Free The Billionaire's Masquerade: Betting On You Series: Book Two by Jeannette Winters

sweet persuasions. Yes, it was good he was gone and the longer the better as far as she was concerned.

Chapter Nine
     
    The tears rolled down her cheeks. It was almost more than she could bear, so sad, so tender, so loving. Reaching for Kleenex she blew her noise and sobbed some more. In the background she heard the door buzzer. They had to have the wrong apartment. When it buzzed again she got up and buzzed them in. Why does everyone forget their keys? When she was about to sit on the couch again, there was a knock on her door. She wasn’t expecting anyone. Who would stop by at this time of night? Opening the door, she had her answer. Trent stood there, holding a bottle of wine and a bouquet of flowers. Before she could speak he came in and shut the door behind him.
    “What happened? What’s the matter?” he asked urgently, dropping the flowers and bottle of wine on the end table by the entrance.
    Wiping her still wet cheeks she answered, “Nothing is the matter. Why are you here?”
    “Elaine, you look horrible, like you’ve been crying for hours.”
    Horrible? What a thing to say! Turning away from him she headed back to the living room and saw herself in the mirror. What a sight: puffy eyes, smudged mascara, red nose, messy hair from lying on the couch, and only wearing an extra-long T-shirt and slipper socks. God, he’s right. I’m a hot mess. She tried to smooth her hair and wipe the last of her mascara off.
    Trent had followed her and turned her to face him again. “You can tell me anything. What happened?” he asked sincerely.
    Her face grew even warmer with embarrassment. How was she going to tell him why she was bawling her eyes out over a tearjerker on the Hallmark Channel? “Trent, I was . . . umm . . . I was watching . . .” She pointed to the television where the DVR was paused.
    Trent turned to the TV and burst out laughing. “All this crying over a movie?”
    His laughter echoed throughout the apartment. “It’s not funny.”
    Raising his hands in defense, he said, “No, of course it isn’t.” But his laughter grew louder.
    Elaine grabbed the remote and turned off the television. “If you are going to laugh at me, I think you should leave,” she said firmly.
     
    ***
     
    He loved it when she tried to challenge him. Her attempts had yet to be successful, but he still found it refreshing. Trent pulled her into his arms and said, “You can try, but I’m not leaving.” If she only knew how cute she was when she was mad. Her pouty bottom lip made him want her more. Wiping one remaining tear from her cheek, he said, “For a minute I thought all those tears were for me. Look how disappointed I am; I’m heartbroken.” He used the saddest voice he could muster. Then in a more suggestive sexy voice he added, “How are you ever going to make it up to me?”
    She pushed him away and said firmly, “I don’t believe I owe you anything.”
    Trent ignored her comment and pulled her into his arms. “Maybe you can start with a kiss?”
    She kissed him, her mouth moving over his slowly, carefully, then abruptly stopped. “Okay, I have made it up to you; now you can do something for me.”
    His blood was pumping and ready to give her anything she asked. “I’m all yours. What can I do for you?”
    She stepped away. He watched as she picked up the remote and waved it in the air. No, don’t say it. “Watch the rest of the movie with me.”
    Great. “Are you sure that is what you want to do tonight?” Say no!
    Elaine’s tongue traced her lips, deliberately, and then bit on her bottom lip. “Yes, I’m positive that is what I want to do tonight.”
    She was playing with fire, teasing the hell out of him. He would be more than happy to show her what he wanted to do tonight. If it involved the TV, there were things he wouldn’t mind watching with her either. “If I watch this with you, you are going to owe me a lot more than a kiss.”
    “No promises.” Elaine laughed as she turned the TV