A Taste of Heaven (Billionaires' Secrets Book 3) by Jennifer Lewis Read Free Book Online Page B

hair.”
    Be yourself? If only she knew who that was. She’d grown so used to trying to please everyone else she wasn’t sure who was in there under all the smiles and smart outfits.
    Time for a diversionary tactic. “Where are we going?”
    “My very favorite place.”

 
    Chapter Eight
     
    L ouis decided not to tell her that his favorite place was well-stocked with snakes and spiders, and that it was most magical after dark.
    He glanced sideways at Sam. Fresh and pretty, her pale gold hair tossed in the breeze. She didn’t fuss over it and try to fix it like some women. He liked that.
    “You’re looking more relaxed already.”
    “It’s beautiful here.”
    They’d left the city limits and headed out into the bayou on Belle Chasse. The air was warm and Sam had taken off her jacket. The wind pressed her textured cotton top to her skin, tracing her girlish curves.
    It was okay to look, as long as he didn’t touch.
    Louis felt a bit like a kid in a toy store who’d already spent his whole allowance. He could look at all the pretty, shiny things, but he couldn’t take them home.
    At least not yet.
    “Just last night, you were naked in my arms.”
    She swung her head around to look at him. Panic shone in her eyes. “I’ve never done that before.”
    “Had sex?” He raised an eyebrow. Couldn’t resist teasing.
    She shot him a scolding look. “Had sex with a man I just met.”
    “I hope it was a memorable first.” He glanced at the road, reluctant to take his eyes off her face. “I’ll certainly never forget it.”
    Her neck turned pink. A very pretty pink that made him want to layer kisses over it.
    She didn’t say anything.
    “A guy could feel quite rejected by your silence.”
    She flicked her hair back. “I did say we weren’t going to do anything tonight.”
    “And we’re not. No touching at all.” He slid his fingers over the wheel, as if taking out his desire to fondle on the punched chestnut leather. “But no one said anything about no reminiscing. That was a beautiful night.”
    “I don’t know what came over me last night,” she said, her words slow and careful. “But I do know that it won’t happen again.”
    As they drew close to the shed where he kept his boat, Louis wondered what on earth he was thinking when he came up with the crazy idea of bringing her here.
    This was his special place. His sanctuary away from all the drama and intrigue of his everyday world.
    The mysterious Samantha had closed up like a snail pulling into its shell. She wasn’t rude, exactly, but his questions about her life were met with brief, colorless answers that told him nothing about her.
    She was going to hate it here. There weren’t any boutiques or musicians or celebrities and her high heels would sink into the wet ground. He should have taken her to La Ronde, as she’d expected.
    Or not taken her anywhere at all, as she’d have clearly preferred.
    “Where are we?” She peered around when they pulled up in front of the boathouse.
    “The middle of nowhere.” He jumped out of the car. The air was clear and cooler already, the sun sinking below the shiny, wet horizon. “Are you nervous?”
    “It does occur to me that I know very little about you.” She glanced around. He saw her notice that the road ended only a hundred yards or so away.
    The boat shed was the only structure visible among the messy web of canals and grassy land that stretched out as far as the eye could see.
    She opened her car door. “But you’ve got an honest face.”
    He laughed. “That’s a first.”
    She stepped out onto the road. “Is this where we’re having dinner?” Doubt hovered around the edges of her question.
    “We’ve got a little farther to go, but we’re bringing dinner with us.” He unlatched the XKE’s tiny trunk and pulled out the wicker picnic basket. His friends teased him for not using a plastic Igloo ice chest that would actually keep the champagne cold, but both his lovely old car and this