Free Stormbound with a Tycoon by Shawna Delacorte

he’s a little worried about being able to come up with the money to exercise his option on the other half. He doesn’t want to incur an unreasonable amount of debt, but he doesn’t want to let this deal slip away, either. It’s really a terrific opportunity. I’ve thought about maybe taking all my savings and investing in the company as a 10 percent owner which will help ease the amount of money he needs.” The smile soon became a soft laugh. “It’s interesting to think of being business partners with Justin, but it’s certainly a possibility….”
    He reached out and gently touched her cheek. His voice held a tenderness that surprised even him. “That’s the first time I’ve seen you smile since we woke up this morning.” He plumbed the depth of her eyes while trying to ignore the surge of desire pushing at his senses. “You have a lovely smile. You should do it more often.”
    He saw her uncertainty and quickly withdrew his hand. He stared ahead at the flames. He became reflective and somewhat distracted as he voiced his thoughts. “Interesting that Justin should be thinking and planning for the future beyond being a pilot. I’ve…uh…sort of been doing a little of that myself lately.” It was an admission he hadn’t intended to make, but the words had just sort of slipped out.
    He quickly covered his inadvertent comment by pursuing the interesting bit of information she had given him. “How does he plan to finance the buyout? Is he okay right now for purchasing half, with exercising the option as the only problem?”
    â€œI’m not really sure. Why do you ask?”
    â€œI can help him with the financing, both now and the additional amount he’ll need later.”
    â€œYou mean…uh…” She was not sure how to word it so it didn’t sound like an accusation. “You mean by making this one of your business deals? ”
    He turned in his chair until he directly faced her again. He studied her for a moment. Her expression was more one of wariness than it was antagonism. “You say that as if you were accusing me of doing something illegal…or at the very least unethical.” He studied her for a moment before answering her question. “No, I meant I’d lend him the money if he needs it.”
    Her eyes widened in shock. “But there’s a great deal of money involved…you don’t even know how much he needs.”
    â€œYou’re right, I don’t know how much money we’re talking about.” He had been too comfortable sitting in front of the fire talking quietly with her and had allowed himself to become vulnerable to her questions. He didn’t know what to say, how much to reveal. Should he say the simple truth, that he was a multimillionaire with a great deal of his fortune able to be quickly converted into cash? He decided against it. He didn’t want to take a chance on her misinterpreting what he said, of her thinking he was trying to buy Justin’s gratitude. Or worse yet…hers.
    He reached out and brushed his fingertips across her cheek. Once again the band tightened across his chest. What he had told Jessica about being discreet had been true. He never discussed his business deals with anyone other than those directly involved in the transactions. He never discussed his personal finances with anyone.
    â€œHow can you say you’d lend him the money if you don’t have any idea how much it would be?” The warmth of his touch sent tremors of excitement through her body as his fingertips lingered against her cheek. What was there about Dylan Russell that cut through her down-to-earth common sense and knocked her for a loop? Whatever it was, it frightened her emotionally while at the same time holding her in the grip of his physical nearness as sure as if he had been actually restraining her.
    â€œI guess I meant I’d do