bought by the Billionaire #3) by Lili Valente - Free Book Online
Authors: Lili Valente
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he returned, she would talk him into spending the day at the beach with her. It would be like a first date.
The thought made her smile, a goofy grin she was glad Jackson wasn’t around to see. She knew he still had his fears and doubts, but after the way they had made love last night, she had a hard time holding on to her own. Still, they would have to move forward slowly, and it was too early in the process for love struck grins and humming on her way to the bathroom.
But as she padded into the bathroom to wash up, she couldn’t stop an airy tune from vibrating up her throat to her lips. And when she emerged wrapped in a towel to find her clothes from yesterday freshly washed and laid out on the bed, she let out a blissful sigh, startling Eva, who was depositing her breakfast tray on the table by the window.
“Good morning, Eva,” she said, dancing across the room. “Isn’t it a beautiful day?”
“Good morning,” Eva said with a shy smile. “Mr. Hawke ask for me to bring these special. For you. Special breakfast from him.”
“Thank you so much.” Hannah glanced down, warmth spreading through her as she realized what was on the tray. On the delicate china plate sat two steaming biscuits, each cut in half and topped with a different kind of cheese.
Cheese biscuits. He’d had her safe word delivered for breakfast.
It was funny, sweet, and weirdly romantic, and she could barely contain the giddy cry of delight threatening to burst from her lips. She was so touched that it took a beat for her to notice the piece of paper with her name written on it tucked beneath the edge of the plate.
It took even longer for her to make sense of the message written inside.
Dear Hannah,
I never thought I’d experience something like last night again. You touched parts of me I was certain no longer existed, but there are other parts that are unreachable, even by a spirit as lovely as yours. That’s why I have to leave.
I am not now, nor will I ever be, worthy of your affection. I could try for a hundred years, but I would still fall short of what you deserve. I can’t be the man you want me to be. I am incapable of love, but I do care enough about you to do what’s right.
Adam will fly me to my destination this morning and return this afternoon to take you home. The remainder of your fee will be deposited in your account by close of business today.
Thank you for your goodness and your forgiveness. Both mean more than you know.
Yours,
Jackson
She read the note through three times before the truth penetrated. When it did, she dropped the paper and spun toward the bed, dropping her towel and pulling on her clothes, heedless of the fact that Eva was still in the room to see her naked.
A glance at the clock on the bedside table said it was only six fifteen. If she hurried, she might be able to catch Jackson before he left. She couldn’t let him slip away without a fight, not when they were so close to finding forever.
On some level, he must know they were meant to be or he wouldn’t have signed the note the way he did. Subconsciously, he knew that he belonged to her and she belonged to him. Now, she just had to convince the rest of the stubborn man she loved that the last thing he should be doing is running away.
As soon as her hiking boots were tied, Hannah stood and turned to pin Eva with a stern look. “I need to go to Mr. Hawke. Is there someone who can drive me to the airstrip?”
Eva shook her head, but before she could respond a deep voice spoke from the door.
“I’ll take her, Mama.” The dark-eyed boy who had warned her about Jackson motioned for her to follow him. “They left a few minutes ago. We can catch up if we go now.”
Hannah hurried toward the door, skin prickling with relief. “Thank you so much. I promise you won’t get in trouble. I won’t let him punish you.”
“I’m not worried about being punished,” the man said, starting down the hallway toward the front of the house.
The thought made her smile, a goofy grin she was glad Jackson wasn’t around to see. She knew he still had his fears and doubts, but after the way they had made love last night, she had a hard time holding on to her own. Still, they would have to move forward slowly, and it was too early in the process for love struck grins and humming on her way to the bathroom.
But as she padded into the bathroom to wash up, she couldn’t stop an airy tune from vibrating up her throat to her lips. And when she emerged wrapped in a towel to find her clothes from yesterday freshly washed and laid out on the bed, she let out a blissful sigh, startling Eva, who was depositing her breakfast tray on the table by the window.
“Good morning, Eva,” she said, dancing across the room. “Isn’t it a beautiful day?”
“Good morning,” Eva said with a shy smile. “Mr. Hawke ask for me to bring these special. For you. Special breakfast from him.”
“Thank you so much.” Hannah glanced down, warmth spreading through her as she realized what was on the tray. On the delicate china plate sat two steaming biscuits, each cut in half and topped with a different kind of cheese.
Cheese biscuits. He’d had her safe word delivered for breakfast.
It was funny, sweet, and weirdly romantic, and she could barely contain the giddy cry of delight threatening to burst from her lips. She was so touched that it took a beat for her to notice the piece of paper with her name written on it tucked beneath the edge of the plate.
It took even longer for her to make sense of the message written inside.
Dear Hannah,
I never thought I’d experience something like last night again. You touched parts of me I was certain no longer existed, but there are other parts that are unreachable, even by a spirit as lovely as yours. That’s why I have to leave.
I am not now, nor will I ever be, worthy of your affection. I could try for a hundred years, but I would still fall short of what you deserve. I can’t be the man you want me to be. I am incapable of love, but I do care enough about you to do what’s right.
Adam will fly me to my destination this morning and return this afternoon to take you home. The remainder of your fee will be deposited in your account by close of business today.
Thank you for your goodness and your forgiveness. Both mean more than you know.
Yours,
Jackson
She read the note through three times before the truth penetrated. When it did, she dropped the paper and spun toward the bed, dropping her towel and pulling on her clothes, heedless of the fact that Eva was still in the room to see her naked.
A glance at the clock on the bedside table said it was only six fifteen. If she hurried, she might be able to catch Jackson before he left. She couldn’t let him slip away without a fight, not when they were so close to finding forever.
On some level, he must know they were meant to be or he wouldn’t have signed the note the way he did. Subconsciously, he knew that he belonged to her and she belonged to him. Now, she just had to convince the rest of the stubborn man she loved that the last thing he should be doing is running away.
As soon as her hiking boots were tied, Hannah stood and turned to pin Eva with a stern look. “I need to go to Mr. Hawke. Is there someone who can drive me to the airstrip?”
Eva shook her head, but before she could respond a deep voice spoke from the door.
“I’ll take her, Mama.” The dark-eyed boy who had warned her about Jackson motioned for her to follow him. “They left a few minutes ago. We can catch up if we go now.”
Hannah hurried toward the door, skin prickling with relief. “Thank you so much. I promise you won’t get in trouble. I won’t let him punish you.”
“I’m not worried about being punished,” the man said, starting down the hallway toward the front of the house.
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