The Playboy s Proposition Read online

  Flustered, she tried to start it again and the engine coughed to life. Relief washed over her and she made it several more yards before the car shuddered again, refusing to restart. Something was clearly wrong. It revved to feeble life briefly and she managed to pull it on to the side of the road.

  She got out of the car to stare at a bunch of hoses, boxes and wires under the hood. It could have been run by squirrels for all she knew. The cold rain poured over her head, drenching her jacket.

  Sighing, she got back in the car and reviewed her options. She’d neglected to renew her car service since she’d returned from overseas, so her customer number was now defunct. She refused to call her aunt and bother her at this late hour. Reluctantly, she accepted her last choice and tried to dial Michael’s cell number. Her cell phone, however, gave her the impudent message. No service.

  Damn. Maybe someone was trying to tell her something. That she’d best try to find a way out of her arrangement with Michael.

  Bella leaned her head against the side window of her car, recalling the joy on her aunt’s face when she’d learned she would get a second chance with her business. That was worth everything. A deal was a deal.

  The rain appeared to have slowed down, and if she remembered correctly, Michael’s gated subdivision was only about a mile from here. Walking alone at night wasn’t the best choice for a woman, but she didn’t want to stay in her car all night either. Either choice meant danger.

  Five

  M ichael narrowed his eyes as he glanced at his watch. Bella wasn’t going to show. He should have known that her wide eyes hid deceit. She’d tricked him into believing she would accept his deal and now she wanted out. Two nights ago, he’d been certain she’d just been nervous. Now, he wasn’t sure. A bitter taste filled his mouth. What she didn’t understand was that he could still pull the plug on her aunt’s spa.

  His cell phone rang, distracting him. The number on the caller ID was unfamiliar. “Hello,” he said.

  “Mr. Medici?” a man said.

  “Yes, this is Michael Medici.”

  “This is Frank Borne, security for the neighborhood. I hate to bother you, but there’s a woman here who says she knows you and she needs a ride to your house.”

  “What?” Michael asked.

  He gave a half chuckle. “Poor thing is drenched. I’d drive her to your house myself, but I’m not supposed to leave the gatehouse.”

  “I’ll be right there,” he said, wondering what in hell had happened. Although he could have sent one of his staff to collect the woman whom he was sure was Bella, he preferred to handle this task himself. He turned on his windshield wipers to fight off the downpour as he drove the short distance to the gatehouse.

  As soon as he pulled next to the small building, Bella dashed out. He flipped the locks and she plopped into the passenger seat. Her dark hair was plastered to her scalp, her huge violet eyes a stark contrast against her pale skin, her plum-colored lips pursed into a frown.

  “What—”

  She lifted her hand and shook her head. “You have no idea what I’ve been through to get here tonight. If I believed in heebie-jeebie kind of stuff, I would think someone was trying to tell me not to come to your house. My car stalled out on me just after I got off the interstate. My car service is defunct because I forgot to renew it. But it wouldn’t have helped anyway because my cell phone said No Service every time I tried to make a call. It wasn’t raining that much when I first started walking—”

  Appalled that she’d been wandering around alone after dark, he cut her off. “Tell me you weren’t walking on Travers Road after eleven o’clock at night.”

  “Well, what else could I do? Flag someone down? That didn’t seem like a smart idea.”

  Michael drove them back, grinding his teeth as she continued.

  “I did take my umbrella, but it was useless against this wind. I misjudged the distance a bit.”

  He pulled to a stop in the garage. “This won’t be happening again,” he said, surprised at the intensity of his protectiveness for her. He hadn’t known her long enough to feel this way.

  “Lord, I hope not,” she said, rolling her eyes.

  The way his gut clenched irritated the hell out of him. He swore. There was only one solution. “I’m getting you a new cell phone and service and new car,” he said and got out of the car.

