Callum had suspected she’d react this way. After all, she’d invented a fake fiancé for a reason. He had to uncover what in order to move past her objection or fear. “Why?”
“Because I won’t be another link in your chain of conquests.”
Was that her worry? He might have taken many of the opportunities available to him as a professional footballer back in the day, but he’d put all that behind him.
“I don’t have a chain of conquests, Tori. For the last six months, all I’ve had is my bloody hand and an image of you playing in my head twenty-four seven. If you think for an instant I’m not serious about you, think again. Why else would I pay a ton of money for a PI to hop across the pond to locate this mysterious man of yours? In the beginning, I meant to have a long talk with him about how he treats you.”
“Treats me?”
“Tori, if you were mine I would never allow you to spend half so much time away from me. I’ve even come to hate weekends because I don’t see you and can’t make certain you have everything you need. I couldn’t imagine six months without you. I’d go mad.” He took a risk and gripped her shoulders. Bloody hell, her skin felt so soft against his fingers. He swallowed a lump of lust and pressed on. “In the beginning, I wanted to confront this man because I thought he was a bastard. Then I find out he doesn’t exist at all. Why would you put a fake diamond on your hand when another man might well want to give you a real one?”
She shrugged from his grip and blinked up at him. “I thought it would keep me safe.”
“From me?” She was about to find out that nothing could keep her safe from him.
“From all of you,” she whispered.
He gripped her hips this time, dragging her closer. “You’re interested in all three of us?”
Her lips closed stubbornly.
“Well, I can’t speak for my brothers, but I intend to show you why you should choose me.”
“Do they know about my engagement, too?”
Finally, his real bargaining chip. He aligned their bodies together, not missing the way her breath hitched the minute he crushed her breasts to his chest. “No. I haven’t told them. You don’t want them to know how you lied to them, do you?”
“I wasn’t really lying,” she demurred.
“You were, Tori. Every time you spoke his name or flashed that ring.” His cock hardened as he rubbed against her. “There won’t be any more lying. I’m taking control of the situation. You’re scared, but I want to show you there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
“For me, there is, Cal. I don’t want to talk about it. Besides, you’re in the middle of a paternity suit.” She stopped. “You said you haven’t…”
“Not since the day I met you, sweetheart. Not with her. Not with anyone.”
Shock had her gaping, and she searched his face with her wide eyes, clearly seeking the truth. “So it really can’t be yours?”
“No. Clearing everything up will take time, but Thea will go away.” He breathed her in. Now that he was here with Tori, he wanted to take his time, focus on them, revel in the moment. “I promise there won’t be any more like her. I intend to be utterly faithful to you.”
“This is insane.” She shook her head. “I can’t have a relationship with you.”
“Why?”
“It’s unprofessional.”
Some might see it that way, but Callum suspected that wasn’t really her objection. “We have no HR policy against employees dating. Danvers, our CFO, is dating one of the sales managers. Would you call them unprofessional?”
“I-I…” Tori opened her mouth, but no other sound came out.
Cal knew he’d trapped her neatly. If she said yes, she insulted a man she often worked with. If she said no, she opened the door to a romance between them.
“What’s the real objection? Your feelings for my brothers?”
Even in this lighting, he saw her face flush. “I realize that’s not normal here in London. Maybe I’ve spent too much time in Bezakistan. And I know it’s wrong, but…”
Was it? Really? Again, he pushed the thought aside.
He leaned in, breathing over her plump lips. “I’ll make you forget them. I’ll show you I’m the right man for you.”
“I’m not here for romance. I don’t want it.”
The hell she didn’t. Her pounding heart and hitched breaths said otherwise. “Kiss me, Tori. Kiss me once. And if it isn’t as good as I think it’s going to be, if you don’t want more, I’ll walk away.”
It was a lie. There was no chance of that. He wanted her far too badly to ever give her up, but she needed the comfort of that small fib.
“You won’t tell them I lied?” Her voice all but pleaded.
“Not if you kiss me.”
She took a shaky breath. “All right. Just this once.”
His whole body leapt with anticipation. This was the start of his life. One kiss. One woman. Forever.
He waited as she rose on her tiptoes, her hands brushing against his face. She studied him as if memorizing the moment. Fingertips moved along his jawline before her thumb skimmed his bottom lip.
“I think you’re the most beautiful woman in the world, Tori.” He wasn’t going to play around or pretend he wasn’t in love with her. She should know that during every moment of her life, from this day on, he would be thinking about her, wanting her.