A Bride for the Billionaire Bad Boy (The Romero Brothers, Book 2) by Shadonna Richards Read Free Book Online

to
ring her magic bell.   He made her
want to scream out, “Seduce me.”
    His lips looked so kissable. Man, she could really use
the touch of his lips on her right now. She wondered what his strong arms would
feel like around her body. Heck, she wondered what he would be like in bed.
    Okay, her thoughts were all over the place. She really
had to round them up and get them out of the naughty gutter soon or she would
say something that could make this morning’s debacle in the papers seem like a
quiet day at the press.
    “I…It’s nothing really,” she hesitated as she rung her
hands in her lap. She sighed deeply and decided she could not hide it from him.
What was the point? Clearly this man was not going to let up any time soon. And
neither of them would get anything done. The sooner she came out with it, the
better. Then he’d realize that it was all a silly situation not worthy of additional
attention.
    Maxine spent the next few minutes explaining
everything to Lucas. She noticed his poker face and then later his grim
expression.
    “But it’s nothing really. Detective Lindle is going to look after everything and that’s that.
Probably some hoax. Maybe one of our competitors got my address somehow and
simply wanted to scare me off.”
    Lucas said nothing for a moment then stood up, shoving
his hands in his pockets. “I’m going to look into this myself. I know people
who can check this out. In the meanwhile, I don’t think you should be alone.”
    “Alone?” Maxine was offended. “What makes you think
I’m alone?” Which she was, but how dare he insinuate that she was frail and
vulnerable and had nobody else in her life who was
capable of supporting her.
    “Don’t you live alone?”
    “How did you…?”
    “You just told me.”
    “Okay. So I live alone. Doesn’t mean I’m vulnerable. I
live in an apartment complex. We do have security. It's not like anyone will
try to break in to the building and come up to the eleventh floor and try to
abduct me or anything.”
    "Do you realize what you are saying? This is a
little bit dangerous for you, don't you think?"
    “Maybe, but it's up to me to make that decision. Thank
you so much for your interest, Mr. Romero.” Maxine was tormented by conflicting
emotions. What was with this guy? Her emotions were out of control. Strange and
disquieting thoughts raced through her mind. A part of her wanted to beg him
for help. But she was way too independent for that. She was no damsel in distress, that was for sure. Oh, it was tempting all right. A
sexy, rich guy like Lucas Romero wanting to help her out. He didn't actually
say it, but she knew what he was implying. She'd heard about his reputation.
And that was something she wasn't going to touch with a ten-foot pole.
    He looked intently into her eyes and her heart flipped
in response. She could feel the sexual magnetism between them; it was
undeniable. The same way he'd made her feel at Lucy's wedding only six months earlier.
    Besides, she also had her mother to think about. Her
home may be modest but it was her place and the place where she and her mother
stayed for so many years.
    "So you're just going to go back to your
apartment knowing that someone knows where you live?"
    “I'll be fine ... really,” Maxine stuttered. Gosh, the
man was making her nervous as hell. Her mind was drawing a blank. She was about
to say something else but then she was completely distracted by his refined
assets.
    “I don't think you'll be fine. I want to help you,
Maxine. Let me help you," he ordered.
    Maxine was attracted to this gorgeous hunk in front of
her, but man, he seemed as if he wanted to control her. No, thank you, sir. I can take care of myself, thank you very much.
    “Thank you so much, Lucas. I really do appreciate it,
but really, I'm good,” Maxine murmured. “Now, about this new software program,”
Maxine shifted the topic. “Your grandfather mentioned you would be able to help
Dream Weddings, Inc. revamp into