Free The Millionaire's Secret Wish by Leanne Banks

confusion. “I don’t understand this.”
    “I told you you’re not ready.”
    “I don’t buy that,” she said. “I wanted you and you held back. Did I hurt you and I don’t remember it? Did I betray you in some way?”
    He stiffened as if she’d struck him. “No, but I know you wouldn’t forgive me for taking advantage of you.”
    “You wouldn’t have been taking advantage of me. I made it perfectly clear that I wanted you.” She shook her head again. “The only thing you’ve done is totally confuse me. I didn’t want a favor. I have all these feelings for you and I don’t know where theycome from. They’re so strong I don’t know what to do with them. I wanted to make love to you. I wanted to be your lover and for you to be mine. This was about more than release. Don’t do me any more favors. I can turn on the cold water in the shower just as easily as the next person,” she said, and left him on the balcony.
    Walking directly to the bathroom, she closed the door behind her and stripped. She turned on the cold water and stepped under the punishing, chilly spray. She needed to wash Dylan out of her head and body. She just wasn’t sure a cold shower would get him out of her soul.
     
    Dylan spent the night restlessly pacing his bedroom. His aroused body quarreled with his sense of honor. Why hadn’t he taken Alisa when he could have? She had wanted him. Why was he denying himself and her?
    The answer came immediately. Her memory would return sometime. The impending knowledge hung over his head like the blade of a guillotine, poised to fall at any minute. Alisa would remember the betrayal. Worse for Dylan, she would remember her disillusionment with him.
    Even having the certainty of her waning feelings staring him in the face, he hated that his denial had hurt her. Her doctor had told him not to rush any traumatic memories. Alisa had enough to deal with by facing each day, one day at a time.
    Dylan knew his purpose was to help her heal. That was where he had to keep his focus.
    The following morning Alisa came downstairs, but didn’t sit down to join him for breakfast. Her gaze was tumultuous. Frustration and confusion warred for domination on her features. Dylan stood.
    She folded her hands in front of her. “I think it might be best for me to go back to staying at my apartment. I remember French, so I can also go back to work….”
    “Your doctor still hasn’t released you,” he told her, feeling his gut twist.
    “He will soon, especially if I press him,” she countered.
    “One more week,” Dylan suggested. “You can try going to work half days. Stay here and I’ll take you.”
    “Why?”
    “Because I feel responsible for you,” he told her.
    “That’s getting old.”
    “Okay, then you owe me,” he said, ruthlessly taking another tack. “I brought you here to take care of you. In exchange I want you to remain here one more week and be hostess when I invite my pseudo siblings for dinner.”

Six
    A lisa gaped at Dylan in surprise. She knew he joked about many things, but his sense of humor seemed to abandon him when it came to the subject of family. Despite her humiliation over last night, she couldn’t help feeling strangely honored that he would include her in anything involving his father’s children. “Did I hear you correctly? You want me to stay another week to help plan a dinner with your half brothers and sister? I thought you couldn’t stand them.”
    He shook his head. “There’s a difference between active dislike and apathy. Don’t mistake this as an opportunity for a big emotional reunion.”
    “Then why are you inviting them?”
    He exhaled and hesitated a long moment. “There’ssomething I want, and it will be easier to get it if I have their cooperation.”
    Business, Alisa concluded, and felt a trickle of disappointment. She couldn’t help thinking that if Dylan and his father’s children got acquainted, they would all be the richer for it. She could