Billionaire Undaunted: The Billionaire's Obsession ~ Zane by J. S. Scott Read Free Book Online Page B

forget about anything long-term.”
    He tried to sound nonchalant, but Ellie could hear the underlying sadness in his voice. The girlfriend had hurt him, and she’d made him cautious and wary. “I’m sorry she hurt you,” Ellie said quietly.
    “She didn’t hurt me,” he argued huskily.
    “Yes, she did. But she just wasn’t the right woman. I think there’s someone for everybody if you’re lucky enough to find them,” Ellie replied wistfully.
    “Then why are you still single?” he grunted.
    “I was waiting. Someday I’m hoping somebody will really see me, and not just what I look like on the outside.”
    “You’re fucking beautiful. If anybody sees you any differently, they’re an idiot.”
    “I’m plain, I was chubby, and now I’m too skinny. I’m not much for going to bars or parties. I’d rather be reading a good book or making candles most of the time. Does that sound exciting to you?” she asked drily.
    “There’s nothing wrong with being different, Ell,” Zane replied gruffly.
    “I could say the same thing to you,” she answered lightly, but her heart was smiling from his words.
    He didn’t answer as he pulled up to the entrance of his enormous home. The iron gates were incredibly high and the posts along the top looked sharp. Nobody sane was going over one of the walls of his fortress.
    She watched as he punched in a code and the iron gates began to swing open.
    “Paranoid much?” she asked curiously.
    “I have to be. I’ve had people try to steal my research too many times. I can’t use electric fences because of the wildlife, but it’s as safe here as possible.”
    Ellie could believe that. She saw video cameras and motion lights click on as they went down the driveway. “Is it that bad?”
    “Bad enough to be cautious,” he answered as he pulled his vehicle into a massive garage. “Since I keep a research lab here, I’m careful. I’m rich enough, and my lab has made me even richer. I might not care about the money, but there’s a lot of it to be had with the right research in biotech.”
    “Your lab here…it’s in the house?” Not that she doubted that a lab would fit inside the enormous mansion she’d gotten a brief look at on the way down the drive. But it was getting late, and it got dark early in the winter. She hadn’t seen much except the enormous size.
    He shook his head as he shut off the engine. “Not in the main living area. It’s underground.”
    Ellie held up a hand when he headed toward the passenger side to help her out. “I can walk. I want to.” After lying in bed for so long, it felt good to be up and walking.
    He frowned. “The doctor said no heavy physical exertion for a few weeks.”
    She gave him a stubborn look. “I hardly think that walking qualifies as heavy physical exertion. I’m fine. Really. Please.”
    Reluctantly, he grabbed her bag in the backseat and unlocked the door, waiting for her to walk around the SUV. He hovered as she went up the few steps in the garage and into the house.
    “Shit!”
    Ellie heard the low, frustrated curse behind her. “What?”
    “I forgot to have somebody come over and clean things up. The house is kind of a mess,” he answered sheepishly.
    She stopped and turned around, tears springing to her eyes. “Do you think I care about that? You’re giving me a temporary home. I’m grateful.”
    It was hard to believe he cared about the fact that he hadn’t cleaned up because she was going to be here.
    “I care. You deserve better after the shithole you were forced to endure for months.” He dropped the bag on the floor of the entry hallway and advanced until her back was against the wall. “You’ve been through hell and back. I want you to have some of the things you didn’t have while you were held prisoner by that psychotic asshole.”
    Ellie sighed when he was close enough to smell, and then close enough to touch. “What are you doing?” She looked up at him curiously as he put a hand on each