“Especially when you’re capable of taking that nest egg and turning it into a rapidly expanding business.”
“I’m flattered.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I didn’t know you bothered to notice a woman unless she’s in your bed.”
Luc grimaced. Madison had crossed his path at a difficult time in his life.
When he was young he’d done his best to earn his father’s love. He’d been a top athlete. He’d made straight A’s. And following in his father’s footsteps, he’d bedded every willing female who’d crossed his path.
He’d just accepted the painful truth that there was nothing in the world he could do to ever win his father’s approval, let alone his love, when Madison had invited him to her party.
He’d been determined to say no.
She was an innocent and he was…truly screwed up.
She deserved better.
But none of his good intentions had the power to overcome his fierce need to taste her forbidden desire.
“I suppose I deserve that,” he grimly admitted. “I’ve always regretted…”
She arched a brow. “What?”
“Hurting you.” He set his empty glass on a low table, moving so he was close enough to catch the delicate scent of vanilla that clung to her skin. His erection pressed painfully against his zipper, making him glad the black tuxedo jacket covered his arousal. Considering their current conversation, he didn’t think she would appreciate the knowledge that he was already plotting how quickly he could get her into his bed. “I know it’s hard to believe, but that was never my intention.”
“Is that an apology?”
His gaze slid over her stunningly beautiful face, lingering on the lush fullness of her mouth.
His breath tangled in his throat. Christ, how many times had he imagined those lips wrapped around the tip of his cock?
Too many to count.
“I apologize for not being the man you needed me to be when I took your virginity, but truthfully, I can’t be sorry that I made love to you,” he admitted, his voice thick. “It’s a night that’s branded into my memory.”
An indefinable emotion flared through the hazel eyes before she was lowering her thick lashes that were thankfully natural. In fact, he realized with stab of male satisfaction, everything about this woman was natural, from the rich color of her hair to the perfect swell of her small br**sts.
“There are no doubt a lot of nights branded in your memory,” she said in dry tones.
“There are some more special than others.”
“Nice line. Did you make it up yourself or do you have someone on your staff that makes up cheesy lines?”
Luc hesitated, his lips twisting into a rueful smile as he was forced to accept that this female was no longer the giddy schoolgirl who’d worshipped the ground he walked on.
It was going to take more than casual charm to earn his way back into her bed. The knowledge only intensified his glorious sense of anticipation.
There was nothing he loved more than a challenge.
He took a step closer, barely resisting the urge to stroke his fingers through the satin-smooth strands of her hair. “What are you doing in Las Vegas?” he asked.
A smile touched her lips. “Tying up some loose ends.”
Hmm. He sensed there was a mystery behind her words. “Alone?”
She lifted her lashes, her hazel eyes running a blatant survey down the length of his body. “Are you asking me if I have a significant other with me?”
A raw surge of need coiled his muscles as her eyes traveled back to meet his smoldering gaze. “That’s exactly what I’m asking,” he admitted without hesitation.
“What about the lovely Sherri?”
Her words were mocking, but Luc didn’t miss the edge in her voice. Was she jealous? Hell, he hoped so. God knew he’d pummel any man at the party who tried to put his hands on this woman.
For tonight she belonged to him.
“I asked her out over a month ago,” he explained. “Five minutes into our date I knew I’d made a serious error in judgment, but with my only options to stick it out or humiliate her by simply walking away, I chose to be a gentleman.”
“But you’re so good at walking away.”
The insult was delivered with a saccharin-sweet smile, making Luc grimace. She obviously wanted her pound of flesh.
“What can I do to convince you I’ve changed?”
“Why would you want to go to the effort?” She waved a slender hand toward the French doors. Inside, a glittering array of beautiful women were gliding through the ballroom. “There are plenty of fish in the sea.”
Luc never allowed his gaze to stray from her exquisite face. “Because you’re the catch that I was stupid enough to let get away.”
He thought he heard her breath catch at his low words, but her aloof expression was impossible to read.
“Get away?” she demanded. “As I remember it, you were the one running, not me.”
Okay. He had let her vent her grievances. Now it was time to assure her that he wasn’t a total jerk.
Well…at least not anymore.
“Believe it or not, I was trying to protect you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Really?”
“I was in a bad place,” he said with simple honesty. “You deserved better.”
“How could the son of a millionaire, the star football player and darling of every female in the state of Nevada possibly be in a bad place?”
The muscles of his jaw clenched, a familiar anger twisting his gut. He was sick to f**king death of people assuming that his father’s money somehow made his life a fairytale. Okay, he’d had it better than a lot of people, but living with Vigo Angeli was no picnic.
He narrowed his gaze, studying her pale, perfect face. “Are you really interested?”
“Of course.”
She didn’t sound particularly sincere, but he answered her anyway.
“I’d just come to the conclusion that after years of trying to emulate my father, I’d become a man who I didn’t particularly like, and respected even less.” He reached up to smooth her hair behind her ear, unable to resist the temptation to touch her. “I was determined to change, which meant I wasn’t going to take advantage of an innocent teenager who’d convinced herself she was in love with me.”
Madison stiffened as his fingers traced the shell of her ear, but she made no move to pull away.
“Then why did you come to the trailer?”