Free Billionaire's Contract Engagement / Money Man's Fiancée Negotiation by Maya Banks Page B

murmured.
    Slowly, he withdrew, and to her chagrin, disappointment washed over her.

Seven
    E van watched as Celia sat sideways on the couch, her back against the arm and her knees doubled in front of her. She looked comfortable and completely relaxed, which was more than he could have hoped for given how stupidly he’d sprung the whole engagement thing on her.
    After her initial fury, though, she’d calmed down and had taken it well. Damn, but he liked this woman. Oh, he was definitely attracted to her sexually, but beyond that, he genuinely liked spending time with her.
    If he was smart, he’d take that as a huge warning sign to stay away and not become involved, but he’d never claimed brilliance.
    She’d changed into nothing more glamorous than a pair of sweatpants and a San Francisco Tide jersey. Odd, but she hadn’t struck him as a baseball fan.
    Her shoes had long since been shed, and her toenails, painted a delicate shade of pink, teased him. Hell, he was even attracted to her feet. Small and dainty.
    He was officially losing his mind. Never before had he lusted after a woman’s feet.
    She forked another bite into her mouth then sighed and made a low sound of agony before putting her plate down on the coffee table.
    â€œThat was fabulous. I’ve eaten so much that I won’t fit into that sparkly dress I brought for the wedding.”
    That statement brought a whole host of splendid ideas to mind. Namely that they could both skip the wedding and stay in bed where clothing was entirely optional.
    He shifted in his seat and wondered for the sixth time why he was so bent on torturing himself.
    â€œSo tell me something, Evan,” she said as she leaned farther into the sofa cushions. Her eyelids lowered and she tucked those pink toes underneath a throw pillow. “What made you walk away from your family’s business and start your own in a field that was so different from the jewelry trade?”
    It didn’t surprise him that she knew so much about his background. She would have researched him tirelessly. Still, he debated how much to tell her.
    Their gazes locked, and he saw only simple curiosity. No ulterior motive, just interest.
    â€œThere were several reasons,” he finally said. “Emotion has no place in business and yet I find myself making emotional decisions.”
    Her eyebrows rose. “I’m surprised you’d admit that. Doesn’t jive with your big, bad, ruthless businessman persona.”
    He smiled ruefully. “Okay, so part of it was emotion based. I didn’t agree with my father’s style of management. The fact is his company is in trouble. I saw it coming years ago and he was in flat denial. He saw no reason to change the way he ran things since it had worked for decades before.
    â€œThe other reason was I don’t exactly get along that well with him and Mitchell.”
    â€œYou don’t say,” she said drily.
    He chuckled. “Yeah, I know, hard to believe. Mitchell…there are lots of more appropriate words for him, but I’ll go with the fact that he’s a lazy, unmotivated brown noser. All his life, because he was the baby, he’s never had to actually work for anything. He’s been handed everything since he was a child. As a result, his sense of entitlement is huge. I would work for something and he would want what I had worked for. Dad would give it to him.”
    â€œAh, I think I’m beginning to understand the fiancée thing more now.”
    He nodded. “Yes, I don’t harbor any illusion that Mitchell and Bettina are some great love match. I had Bettina, so Mitchell decided he wanted her. Bettina saw Mitchell’s appointment to CEO as her ride into a life of glamour.”
    â€œAnd were you and Bettina? A love match, I mean?” she asked gently.
    He pursed his lips and blew out a long breath. “This is where I look like the jerk.”
    Celia chuckled.