The Billion Dollar Bad Boy Read online

  But that would be okay. She was going to close this deal if it killed her.

  Buying the iconic Morrow docklands estate was her baby. It had been de Winter land nearly half a century ago, land the Morrows had cheated out of her father’s grandfather—at least according to him. Cameron de Winter had wanted it back for years now and this was her big chance to get it. And hopefully prove herself to him in the bargain.

  Prove that she was worthy of the de Winter name and of being his daughter, and not merely the adopted daughter he’d never wanted in the first place.

  She could not afford to lose it.

  “Tolstoy?” Donovan’s voice was bored. “If you’re going to insult my intelligence, at least have the decency to be subtle about it.”

  In the mirrored doors of the elevator she could see him behind her, leaning against the rail that ran along the inside, arms braced along it, long fingers gripping the metal. Wearing the tux he had on when she’d first arrived for the meeting, the bow tie undone and hanging loosely around his neck. A couple of the top buttons of his shirt were also undone, revealing the smooth tanned skin at the base of his throat.

  God. So sexy.

  His gaze caught hers in the mirrored doors. And one corner of his mouth curled up in a smile so smug she knew he’d read her exact thought.

  Crap.

  Victoria tore her gaze away, her heart beating furiously. No, she wasn’t affected by him. Not in any way. Other women might be falling over themselves to climb into his bed but she wasn’t one of them. Not even if he was the last man on earth.

  She had James, her fiancé, for a start.

  “Subtle?” And thank God she sounded cool and together, not like some breathless teenager. “I wasn’t sure you’d be familiar with the concept of subtlety.”

  He laughed, which only aggravated her more because it was so damn sexy. “Well, that’s true. It isn’t my strong point.”

  In the doors she saw him move, pushing himself away from the rail. Straightening to his full height, which must have been well over six feet since he completely dwarfed her.

  Victoria froze as he took a step toward her, but he didn’t do anything else. Merely stood behind her. Towering over her. Like he had back up in the meeting room. When she had to stand so very still because moving would have given her away. Close enough to catch the scent of his aftershave. Unexpected that he didn’t drench himself with overpowering scents the way some men seemed to. No, Donovan’s was understated. Luxurious. With hints of sandalwood and musk.

  You like it.

  No. Of course she didn’t.

  “You don’t like me at all, do you?” he said conversationally.

  Victoria ignored her physical responses, willing herself to remain cool and calm. “Actually, Mr. Morrow, I have no feelings about you either way.”

  He gave a soft laugh, one that feathered down her spine, making her shiver. “Bullshit. You know what I think?”

  “I’m not interested in what you think.”

  “I think you have definite feelings about me.”

  Victoria gritted her teeth, staring straight in front of her, bitterly conscious that all she needed to do was take a step back and she’d be pressed up against all that male heat. All that powerfully built muscle and smooth, brown skin …

  Her breath caught. God, this was crazy. She’d never had such a reaction to a man before. Back in college she’d had a couple of steady boyfriends, ones her father approved of, and though she’d enjoyed their company, they’d never made her breathless. Never made her heart beat fast or her skin feel so sensitive she could feel every inch of clothing pressing against it.

  Not even James makes you feel like that.

  No, he didn’t. But sex wasn’t as important as people made out and it certainly wasn’t why she was marrying him.

  “I hate to say it,” she said, trying to inject a small touch of boredom into her voice, “but you’re flattering yourself.” Steeling herself, she turned and met his turquoise eyes. “I really have no interest in you one way or another.”

  He smiled down at her, lazy and sensual and so unbearably sexy. “You know, you really shouldn’t say things like that to a man like me.”

  “Why not?” She raised an eyebrow. “Are you going to threaten me with a little Tolstoy perhaps? A few pages of Anna Karenina? A chapter of War and Peace?”

  The amusement in his eyes deepened, taking on a wicked glint that had her catching her breath. His gaze flicked down her body, then back up again. “Perhaps I should. Judging from the way you’re blushing and the fact that your pupils are dilated, I’d say Tolstoy turns you on more than you’d like to admit.”

