Page 48 of Earl

He also knew she had done everything to avoid him, and his frustration had known no bounds. After frantically looking around the room, he confronted the model and demanded to know where she was. The man had been very hostile and told him off.

“Leave her the hell alone.” He hissed. “You treated her like crap, by not calling her back and ghosting her. She has moved on, and I will not have you hurting her again.”

He had been unaccustomed to that kind of dressing down and it had been instinctive for him to lash out at the man, but he needed something from him desperately, so he had remained humble and practically begged for a chance to see her.

“I need to explain.”

“Mind if I sit?”

She shrugged and remained standing. The lights from the tree and the glow from the fire allowed him to see right through the flimsy robe she had on, and desire and passion hit him like a ton of bricks. Turning away abruptly, he sat down before his knees gave out.

“Can you sit as well?”

She stared at him as if she were about to argue and then conceded.

“I am sorry.”

Her eyes widened.

“Now I can sleep happy.”

“I deserve that.” Clasping his hands between his thighs, he stared at her broodingly. Her face was scrubbed free of makeup,and she looked like a teenager on her way to a sleepover. “I want to explain why…”

“You ghosted me.”

His mouth tightened. “Yes.”

“This better be good.” Settling back in the chair, she crossed her spectacular legs and tugged at the hem of her skimpy robe. “Don’t let me stop you.”

Dragging his eyes away from the gaping bodice of her robe, he turned his head to look in the flames from the fire. And tried to gather his thoughts. Seeing her tonight had almost sent him to his knees. It had also cemented what he had been afraid of.

He wanted her in the most elemental and frightening way he had ever felt in his life. He had been a fool to stop the communication, and he was hoping he was not too late.

She was hostile now, but he had to try and get her over that.

“Well?”

Her sultry voice dragged him back to the present. “I was afraid.”

Her tapered brows lifted. “What?”

Wiping his damp palms on the immaculate crease of his trousers, he repeated the words slowly as if needing to enunciate it so she could understand.

Chapter 10

Wiping his suddenly damp palms on his immaculately cut trousers, he stared at her, gray eyes hooded. “I was afraid.”

“I thought that was what you said. You, the big bad multi-billionaire Earl Drummond afraid of little ole me? Or more accurately, big ole me.” She pointed to her chest, bringing his attention to the generous bosom. “And this is me, Mr. Drummond, black, big and proud of it. Now why don’t you enlighten me as to what had you running scared.”

He should have been used to her acid wit by now, but not when it was used against him. “I am a very wealthy man and yes, I was afraid that if you saw me, you would recognize who I was. The resources I have and think that you would use it to your advantage.”

Magnificent brown eyes flashed fire as she straightened.

“Get the hell out of my house!”

“Cathy…”

“No!” She shouted, bosom quivering in indignation. “You arrogant bastard! Do you think I would be interested in your frigging bank account? How dare you! Yes, I came from nothing.