Free The Tycoon's Marriage Exchange by Elizabeth Lennox Page A

knew what she was getting into….well, that was a whole different issue.  Reality was much more terrifying that her imaginings. 
    “Great,” he said and then Kallista ’s mind just about went blank.  He pulled onto the highway and, within moments, they were flying down the road, passing by the other cars at a rate that made her head spin.  The powerful car was so fast and so smooth it almost felt like they were flying, the tires no longer pulling against the asphalt and Kallista could feel her body starting to tingle with excitement. 
    She wasn’t one of those people who thrived on an adrenaline rush, but she really, really loved a powerful car.  And men who could confidently handle a powerful car?  Good grief, she looked over at Hector and smiled inwardly!  She might have just found the sexiest man alive. 
    At least when he was driving, she corrected.  She was disappointed when they slowed down and turned off the highway.  When they entered a gated street with a guard that saluted Hector as they passed, Kallista sighed with disappointment knowing that the ride was almost over. 
    He laughed softly when he came around and opened her car door for her.  “I didn’t know you were a speed junky,” he said softly in her ear as she stepped out onto the driveway next to him .
    She pulled away and shook her head. “I’m …..”
    “Don’t deny it,” he said and stood in front of her. “I think it’s kind of cute.  I finally have something you like.”
    He offered her his arm and she had to laugh as she tucked her hand onto the elbow.  “There are other things about you that I like,” she replied, ignoring the blush that stained her cheeks. Now that he knew that she loved speed, she would have to be careful he didn’t think she was…unladylike?  Would Hector thin k she wasn’t worthy if she weren’ t so proper?  That thought was daunting, because she really wasn’t this formal all the time. She loved waking up and going for a run in her workout clothes, of tying back her hair and trudging through some difficult writing wearing yoga pants and tee shirts or sweats and comfortable clothes.  She’d never dared to appear like that in front of him yet. 
    He distracted her worrying with his deep voice saying, “Name one other thing.”
    She shrugged and looked at his broad shoulders in the sports coat. “I like your broad shoulders.  And I don’t know why you hide all those muscles underneath a suit or jacket.”
    He tilted his head to the side and nodded. “I’ll take that as a definite compliment .”
    They went inside and Kallista shivered when he took her coat, his fingers slipping against her neck and she stepped back quickly.  From the scowl on his rugged features she could tell that he’d caught the movement and wasn’t happy about it. 
    She tried to smile up at him, to smooth out the reaction but he ignored the gesture and waved to the room on the left of the foyer.  “After you,” he said, a return to that painful politeness of earlier, before the drive and their more casual, almost affectionate though brief conversation while walking into the house. 
    She hesitated and looked around.  “I was hoping perhaps you could show me around the rest of your home.  I actually got lost the last time.  It would be nice if I could know my way through the halls a bit more easily.”   She was proud that she didn’t start blushing at that admission, but her request didn’t bring back the friendly man she’d discovered outside, which was disappointing. 
    He nodded and walked towards the long, center hallway.  He gave her a tour all right.  It was a march through each room while he walked silently beside her.  Every once in a while she thought up a question, but he answered it with one or two words, making conversation difficult.
    When they were back in the foyer, she had had enough of the stiff, angry formal guy who terrified her and made her wonder if he was just a really good