  He opened her car door to find her gaping at him. “New car,” she echoed. “You’re crazy. I love my VW. It’s never given me any trouble,” she said then corrected herself. “Until tonight.”

  “Stranding you at night on Travers Road is enough of a reason to replace your car. Do you realize what could have happened to you?” She looked like a drowned little girl. Resisting the urge to pick her up and carry her, he extended his hand to her and led her into the house. “I’ll send one of my staff to take care of your car. Do you need anything out of it?”

  “I left an overnight bag in the backseat, but about a new car, I can’t let you—”

  He lifted his hand to cut her off as he pulled his BlackBerry out of his pocket and punched a number. “Jay, I need you to arrange for a tow—a VW on Travers. I’ll leave the key on the table in the foyer.” He extended his palm for Bella to give him the key. “There should be an overnight bag inside. Just drop it in the foyer. Thanks,” he said and turned to her. “Now, I want you to take a hot shower.” He glanced at the time on his BlackBerry. “You’ve got two minutes.”

  “To shower?” she said, her eyes round with surprise.

  “Until I join you,” he countered.

  He hadn’t thought it possible, but her eyes widened even more. “Oh,” she managed, her lips forming a tempting circle of invitation. She stood as if her feet were superglued to the floor.

  “Bella,” he said gently.

  “Yes?”

  “You’re down to one minute forty-five seconds.”

  She turned and flew down the hall.

  Prying off the wet garments that clung to her as she entered the bedroom, Bella snapped her chattering teeth together. She raced to the bathroom to turn on the jets to the shower and wondered what Michael would have done if she’d said she didn’t want a shower. It would have been a lie, of course. This wasn’t how she’d pictured the consummation of their bargain.

  Telling herself to stop thinking, she jumped into the shower and closed her eyes, treasuring the few seconds she would enjoy alone under the spray.

  Sure enough, the shower door opened behind her and she felt a shot of cool air before she heard Michael’s feet step on to the wet tile. He would be totally naked. The memory of his strong, male body made her pulse race.

  “Is the water warm enough?”

  She nodded, focusing on the tile wall in front of her.

  “Want me to wash your back?”

  She opened her mouth to say she could do it herself, but his hands on her bare skin stopped her. He massaged her shoulders and neck, making her relax despite herself. He skimmed his hands down the outside of her arms then back up along the inside. The sensation was both soothing and erotic. The warm water washed away her resistance.

  “Not so bad, is it?” he asked.

  “No, it’s…” She took a deep breath.

  He continued to touch her, sliding his hands over the sides of her waist and down over her hips. A slow drag of want pulled through her, starting below her skin and fanning out. Although he hadn’t touched them, her breasts grew heavy and her nipples tightened.

  Surprise slid through her. How was it so easy for him to turn her nerves into arousal? Must’ve been the shower, she thought. Not the man. But then he guided her around to face him, pushed her wet hair from her face and brushed his lips over her cheeks. With the water streaming down on them, he took her mouth and her pulse spiked again. Her eyelids fluttering against the shower drops, she caught flashes of his body, his broad shoulders and slick, tanned skin. Another flash, his flat abdomen and hard erection.

  She moved closer to him and hea
rd his breath hitch when her naked body slid against his. “I’ve wanted you since that night we spent together.” He slid his tongue past her lips and a primitive yearning beat like a drum inside her.

  There were all kinds of reasons she shouldn’t want him. This was just supposed to be sex, but for some reason, it felt like more. She felt protected and desired at the same time. She couldn’t remember feeling this sensual even with…

  Michael lifted his hands to her breasts, short-circuiting her brain. Half a breath later, he lowered his head and took her wet nipples into his mouth. The sight and sensation was so erotic she couldn’t look away. He slid lower still and kissed her intimately. Her knees turned to liquid.

  “Wrap your legs around me,” he said in a low voice. Catching her against him, he picked her up, turned off the water and carried her out of the shower. He grabbed a couple of plush towels folded on a small bathroom table and pulled one around her as he strode into the darkened bedroom.

