Read Online Playboy's Lesson by Melanie Milburne - Free Book Online Page A

politely and leaving.
    He checked his phone to see he had missed a call from Orsino. He’d yet to talk to him about Giatrakos and was faintly curious to see how the Greek had attempted to co-op his brother. It was hard enough to get hold of his twin at the best of times, considering he was usually halfway up a mountain, or saving starving children in some godforsaken place, so how on earth Christos had contacted him was anyone’s guess. When Lucca dialled Orsino’s number there was no answer— typical —so he left a brief message without saying much about his situation.
    Ten minutes later Lucca had paced the floor so many times he was sure he’d left a foot-deep trench in the soft carpet. Was this another game of Lottie’s? He didn’t like the tables being turned on him. He was the one who played and won. If Lottie thought she could manipulate him to walk out before the time was up she was in for a big surprise. Nothing and no one was going to make him relinquish his goal. No one.
    He turned when he heard a light footstep at the door. Lottie was standing there looking very composed but he noticed she was doing that flicking thing with her finger and thumb. She was dressed in black from head to foot, which did nothing for her colouring. Her hair was scraped back in an even more severe style and she wore no cosmetics or any jewellery. There was a spark of defiance in her gaze, however, that alerted him that her choice of garb this time might well have been for his benefit. Even her shoes were something a grandmother with bunions would wear.
    ‘Who died?’
    Her brows met between her eyes. ‘I beg your pardon?’
    He waved a hand to indicate her outfit. ‘Have you been to a funeral?’
    That stubborn little chin came up. ‘I happen to like wearing black.’
    ‘You look terrible in it. It makes me want to rush to the nearest blood bank to order a transfusion for you.’
    She walked into the room with her head high. ‘If and when I want fashion advice from you I will ask for it.’
    ‘I liked that tracksuit you were wearing on the beach yesterday. I almost didn’t recognise you.’
    Her cheeks were pink when she turned to face him, her eyes behind their glasses—the tortoiseshell ones—brittle with resentment. ‘Did you enjoy your drink?’
    ‘It was very enjoyable. The view was amazing.’
    Her look was brimful of dislike. ‘The beach or that blonde’s cleavage?’
    He gave her a glinting smile. ‘What do you think?’
    She flattened her mouth as if she didn’t trust herself to respond in a civil fashion. She stalked over to where some drinks were laid out and poured a glass of water but he suspected it had more to do with her needing something to do with her hands than actual thirst. She turned and cradled the glass without taking a sip from it. ‘How did you know I wasn’t going to go up to your penthouse?’
    He studied her tense little expression for a beat or two. ‘I knew you weren’t ready.’
    ‘Not ready?’ she spluttered, eyes flashing at him in indignation. ‘What, you think it’s only a matter of time before I jump into bed with you?’
    ‘Your body wants to, it’s just your head hasn’t quite got around it.’ He took a measured sip of his whiskey and added, ‘But it will.’
    Her hands around her glass tightened. ‘Your overblown confidence astounds me. I have absolutely no intention of becoming another one of your pathetically shallow conquests.’
    Lucca wasn’t used to women saying no to him. In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time it had happened. But something about Lottie’s spirit of defiance fired his blood like a shot of adrenaline. It was ironic that even dressed as she was like a nun, his desire was rampaging harder and faster than if she was standing before him in a string bikini. Or less.
    He wondered why she was so determined to deny herself sensual expression. He had felt such intense passion in her kiss. But for some reason she refused to allow her passion