Free The Billionaire's Runaway Bride by Marie Kelly

pleading.
    “Please Alexos…this is a vital project. I swear that we will only be here till the end of the week. My team have done you no wrong nor have these animals” She had watched the indecision in him before he had given a quick nod.
    “Fine. The end of the week and then you are out of here” His eyes once more scathing as they had racked over her before he had turned on his heels moving back to the small road on which his car was parked.
    Turning herself Grace had felt her whole body shaking, the queasy nausea in the pit of her stomach making her suddenly so pale as the others had moved forward, real concern written all over their faces.
    “You know each other?” Carol had asked in surprise her eyes wide “He is gorgeous” the others glaring back at her inappropriate comment as she had clamped her mouth closed. Moving towards the computer she had held her lips tightly shut, starting to enter data, the others looking at each other, silent signals passing between them as they also had returned to the jobs they were doing.
    Grace had tried to concentrate on the screen before her, the words swimming as tears had welled up in her eyes. He had every right to be mad at her, every right in the world, yet his contempt had stung more than she would have ever thought possible.
    It also did not help that he had over the past six years matured into a stunning man, his look more sure than it had been six years previous. Where there had been fun on his features, now his look was cold and sombre he now carried himself with the air of someone used to being very much in control, Grace aware of the many stories of his ruthless business dealings.
    Realising that she was no longer typing she had stamped her foot holding back the desire to scream that had filled her. She was so tired of feeling guilty. She was doing work that was valuable, work that would benefit an entire species. So what if she had not become yet another convenient wife producing heirs for their rich husbands, it was not as if he could not have found another woman to fill that role. Stopping with her internal angry tirade she had gasped. He never had. This simple truth stilled her instantly. He had never gotten married. Groaning with the realisation that what she had done must have soured him on marriage forever. No wonder he hated her, and he did hate her, the venom in both his words and eyes proving that.
    Feeling the need for calm she had moved over closer to where one of the monk seals had lain basking so contentedly on a rock. Grace pulled out her sketch book as she had started to draw the gentle creature, feeling as the tension had slowly left her body.
    Gunning his car back to the villa, Alexos Manetas had felt the sickening feeling of hatred at the woman on the beach. For years he had fought to put the whole incident behind him, her public rejection of him the most humiliating thing that had happened to him his whole life. His father had been so supportive, not demanding that he continue with the parties each month as he had laid more and more responsibility for the company on his son’s shoulders, quickly the two finding how skilled Alexos was when it came to business.
    Slamming the front door he had moved to his office barking to the housekeeper that the guests he had planned on inviting that evening would not be joining them. Sitting at his desk, his eyes had closed once more seeing Grace.
    When he had received the request from Dr G Dionis to carry out research of the seals, he had no idea who she was, nor even that it was a she. He had been only too happy to give his permission knowing what important work it would be, wondering at the time if he should offer more support. With a contemptuous curl of his lip he had sworn, glaring at the blank computer screen, his brow scowling once more at the thought of the woman from the beach. Six years ago it had taken all his strength to hold back from her, not to take her to bed as every part of him had burned to