  He put her on the bed and followed her down, his eyes plundering her the way she suspected he planned to plunder her body. A shiver of anticipation raced through her.

  “Cold?” he asked.

  She nodded, reaching up to stroke a drop of water from his forehead. He captured her hand and lifted it to his mouth. “I can get you warm,” he promised and slid his hand down between her legs where he found her swollen.

  His fingers sent her in a sudden spiral upward. Unable to contain her response, she arched upward.

  He growled at her response and pushed her thighs apart. In one thrust, he filled her to the brim.

  Bella gasped, feeling her body shake and tremble around him. She clung to him as he stroked her in her most secret place. Her breath meshed with his and her climax ripped through her like a lightning bolt. A second later, she felt Michael stiffen, groaning in release.

  A full moment passed and Bella began to understand why she’d been so hesitant about becoming Michael’s lover. He had just taken full possession of her mind and body, and that made him a very dangerous man.

  After a full night of lovemaking, Michael awakened refreshed. Still out like a light, Bella sprawled stomach down on his bed. Smiling to himself, he wouldn’t bother her this morning. She’d had a rough night in more ways than one.

  He left the bed and went to his in-house gym down the hall. He did the elliptical and followed up with weights. Working out was just one more way of staying strong and focused for Michael. Like his brothers, he never wanted to be at the mercy of any person or circumstance. He returned to his suite to take a shower. Bella still slept soundly. After dressing, he went downstairs and read The Wall Street Journal as he ate the breakfast his staff prepared for him.

  Just as he stood to leave, Bella stumbled into the kitchen, dressed in a bathrobe too large for her and pushed her mussed hair from her face. She tugged at the lapels of the robe and stared at him. “It’s not even six o’clock,” she said. “How long have you been up?”

  “Since just before five,” he said with a shrug. “How are you?”

  “Four something,” she said, aghast. “After the night we—” She paused and lowered her voice. “We had you get up at four in the morning?”

  “Well, I didn’t walk a mile in the rain,” he pointed out, amused by the consternation on her face. “But I don’t require a lot of sleep,” he said and walked toward her, giving into the urge to slide his fingers over her hair. Soft hair, soft body, mysterious eyes that tugged at something deep inside him.

  She met his gaze and pressed her lips together. “Oh, well, heaven help me then. I have to tell you that I’m not accustomed to the degree and amount and—” She shook her head.

  “Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it,” he joked. He glanced at his watch. “I need to go. Make yourself at home. The staff will be happy to prepare anything you want to eat. Here is the key to a new Lexus. I think you’ll find it reliable,” he said and lifted her hand to press the key into her palm.

  “I told you I don’t want a new car,” she said.

  Her resistance amused him. Most women he’d dated would have been thrilled to receive a new car. In fact, a few had hinted that a luxury vehicle would be the perfect gift for any occasion. The only thing better, of course, would have been an engagement ring, and that would never have happened. “I’ve leased it for you. Since yours is in the shop, you need something to drive. Oh, and I’d like for you to move in.”

  He turned and walked toward the door.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said as his hand touched the doorknob.

  Surprised by her response, he turned around. “Why not?”

  “Because then people might find out that we’re involved. I don’t want to have to explain our arrangement.”

  He felt a crackle of impatience. “I make it a policy to never explain myself.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m not you. Aunt Charlotte will expect an explanation from me. I never know when she’ll start with her mother hen routine, even now.”

  Irritation nicked at him. “We’ll see,” he said, turning around to look at her. “In the meantime, bring some of your clothes and belongings here for convenience sake.”

  “Do you order everyone around like this?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “I’m decisive. I see a logical course of action and take it,” he said.

  “Part of your charm?” she said, a gently mocking smile playing on her lips. “What’s logical about your arrangement with me?”

