Expecting the Billionaire's Heir - Chapter 7

Too smart to fall in love.

‘You don’t believe in love?’ Ellie asked, attempting to downgrade her smile in the face of Baz’s cynicism.

Not easy, with her heart punching her ribs like a heavyweight champ, her lips still buzzing from his kiss and those piercing blue eyes locked on hers—the heat in them echoing in the sweet spot between her thighs.

His eyebrow arched. ‘Do you? Didn’t we both agree back then, happy families were not for us?’

‘I—I suppose so,’ she mumbled, even though she did believe in Tali’s romance with Lorenti. And she had never stopped wanting a family of her own… Why else would she love the family she’d found at Westwick so much. She felt sad for him, that he still didn’t want one too.

‘The only thing that really counts is chemistry,’ he said.

He tipped her chin up, and pressed his lips to hers, obliterating her thoughts as their tongues tangled again.

They were both breathing heavily, when he let her go.

‘How do you feel about showing me the carriage house?’ he asked.

The bold invitation made the sweet spot between her thighs pound.

She wanted this. She wanted him. Tonight. It had been years since she’d dated and even longer since she’d felt so light.

Baz Brody had been the only boy she’d ever loved. And while he wasn’t that troubled boy anymore, and she wasn’t that needy girl, he was even more gorgeous now than he had been then. The scent of him intoxicated her—new leather, subtle sandalwood cologne and laundry detergent—so different from the scents of their childhood—processed food, cheap bleach and despair.

But when he revved the bike, obviously expecting her to direct him to her flat, she panicked. Taking him to her home felt too revealing. However right it felt to explore their chemistry, they had a history that would make this mean something to her, and she didn’t want to risk it meaning too much. Plus, her flat was a tip, because she hadn’t had time to unpack since moving in over a month ago.

‘Wait…’ She tapped him on the shoulder.

He turned the engine down, to swivel back round.

‘Would you like a tour of the Hall first?’ she managed. Then wanted to slap herself when he frowned. ‘Not that I don’t want to take that kiss further,’ she continued. Had she given him the wrong impression—that she wasn’t happy to make the most of their ‘chemistry’? ‘Because I definitely do… But…’

She paused, the indulgent smile making her feel like a ninny.

God, Ellie, chill out. He’ll think you’re desperate… And you don’t want that, even if you are.

‘But, what?’ he asked.

‘The flat’s a bombsite. I’ve been so busy the last few weeks. And there are six bedrooms in the Hall we could choose from…’ She dismissed the trickle of guilt. No one had used any of the Hall’s guest suites in years—but they had spent the whole day scrubbing those six rooms clean for the Lorentis’ visit. ‘It’ll be so much more comfortable and romantic.’

The word romantic bounced out accidentally. She wished she could drag it back, when he frowned.

Ellie, you dope, you’ve totally blown it now.