“I didn’t think you’d be here so early,” she said coolly, determined to keep her distance.
His eyes narrowed. “Why not?”
“I thought you’d be…preoccupied.”
He started to close the gap between them. “Preoccupied with what?” he said silkily. “Or should I say whom?”
She managed a shrug. “With Julia, of course.”
He stopped right in front of her. “Ah…you mean in bed with Julia, don’t you?”
Did he have to rub it in? Was he getting some masochistic pleasure from pointing this out?
Her chin lifted. “Look, if you want to sleep with other women, that’s fine. Just don’t expect me to like it.
Or to accept it. I won’t share any man.” She saw something flare in his eyes. “Julia’s welcome to you,”she ended in disgust.
There was a lethal calmness in his eyes. “So you’re telling me to choose between you and Julia?”
“No, I’m telling you to choose between me and any other women you want to sleep with, including Julia.”
“I don’t take kindly to ultimatums. And I don’t explain my actions to anyone.” His arrogant gaze slid over her, pausing a moment on the swell of her br**sts. “But for you, dear Kia, I’m going to relent on that last one. I did not sleep with Julia last night. The only woman I slept with was you, and then we got very little sleep, as I recall.”
She wanted to believe him. Oh, how she wanted to. But how could she forget those nights listening to her mother’s hushed accusations and her father’s denials. Denials that had always proven to be lies.
She met his gaze with steely-eyed determination. “Very clever, Brant, but unlike some women, I don’t believe everything I’m told. You say you didn’t sleep with Julia. But you didn’t deny having sex with her.”
A shadow of anger swept across his face. “That’s because I didn’t have sex with her.”
“I’ve heard that one before,” she said, turning away.
He grabbed her by the shoulder and spun her back. “Listen. I am not your father.”
She sucked in a sharp breath, stunned by his perceptiveness. Was she so transparent? Or did she subconsciously wear her thoughts blazoned across her back?
His hold tightened. “Kia, you once said you wouldn’t apologize for him. Well, I’m not going to apologize for him either. Your father is a shallow man without integrity. Do you really think I’m like him?”
Her mind reeled in confusion. She’d never even considered the possibility that he wasn’t like her father.
His jaw clenched. “You either believe me or you don’t. It’s your decision.”
She stared up at him, trying to assess if he was telling the truth. If he was, then she’d have to reverse her opinion of him. That wasn’t an easy thing to do.
She saw the strain in his eyes and etched around his nose and mouth. Suddenly she knew that if she didn’t believe him, then it would be the end of them. He would shut her out of his life for good without a single regret.
And it was that very thing that made her admit he had a deep sense of personal integrity, unlike her father. She just hadn’t let herself see it until now.
“I believe you,” she said softly but firmly.
His chest rose and fell, but it was the flash of relief in his eyes that made her heart constrict. It overwhelmed her to know he really cared what she thought of him.
His fingers loosened on her shoulders. “Thank you,” he said with a casual sort of dignity that was at odds with the arrogance just beneath the surface.
All at once she knew this was no longer just about her believing Brant.
“And now you’ve got to believe something about me,” she said, taking this chance, knowing this was important to her. “I’m telling you truthfully that I’m not a gold digger, I’ve never worked anyone to get either money or marriage out of them and I’m not with you for money or marriage.” She lifted her chin with clear determination, her heart slamming against her ribs. “You can choose to believe me or not.”
He studied her face for more than one heartbeat, his eyes not leaving hers for a second, but she saw the jolt of surprise in them, the assessment of her words, a decision and finally the admiration.
“I believe you,” he murmured, pulling her into his arms, holding her close, which was just as well because her knees had given way. The knowledge that he was seeing her as the person she was for the first time made her feel gloriously thankful.
He leaned back. “And for the record, just in case you think you’re like your mother because you believe me like she did with your father, you’re not. So you have no need to feel guilty.”
She frowned. “Guilty?”
The sensual spread of his mouth made her heart hammer against her ribs. “For wanting me.”
Her frown disappeared as her lips began to twitch. “Who said I wanted you?”
“I seem to remember a few whispered pleas in my ears last night,” he murmured, lifting her hands and placing them around his neck. She didn’t resist.
“Hey, that was me begging you to let me sleep.”
“Oh, really? Perhaps we should repeat it tonight and see.” His warm breath caressed her cheeks.
“Not tonight,” she teased. “I’m busy.”
“You’d better not have a date,” he growled.
“I want to wash my hair.”
“I’ll wash it for you.”
“Will you do my ironing, too?”
He chuckled and pulled her closer. “We can come to a compromise. Wear non-crushable clothes. Better yet, wear no clothes at all. It’ll make for a very interesting evening.”
Just the thought of how interesting it could be made her feel very sexy. “My place or yours?” she asked throatily, amazed at how easily she’d slipped into the role of seductress.
“Mine,” he murmured, nuzzling her neck. Then he gave her a quick, hard kiss and let her go. “I’ve got a meeting in an hour with one of the Anderson executives. We’ll continue this tonight. I’ll pick you up at seven.”
She was melting so fast she had to keep some independence. “I can drive myself.”
“Fine, but don’t plan on leaving early.” He gave her a smile that sent her pulse spinning. “In fact, I doubt I’ll let you leave at all.”