  “I want you, and you might not want to admit it, but you want me, too. I just figured out a way to make it happen,” he said, still uncomfortable with the intensity of his desire for her and the way she affected him. He had broken some of his rules to get her out of his system. He knew his response to her wouldn’t last. Nothing was forever.

  Since Bella was scheduled off from the restaurant, she went to her aunt’s house to begin getting ready for the grand reopening. Michael had mapped out an action plan with a target date just weeks away. Inventory needed to be ordered immediately and Charlotte would want to hire staff. Bella also needed to organize customer records so they could send out a mailing. Michael had suggested several customer incentives.

  His ability to detach himself emotionally bothered her. Sure, he possessed enormous insight and experience and knew how to make things happen, but she wondered how someone who seemed so cold one moment could be so hot the next.

  Her skin grew warm at the memory of how passionate he’d been, how passionate she’d been. She knew his difficult childhood had made him determined not to be vulnerable, but Bella didn’t believe such a thing was possible.

  Pushing aside her thoughts, she dug into her tasks. Hours later, she heard the sound of the side door opening.

  Charlotte looked at Bella in surprise. “It’s you. I wondered whose car that was. A Lexus? Did you win the lottery?”

  Bella’s cheeks heated. One more reason she should have refused the use of the car. “Lucky break,” she said. “My Volkswagen broke down last night. The car I’m using is a rental.”

  “Lucky break, indeed,” Charlotte said. “Enjoy it while you can. What are you working on?”

  “I was going to do an inventory order list, but I thought I should check with you first,” Bella said.

  “Good thinking,” Charlotte said. “I made one last night.”

  Concern rushed through her. She searched Charlotte’s face for signs of weariness, but all she saw was a glow of anticipation. “You’re still working your other job. I’m afraid you’re doing too much.”

  Charlotte smiled. “I’m too excited to sit still. I thought I’d lost my chance. I can’t wait to get everything ready to go.”

  Bella laughed and shook her head. “Force yourself to sit still every now and then, starting now.” She led her aunt to a chair and urged her to take a seat. “Let me get you some water.”

  “But I don’t need—”

  “Yes you do,” Bella insisted. “Don’t tr
y to do everything at once. I’m here to help you. Remember? Speaking of which, I’ve been working on a customer mailing list.”

  “Perfect,” she said. “And I called a few of my former employees to ask if they could give me some quality employee recommendations and two of them said they wanted to come back to work for me.”

  “Wow, you’re moving right along,” Bella said, pleased with her aunt’s sunny outlook.

  “I am,” Charlotte said. “Plus, I have an idea for providing a few men’s services. We can give them Sport manicures and pedicures and carry sports magazines and The Wall Street Journal.”

  “That’s a great idea.”

  “And who knows? Maybe you’ll end up going out with one of the men who come into the Spa,” Charlotte said, throwing Bella a meaningful glance.

  Bella immediately shook her head. “Oh, no. I’m not interested in dating right now.” Or maybe ever.

  “Bella, I know you were terribly hurt when you and Stephen broke up, but you can’t stop living.”

  “I’m still living,” Bella said. “I’m just not interested in going down that road. I know I’ll never feel the way I did for Stephen about another man.”

  “You’re too young to say that,” Charlotte chided.

  “You always said I had an old soul,” Bella returned.

  Charlotte pursed her lips. “I can see I’m going to need to open your eyes to all the other fish in the sea out there.”

  Bella shook her head again, cringing at the note of determination in her aunt’s voice. Bella absolutely didn’t want her romantic status on her aunt’s radar at all. “Your mission is to stay healthy, be happy and get the spa off the ground.”

  “We’ll see,” Charlotte said.

  Bella frowned. That was the second time today she’d heard those words.

  That night, Bella joined Michael for dinner in the den again. “I really need to get my VW back,” she said, pushing the gourmet meal around her plate. She felt nervous around Michael. Hyperaware of his strength and mental prowess, she found being the subject of his undivided attention disturbing.