Read Online Volatile Chemistry (Billionaires' Secrets Book 1) by Jennifer Lewis - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jennifer Lewis
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back at him, caught him by surprise.
“Sure.”
Bella smoothed the skirt of her dress “Did she make you so suspicious of women? I bet she broke your heart.”
“I’m not suspicious of women. Half my employees are women.”
“Perhaps you snoop around trying to figure out what they’re up to as well.”
“I don’t. Something about you raised a red flag.”
She pursed her lips. That irresistible cupid’s bow crimped into two sharp points. “Maybe I remind you of the woman you used to love?”
“No.” He shifted in his chair. “You’re nothing like her.” She leaned forward. A slight frown marred her perfect skin.
“Why else would you pay attention to a nondescript chemist when you’re in a twenty-story building packed with the world’s most beautiful women? Was she a scientist too?”
Irritation prickled under his skin. “She’s a doctor now.” The hint of a smile played about her lovely mouth. “Hey, I haven’t seen her in years. I barely remember her.” He undid another button at the neck of his shirt. The AC wasn’t turned up enough.
“I don’t believe you. I bet you were engaged, weren’t you?”
He frowned. “Why do you care?”
“Just curious. I have a feeling about you.”
“I hope it’s a sensual feeling.” He tilted his head.
Her eyes narrowed. “It’s a feeling that you’re the kind of man who’d cherish his first love and place her on a pedestal.”
“I’m Italian.”
She smiled. “Only half, apparently. You’re going to have to come up with another excuse.”
“Okay, so I loved her. I was crazy about her. I wanted to marry her and have babies with her. That what you wanted to hear?” Her impudent expression slipped a little.
“How long were you together?” she asked quietly.
“Five years.”
Her eyes widened. “Wow. That’s a long time. What happened?’
He tilted his head and stared at her. “That’s my business.” He got up from the chair and strode across the platform to adjust the AC. He was starting to sweat.
He’d loved Patricia’s sharp mind as much as her lush body.
Her dream of being a doctor had excited him and he’d done everything he could to help her—paying for their apartment while she was in school, bringing home the groceries—all while struggling to get his business off the ground.
She wouldn’t marry him until she’d graduated, and he’d had that date engraved on his heart.
Then, two weeks before she was due to pick up her diploma, she announced she was taking a residency in California and would be going alone. She wanted a high-octane career, not the demands and responsibilities of a family.
He was glad the gloom of the storm hid his expression. Since then he’d concentrated his energies on his own business. He didn’t need anyone else to complete his life.
He heard Bella get up from her chair. “I’m sorry. It was rude of me to pry. I’d better get back to the lab.”
“Of course. You have an agenda .” He couldn’t keep the edge out of his voice.
“Yes.” Her lashes lowered to hide her eyes as she smoothed a wrinkle in her dress.
Desire flared in him at the way the fabric clung to her rich curves. She’d worn that dress to attract attention. To arouse.
“Do you get pleasure from tormenting men?” He stepped closer to her. He could smell her skin, warm and sweet.
“I...no.” Alarm shone in her eyes. She blinked.
The lightning and thunder had stopped, but the dim half-light of the overcast sky enveloped them in shadow. A ray of sun pierced a cloud and shot down to divide the air between them.
She looked away, as if searching for something. The light caught her cheekbone, high and sharp, highlighting the satin sheen of her skin.
She said something, but he couldn’t make out the words because his attention was too intently riveted on her mouth. The sharp angles of her upper lip and the soft pink fullness of the lower absorbed h im completely.
The shaft of sunlight glanced across her face
“Sure.”
Bella smoothed the skirt of her dress “Did she make you so suspicious of women? I bet she broke your heart.”
“I’m not suspicious of women. Half my employees are women.”
“Perhaps you snoop around trying to figure out what they’re up to as well.”
“I don’t. Something about you raised a red flag.”
She pursed her lips. That irresistible cupid’s bow crimped into two sharp points. “Maybe I remind you of the woman you used to love?”
“No.” He shifted in his chair. “You’re nothing like her.” She leaned forward. A slight frown marred her perfect skin.
“Why else would you pay attention to a nondescript chemist when you’re in a twenty-story building packed with the world’s most beautiful women? Was she a scientist too?”
Irritation prickled under his skin. “She’s a doctor now.” The hint of a smile played about her lovely mouth. “Hey, I haven’t seen her in years. I barely remember her.” He undid another button at the neck of his shirt. The AC wasn’t turned up enough.
“I don’t believe you. I bet you were engaged, weren’t you?”
He frowned. “Why do you care?”
“Just curious. I have a feeling about you.”
“I hope it’s a sensual feeling.” He tilted his head.
Her eyes narrowed. “It’s a feeling that you’re the kind of man who’d cherish his first love and place her on a pedestal.”
“I’m Italian.”
She smiled. “Only half, apparently. You’re going to have to come up with another excuse.”
“Okay, so I loved her. I was crazy about her. I wanted to marry her and have babies with her. That what you wanted to hear?” Her impudent expression slipped a little.
“How long were you together?” she asked quietly.
“Five years.”
Her eyes widened. “Wow. That’s a long time. What happened?’
He tilted his head and stared at her. “That’s my business.” He got up from the chair and strode across the platform to adjust the AC. He was starting to sweat.
He’d loved Patricia’s sharp mind as much as her lush body.
Her dream of being a doctor had excited him and he’d done everything he could to help her—paying for their apartment while she was in school, bringing home the groceries—all while struggling to get his business off the ground.
She wouldn’t marry him until she’d graduated, and he’d had that date engraved on his heart.
Then, two weeks before she was due to pick up her diploma, she announced she was taking a residency in California and would be going alone. She wanted a high-octane career, not the demands and responsibilities of a family.
He was glad the gloom of the storm hid his expression. Since then he’d concentrated his energies on his own business. He didn’t need anyone else to complete his life.
He heard Bella get up from her chair. “I’m sorry. It was rude of me to pry. I’d better get back to the lab.”
“Of course. You have an agenda .” He couldn’t keep the edge out of his voice.
“Yes.” Her lashes lowered to hide her eyes as she smoothed a wrinkle in her dress.
Desire flared in him at the way the fabric clung to her rich curves. She’d worn that dress to attract attention. To arouse.
“Do you get pleasure from tormenting men?” He stepped closer to her. He could smell her skin, warm and sweet.
“I...no.” Alarm shone in her eyes. She blinked.
The lightning and thunder had stopped, but the dim half-light of the overcast sky enveloped them in shadow. A ray of sun pierced a cloud and shot down to divide the air between them.
She looked away, as if searching for something. The light caught her cheekbone, high and sharp, highlighting the satin sheen of her skin.
She said something, but he couldn’t make out the words because his attention was too intently riveted on her mouth. The sharp angles of her upper lip and the soft pink fullness of the lower absorbed h im completely.
The shaft of sunlight glanced across her face
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