  Oh, hell. Something turned over inside her and for the first time since she’d met him, she caught a glimpse of why women fell over themselves to get into his bed. That smile. That naughty glint in his eyes …

  She swallowed, forcing away the feelings. Holding up her hand instead, the one with James’s diamond sparkling on it, she gave her fingers a wiggle. “Read me all the Tolstoy you want. I’m afraid I’m already taken.”

  “Pretty.” Yet his gaze wasn’t on the ring. It was on her throat. “But I don’t think it’s your fiancé making your pulse race right now.”

  “No, of course it’s not my fiancé,” she said acidly. “It’s being stuck in an elevator with an asshole.”

  “An asshole? Really? I’m offended, Ms. de Winter. Well and truly offended.” Except he didn’t look offended. If anything, that smile of his only widened. “When all I’ve done is make polite conversation with you. Unless, of course, you were offended by my Tolstoy reference. And if so then I’m sorry but you’ve only got yourself to blame for that, since you were the one who brought him up.”

  Damn him.

  Are you sure it’s him you should be damning? He hasn’t done a thing except fluster the hell out of you.

  Insanity. She’d dealt with hundreds of men in the course of business and none of them, not a single one, had managed to get to her the way Donovan Morrow got to her.

  She had to do something to regain her control. Show him who was boss.

  “What?” he murmured. “No comeback? No steely eyed glare? You’re slipping, Ms. de Winter. I expected more.” He raised a hand and put his palm against the wall of the elevator beside her head and all the breath seemed to leave her body. What the hell was he doing?

  And more to the point, why the hell was she just standing there?

  The elevator pinged as it reached the ground floor, but Donovan calmly pressed the button that held the door shut.

  Obviously he was preparing to make one of his infamous playboy moves. On her. The arrogant bastard. Well, to hell with that.

  Victoria stared into his eyes. “You expected more? I bet you weren’t expecting this.” Then she reached up, grabbed his loose bow tie, and pulled his mouth down on hers, stealing his move from him.

  She thought it would be nothing. A dry brush of lips like the kisses she shared with James. Emotionless and certainly not special.

  She did not expect to burst into flame like dry tinder under a hot desert sun, everything in her curling up in the heat—her toes in her plain black pumps, her fingers curling around her briefcase, a tight knot of … something way down low in her stomach.

  Almost automatically she closed her eyes, the kiss vibrating through her like a note through a tuning fork.

  God, kisses shouldn’t do that to her. Kisses weren’t … hot.

  Victoria pulled away, fighting for breath. Fighting to let nothing whatsoever show on her face. So she was able to look into his surprised blue eyes and say in a dry voice, “Is that the best you can do? Well, I have to be honest, Mr. Morrow. I expected more.”

  Then before he could say a word, she turned and punched the button that would open the doors, and on unsteady legs, stepped out of the elevator and into the foyer.

  Chapter 2

  Donovan let Victoria go, watching as she strode out of the elevator as cool as you please. A
s if she hadn’t just stolen his move.

  As if the imprint of her mouth wasn’t still burning on his lips.

  I bet you weren’t expecting this.

  No, he had to confess, he hadn’t been. What he’d been anticipating was for her to blush. Stammer a bit. Be flustered. Drop that cool businesswoman front for a moment, not grab his damn tie and kiss him.

  Okay, it hadn’t been a good move to mess with her, to ruffle her up a bit. But shit, the temperature in the elevator had plummeted below freezing the second he’d followed her into it and he was damned if he was going to get out just to make things easier for her.

  And then her gaze had met his in the elevator’s mirrored doors and he’d seen it, that silver flash in her eyes. Felt that rising sexual tension. Then she’d made that disparaging quip about Tolstoy, so dismissive. Like she knew him. And … well. He’d gotten pissed. And then things had gotten out of hand.

