Samhain Publishing
March 2009
Book three in the Fortune series.
Money can’t buy love. But it might just buy a second chance…
Lauren Tollson can’t believe it. She’s just run into her old flame—in a sex club, of all places. Since winning a huge lottery jackpot, she’s not big on trusting any man’s motives. But David Fairfield could be just what she needs to satisfy that nagging little urge. At least temporarily.
Once, long ago, David made the biggest mistake of his life by letting Lauren slip away. Now that he has her back in his life, he’s not going to let her go. Ever. He’s older now. Wiser. Or at least he’s trying to be.
If Lauren becomes wise to his secret, though, it could ruin any chance she’ll see him as anything other than a freeloader—not the forever kind of man she deserves.
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Excerpt
Pausing, she smoothed a hand over her hair, breathing deeply as she walked into the lobby. David’s back was to her, seemingly lost in thought as he stared out the front window. Clad in a navy blue polo shirt and khakis, Lauren couldn’t help but admire his muscular form. Broad shoulders and back that tapered to trim hips, firm butt, long and powerful legs, she remembered exactly how that body looked naked and wrapped around hers. The memory made her shiver.
As if sensing her presence he turned, a tiny smile tilting his perfectly sculpted lips. His eyes reflected his worry though. He looked uneasy.
All thoughts of telling him to leave fled as she stared at him.
“Hey, Lauren.”
His husky voice washed over her, making her shiver. She walked further into the room, not wanting to get too close. Too close and she might touch him. Bad enough she could smell his delicious spicy scent. “David. What brings you here?”
“You.”
He watched her with that steady gaze of his, and she gulped, surprised by his blunt answer. Guess he wasn’t interested in playing games, which might be a good thing.
Or not.
“I thought you might’ve gotten the hint when I left you alone at the hotel.” She wanted to take back the words the minute they’d left her mouth. She sounded like a complete bitch.
She needed to quit with the defensive crap and be honest with this man. He deserved it since he was brave enough to come back and face her.
“I got your message all right, loud and clear.” He took a step toward her and she stepped backwards, her heart rate accelerating at his imposing nearness. “Afraid to get too close again so you ran away instead? One night of meaningful sex and you can’t take it?”
She shook her head. “It wasn’t meaningful. It was just sex, that’s it.”
He still walked toward her, his gaze trained on her face. Backing up, she brushed against the wall and realized she was trapped.
Trapped between a wall and a very determined man.
“It wasn’t just sex and you know it, L. I’ve been thinking about you a lot since you left me that night. At first I was hurt, then angry.”
How she wished he’d stayed angry and left her alone. His nearness was playing havoc with her senses, making her breathing catch, her forehead bead with sweat.
Her lips ache with want—to kiss him.
No!
“Now I’m just curious,” David continued, pressing his hand against the wall just above her head. She was completely trapped by him, his big body so close she could reach out and touch him. Yank on his shirt and pull him to her, wrap her arms around his neck and relish his warmth, his strength.
Ah God, she was weak.
“Curious about what?” She tilted her head back. Big mistake. His lids were lowered, thick lashes shielding his eyes, mouth parted. His minty breath fanned across her face.
“I’m curious to know if you felt it as strongly as I did.”
“Felt what?” His words confused her, his closeness rattled her even more. Her heart pounded in triple time and she prayed he wouldn’t notice.
“That same old connection that’s between us. The minute I saw you I felt it all over again. When I touched you on the dance floor, I knew. It hadn’t faded since we were last together. In fact, I think it has only grown stronger.” Reaching out, his blunt fingertips danced across her cheek, and she inhaled sharply. “You feel it, Lauren?”
She shook her head, her hair brushing against the back of the wall, her skin burning from his light touch. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
God, she was such a liar.
His hand dropped, and David stepped away from her, lips curled, his eyes clearly amused. Damn him. “Go ahead and play your game, sweetheart. You know the truth deep down inside.”
“You haven’t changed a bit. Still as cocky as ever.” Lauren pushed away from the wall, walking to the far corner of the room. She needed to gather her wits and that wouldn’t happen with him so close.
“I’m just feeling confident because I know what I experienced with you that night wasn’t a fluke or my imagination. It was very, very real.”
She desperately needed to change the subject. “How did you find me?”
“It wasn’t that hard. I got a little curious and decided to Google you.”
Her eyes closed for the briefest moment. That meant he knew about her lottery win, learned about all of her money. Great. He was probably pissed she had held that bit of information back.
“So you know about me winning the lottery.”
“Yeah, that you just happen to be a millionaire? Congratulations.” He cocked a brow at her, and she looked away.
“It, uh, just happened. It’s still hard for me to comprehend, even harder for me to talk about.”
He chuckled, the sound of it sending riotous shivers down her spine. “It’s been a year but that’s okay, Lauren. You have every right to choose what you want to tell me and what to hold back.”
“It’s been a burden more than anything, to tell you the truth. The only good to come out of it so far has been this center. Oh, and Brittney and Charlie. And Maddie and Tanner.”
“Who are they?”
She shrugged. “My friends, you talked to Brittney when you first got here. She and Maddie won with me, and this center was her idea. Charlie is our financial advisor, and he and Brittney are now married. Maddie met Tanner Robinson when he sang at Britt and Charlie’s wedding and now they’re together too.”
“That’s nice they found someone they can trust. Charlie’s a lucky guy, your friend is beautiful.”
Jealousy immediately flared inside of her and she pushed the useless emotion aside. She was being downright foolish and she needed to stop. Now. Chewing on her lower lip, she tried to think of something to say.
“I’m only interested in you though. I can’t believe you’d think something else.”
He’d always had a way of reading her mind and it seemed that talent hadn’t changed. She found it rather frustrating.
“Have dinner with me, Lauren. Please.”
It was the please that got her. He’d never been one to ask when they’d been together. He’d demanded something of her because he knew he could, and she’d always complied, too young and crazy in love to protest. Now she could appreciate the asking and not the telling.
“When?”
“Tonight. I’ll take you wherever you want to go. After all, it’s your town.” A hopeful smile crossed his handsome face and she knew she couldn’t resist.
Hell, she really didn’t want to.
“Okay. I’ll have dinner with you tonight.”
His smile grew into a devastating grin as he strode toward her, planting a sweet lingering kiss to her lips. She stood there, stunned mute by the brief and intimate contact, and he headed for the front door.
“Seven o’clock, we’ll meet here? Does that work for you?” He tossed the question over his shoulder.
She nodded, realized he couldn’t see her and cleared her throat. “That sounds fine.”
“Can’t wait, Lauren. See you.” And then he walked out the door.
She stared at the closed door, heard his car roaring to life seconds later and she still couldn’t move. Could only run her fingers over her just kissed lips, breathed deep, trying to slow her heart rate down. Being so close to him for such a short amount of time had her all worked up, and she realized he was right.
The connection they’d shared so long ago hadn’t diminished at all. It seemed to have only grown stronger. So what the hell did that mean?
She wasn’t sure she wanted to find out.