Free The Mistaken Escort's Pleasure: A Liaison Novel by Valerie Ullmer Page B

the laugh that bubbled up her chest.   She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, laughing until tears streamed down her eyes, and for several minutes, it felt wonderful to let go with him.   She cuddled into his chest and blew out a breath.
    “You’re assuming that this will end in a disaster, but it won’t.   And from this point forward, I will tell you the complete truth.   I need to make a confession,” he said.
    “Is this where you tell me you’re married, or gay, or a serial killer?”
    “I’m not an escort,” he said flatly.
    “I know,” she said.
    His right brow crooked up in question.
    “Lucian, you’re a very successful businessman.   I looked into your company, and wow—just wow.   There is no way that you would be an escort.   You have no problem attracting women.   You made my friend drool, and she mentioned to me that if I screwed this up between us that she is willing to step in.   Her words, not mine.”
    “I’m going to ignore that, and trust me, love, I have no interest in your friend.   Are you angry at me for telling you I was an escort?”
    She shook her head.   She wasn’t.   “Is Rebecca your sister?”
    “Of course she is.   Her husband, Gabriel, is my best friend, and he wanted me to try to talk to her about cutting down her hours because she’s three months pregnant.   She works more than I do, and I was trying to convince her to cut back.   Gabriel was delusional to think that I had any influence over her.”
    She nodded, knowing that he was telling her the truth.   She had found over the last couple of weeks that when he was adamant about something, he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
    “What I don’t understand is why you would pretend to be an escort, of all things?”
    “Because of you.   I was enthralled the first moment I spotted you.”
    She groaned and pressed her face against his chest.   “I hate it when you say things like that.”
    He was still for a long moment.   “Why?”
    “It makes it harder to stay away from you.”
    He held her in the silence and worried about her words.
    She didn’t believe them, but there was one place their relationship would lead, and in the end, she would be hurt when he moved on.   Each time she saw him, like the night before when he had knocked on her door, surprising her, she would forget that they weren’t dating.   The logical side of her brain would shut off, and she led with her feelings.   Everything in her craved the man, and each moment they spent together made her awareness of it palpable.
    “I don’t want you to stay away from me, because I have no intention of staying away from you.   You’re a beautiful woman, and on top of that, you make me laugh and forget about everything else in the world but you.   I want you, more every day, but I needed you to know the truth before we went any further.”
    “You have to forgive me, but I don’t have the greatest track record when it comes to trusting other people.”
    He nodded.   “I understand, and we have all the time in the world to get to know each other.   I’m not going anywhere, love, I promise you that.”
    She would have to wait and see, but for now, she was content to spend as much time with him as she could and let tomorrow sort itself out.   She stood and smiled, reaching for his hand.   He interlaced their fingers, and they walked out of the shop together.
    “I’m starving,” she muttered.
    “So am I,” he growled.
    Shivers skittered throughout her body, and she wanted what his voice promised.   She stopped in her tracks and caught a flash of emerald flames as his gaze dropped to her mouth.   Her tongue darted out, brushing against her bottom lip, and he reached for her, pulling her close.   It wasn’t until someone bumped into her that the spell was broken.   He reached for her hand again, walking up the street.
    “It’s dangerous to look at me like that.”
    “You started it,” she breathed.
    He hid a smile behind