  Even so, that had been the hottest kiss he’d had for … actually he didn’t know how long. He probably should have pulled away, but he hadn’t. He’d kept his eyes open the whole time, watching the color rise to her skin, revealing the outlines of freckles beneath her makeup. Watching her lashes quiver, then fall in surrender. And then the slightest movement of her mouth beneath his. So slight he may not ever have felt it if he hadn’t been paying attention to her with every sense he had.

  A crack in that irritating cool reserve she’d been giving him for the past half an hour. Christ, another couple of seconds and she’d have melted. He’d have been able to taste her. And he just knew what she’d taste like—fire.

  I expected more.

  Donovan bared his teeth in a feral smile at her retreating figure.

  Oh, she would have more. When he kissed her again, he was going to blow her fucking mind.

  The elevator door suddenly gave a loud beep, reminding him he’d been standing there holding it open and staring in Victoria’s direction for a good minute. Cursing, he stepped out into the foyer, releasing the door.

  And then he remembered. He couldn’t blow her mind. She was business and he didn’t want sex getting in the way of this deal. He didn’t want anything getting in the way of this deal.

  He needed to let her go and forget about her. After all, he was going to a party and there would be plenty of others to choose from there. The kind of women he preferred, who were easy and flirty and only wanted light, casual hookups. Who didn’t want anything too deep and meaningful. Or intense. And who weren’t engaged.

  Putting Victoria firmly out of his mind, Donovan sent off a text to his driver to bring the car around. Several people called out to him and he stopped a couple of times to chat. He did like to present an accessible front to Morrow staff since the personal touch cost nothing and did wonders for company morale.

  As he approached the doors, his phone beeped, this time with a text from his brother.

  You coming or what?

  Donovan sent off a quick reply. On my way.

  You might want to hurry it up. Traffic’s a bitch tonight.

  Great. Just his luck to run into New York traffic right when he least wanted it.

  Annoyed, Donovan stuck his phone back into his pocket and strode out through the huge glass doors of the building.

  Then stopped.

  Victoria de Winter was standing on the sidewalk, her arm out, obviously trying to hail herself a cab. Without much luck from the looks of things as a couple sailed by without stopping.

  Dammit, why should he feel pleased about that? He didn’t care that she was still here. He wanted to be away from the woman, didn’t he?

  Donovan stalked down the steps of the building just as his limo pulled up to the curb.

  Impeccable timing. You might get a chance to blow her mind after all.

  His jaw tightened. Christ, no. He was going to Jax’s party and there would be no mind-blowing involved, least of all hers.

  “Going somewhere?” he couldn’t help asking as the limo came to a stop directly in front of her.

  She gave him a faintly exasperated look. “Do you have to park that ridiculous vehicle right here? I need a cab and this”—she gestured at the long sleek length of black metal that was the limo—“is blocking the curb.”

  “My humble apologies.” Donovan leaned his hip against the limo door. “Give me five minutes and we’ll be out of your way.”

  She sniffed and looked away.

  Man, he was getting sick of her dismissing him.

  Another cab drove past without stopping, Victoria waving futilely after it.

  Donovan sighed. Okay, so he was the biggest playboy in New York, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t be a gentlemen when he chose. Even to women who stole his moves by kissing him.

  “I could give you a ride if you’d like.”

  “Thank you, but I don’t think that’ll be necessary.” She was very studiously not looking at him, the pale curve of her neck exposed as she craned her head, looking down the street for a cab. Not that there were any around to see.

  His gaze caught on a small, wispy red curl that had escaped from her bun. It licked the vulnerable nape of her neck like a small flame, the color vibrant against her pale skin.

  He could take down that red hair. Bury his fingers in it while guiding that hot mouth of hers to his aching cock …

  His muscles tensed up, desire rising up inside him, gripping on tightly.

  Fuck. Where were all these damn thoughts coming from? Yes, he was attracted to her and that was unfortunate given he was doing business with her, but still. He’d never had any trouble keeping his mind off his dick before. Why should it be such a problem now?

  Annoyed with himself, Donovan tried to relax his tight muscles. “Why not?”

