Read Online The Millionaire by Victoria Purman - Free Book Online Page B

louder than the plane itself. It was too noisy to have a conversation, which was just fine by her, because all this up close and personal time with Chris was sheer agony.
    When he’d knocked on her door that morning, she’d trembled at the sight of him. Chris was dressed in what seemed to be his uniform of loose V-necked T-shirt and khaki shorts, the kind with multiple pockets, no doubt for holding all sorts of international photographer things like batteries and passports and foreign currency. A frayed straw hat sat at an angle atop his golden hair and his beard highlighted a fine pair of cheekbones. His sapphire eyes were hidden behind aviator glasses but nothing could disguise his grin.
    “G’day,” he’d said and handed her a takeaway coffee. “I figured you’re a cappuccino.”
    Ellie took it from his hand and when she did, their fingers touched. It wasn’t the beverage that sent a bolt of heat right through her. She lifted it from his hands and took a sip, which gave her a moment to think and to gather herself. Be calm. This is a job. You are a professional.
    “I appreciate the thought, but I’m a flat white woman.”
    If she hadn’t been mistaken, his gaze had dipped down to her breasts, safely covered.
    “Not from where I’m standing, sweetheart.” And oh, he’d shone that grin at her and she’d quivered.
    Ellie had dressed for the heat and the scorching sun she knew they would meet once they got off the plane. She’d always had to be careful of the sun on her burns, so she’d chosen a loose white, long sleeved linen shirt with a tank underneath, knee length shorts and slip-on sneakers. She was holding a small overnight bag in her hand.
    “You got everything?” Chris asked, checking her out over the tops of his sunglasses.
    “Of course. What about you? Got your camera, I hope.”
    “In the car.” Chris gestured that Ellie should walk in front of him to the street.
    “That’s your car?” She stopped, took in the sight of the battered four-wheel drive parked right out front of her house.
    “Yep.”
    “It’s… it’s… not what I expected.” It wasn’t a car exactly, more like a car accident. Underneath the streaks of mud and dust, it might have been white, and there were dings and scratches along the passenger side door that had carved through the paint and the metal. The front window was only clear where the windscreen blades had curved a view on the glass and there was a toy Hawaiian girl hanging from the rear view mirror, still swaying.
    She heard the jangle of car keys behind her. She swore she could feel his breath on her neck.
    “What were you expecting?” he asked, deep and low.
    She looked back over her shoulder; saw herself reflected in his glasses. Where had that flirtatious look come from? That smile on her lips? She decided to just roll with it, send some of that tease right back to him. “I figured a man like you might drive around in an old Mustang. Or maybe a vintage sports car. British racing green. Leather seats. Open top.”
    “Funny you should say that,” Chris smirked. “I have one of each parked in the twenty-four car underground garage at the mansion. My manservant Charles is polishing them now.” He opened the passenger side door for her with a bow.
    Ellie smiled back at him and got in.
    On the way to the airport, they’d chatted a little about the cloud-filled sky above the city, which threatened storms from the east, and the endless Sydney traffic. It was polite and perfunctory and Ellie was glad of it. She was already trying to calm her thudding pulse and the squeamish feeling inside about spending the weekend with him.
    When they’d landed in Dubbo, they’d picked up the rental and Ellie refused Chris’s offer to take the wheel. She loved the drive out to her grandparents’ property. The familiar scenery, the brilliance and expanse of the blue sky above and the deep reds of the earth, always lulled Ellie into a state of happy peace, and knowing she