My Billionaire's Secret

u

h stinging sheets of rain. I shivered despite the warmth o

l business, deflecting my probing questions with that infuriatingly vague charm. The

yes shut, trying to banish the visceral memory. That searing gaze had stripped m

althy one, sure, but still just a man. One who clearly

ard the windows, watching the storm's fury

appear to be letti

isolated island, with that dangerously charismatic

t professional concern. After all, being stuck in close quarte

hiver of pure, unsettli

e novel fantasy. You're here to do a job - to uncover the truth

. I needed to stay focused, to resist getting pulled into whatever seductive game

ed me out of my reverie. "Come

"Pardon me, Miss Pearce," she said with a polite smile. "I've br

cart laden with covered dishes into the roo

f smoothly. "He wants to ensure you have eve

mach flip-flop in a most unsettling way. Clearly, Lachlan had no inte

orld, with this luxurious setting and personal

off her feet. If Lachlan McIntyre wanted to try and seduce the truth out of me th

y," I said, forcing a polite smile. "But I'm af

ly gave a short nod. "Of course, miss. I'll lea

ered if there was some sort of aphrodisiac or mind-altering substance m

covered plates. I couldn't let myself get paranoid. That was exactly wh

ity to rattle me. I was Quinn Pearce, after all - an award-winning journalist

lenge yet, but I'd be damned if I'd let h

paradise that had become my gilded cage. The more I could learn about Lachlan's w

to the main villa, driven by a sense of reckless curiosity. If I was going to be s

walls of glass framing the turbulent ocean view. Plush sofas and armchairs were

the striking blend of modern and tropical design elements. This place was like somet

paradise? Wealth alone didn't seem a sufficient enough motivation for such an undertaking

and beauty surrounding me. I found myself wondering

n what appeared to be a home theater or entertainment room. Plush leather recliners faced an

d wood surface. This whole place was like an ultra-exclusive luxury resort,

bar. Moving closer, I realized they were professional portraits - all of an

oks, her expression warm and engaging. Clearly a model or actress of some sor

n the pockets of his tan linen slacks. His white dress shirt was open

masculine grace of his stance.

s at being caught snooping. So much for maintaining my pr

ough his expression remained unreadab

ming to stand just a few feet away. Close enough for me to catch the faint, masc

aid, following my gaze to

r of attraction I'd been trying to deny. He was married? There had

ruggling to recover my composure.

t quite decipher. "Yes, she's quite a beauty, isn't she?

de me frown. Something almost...mocking, perha

om of thunder shook the pavilion. I gasped, inst

and in front of me so close that the sudden heat of his body made me suck in

ach syllable. "It seems to be growing worse by the hour. Perhaps you sh

n intensity that made my mouth go dry. I could feel the power t

ent, the air thickening with unspoken promises and unmet cravings.

ttered. Lachlan straightened, taking a deliber

clipped and remote once more. "You'll join me f

om the room, leaving me staring after him with

he next he was pinning me against a bar with that scorching gaze. Seducing me with that whiske

h questions? Little did the enigmatic Mr. McIntyre know, trying to dissuade me was the best way to have me dig