  “It’s too far out of your way.”

  “Oh, really? And where exactly are you going? If you’re thinking L.A., you might possibly be right.”

  She kept her face averted, but he could see the tension in her shoulders, in her whole posture. In fact, she was giving off prickly vibes like an irritated cat.

  “What?” he couldn’t resist asking. “Worried you might forget yourself and kiss me again?”

  “Hardly. I don’t tend to make the same mistake twice.”

  “That’s good to know. I was worried for my virtue there for a second.”

  She didn’t reply, still craning her head, every cab still driving by without stopping.

  Then abruptly she turned around, her pale face set and determined. “All right,” she said curtly. “Here’s the deal. I’m coming with you to your brother’s party tonight.”

  Again she’d surprised him. Completely. “What? My brother’s engagement party? At the 2nd Circle?”

  “Unless there’s some other massive engagement party going on somewhere else, yes.”

  “But … weren’t you going home?”

  “I was.” Her gaze was direct. Cool. “Then I changed my mind.”

  He smiled, unable to help himself. “The kiss was that good?”

  “I don’t want to talk about that kiss. It never happened.”

  She could not be serious. Surely. “Oh, it most definitely did happen, Ms. de Winter. Can’t dismiss a kiss like that.”

  Her jaw tightened, that luscious mouth of hers thinning again. “Are you going to give me a lift to this wretched party or not?”

  “I haven’t decided.” He lounged against the car, surveying her. “Tell me what changed your mind.”

  “Business, Mr. Morrow. I presume you don’t mind doing business at parties?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Next Friday is too late for me. But you’re here now, which means we can talk this through at your brother’s party tonight.”

  Christ, the balls of the woman.

  Donovan was aware his smile had become rather fixed. “You’ve got to be shitting me.”

  “No, Mr. Morrow. I am not shitting you.”

  Apparently she was serious. Which was a problem. He didn’t want to t
alk about this deal now, not until he’d spoken with Jax.

  “Victoria,” he said, deliberately pausing over her first name, hoping it would irritate the crap out of her. “I’m afraid you’ve got it wrong. I don’t ever do business at parties.”

  For some reason, the tightness in her jaw eased, the firm line of her mouth becoming softer. “I guess there’s a first time for everything then.” A crease appeared between her brows. “I could, of course, take this to your brother instead. If you don’t want to deal with it. I hear he’s desperate to get rid of the land.”

  Oh, Jesus.

  The last of Donovan’s humor vanished. Not that he’d had much to start with. He could just imagine Jax leaping at the De Winter offer. Selling it to them without a second’s thought.

  His legacy. His birthright.

  No fucking way.

  He gave her a smile that could have cut glass, it was so sharp. “You can leave my brother out of this. I’m in charge of this deal. I’ll handle it.” With a quick, hard movement, he pulled open the car door. “Now, Ms. de Winter, if you would be so good as to get in the fucking car, we can get to this fucking party.”

  And Victoria de Winter’s beautiful mouth twitched. As if she wanted to smile but couldn’t quite let herself. “Of course. There’s no need to be rude about it.”

  Then she turned and got into the car.

  *

  Victoria arranged herself in the interior of the limo, pulling her jacket straight, smoothing her dress, and making sure her laptop bag was at her feet, her briefcase in her lap.

  She ignored the hot ball of satisfaction that burned behind her breastbone.

  Donovan Morrow had not been pleased at her inviting herself to his brother’s party that was for sure. Neither had he been pleased with her suggestion of taking the deal to his older brother Jax.

  Well, that was too bad. She wasn’t going to wait until he deigned to give her a meeting time. Some other company might get in with a better offer before then and there was no way she was letting that happen, not when there was so much at stake.

  Her father had always taught her not to wait to act so she wasn’t. Strike while the iron was hot and all that. Except the iron wasn’t particularly hot when it came to Donovan Morrow’s intention to sell his family’s land. In fact the iron seemed downright cold, his reluctance palpable. Which was interesting.