Billionaire's Black Runaway Love (BWWM Romance) by Ciara Cole Read Free Book Online Page B

of five elegantly dressed people making their way in. Emily couldn’t help but note that as the group went past they gave Chace several glances. Emily didn’t really think much of it, not until a beautiful slim redhead broke from the group and swayed over to catch up with them as they would have exited.
    “You’re Chace Hammond, aren’t you? Of course you are,” she breathed, a white smile splitting her thin red lips.
    Emily turned at the sound of the overly enthusing voice just as Chace, too, seemed to stiffen with impatience before schooling his features as he faced the woman, saying, “Yes.”
    The woman beamed even wider if that were possible, then started to gush about how she’d read so much about him and his success in the startup empire. She claimed she was also into building her own investment firm. It was all Emily could do not to roll her eyes when the woman mentioned something about “teaming up with Chace’s know-how,” with green eyes full of suggestion.
    Emily noted the woman was young enough to be over confident, yet at that prime age of having the charms to captivate an unsuspecting male.
    Seemed Chace wasn’t biting.
    “People who know as much about me as you seem to do,” he said coolly, “will know I’m a stickler for due protocol.”
    Emily let her eyes widen as the woman merely giggled and stepped her sleek, tall frame right up to Chace. “Oh, I know. Work my way up like the rest of the uninspiring lot,” she purred, not in the least chilled by Chace’s detachment. The woman was so close to them, Emily could pick up her heavy, expensive yet cloying perfume.
    “But I’m thinking I could fast-track my way to achieving my true aim,” the redhead said with sultry invitation. “To get up close and personal – in more ways than one, with the city’s hottest bachelor whom I…”
    “Forget it,” snapped Chace.
    Emily was too busy being shocked by the woman’s blatant behavior to notice how Chace seemed to curve his frame protectively into hers as he responded to the woman. Emily’s eyes caught with the green-eyed female who seemed not only unrepentant, but even snooty as she spent several seconds staring Emily down.
    Was this happening right now ? thought Emily incredulously. She’d thought stuff like this only happened in really bad TV dramas.
    The redhead took in Chace’s shielding stance as he stood close to Emily, his arm familiarly around her waist. All the woman could do was huff in disdain while Emily simply stood there in outrage as the redhead spun and strode off into the restaurant after her friends.
    “Good riddance,” Chace muttered, while Emily resisted the urge to march away herself after that scene, but instead walked calmly outside the building with Chace.
    Emily stayed silent while replaying the last few minutes in her head. It shouldn’t bother her if women got attracted to Chace or the money and everything else he represented. Neither should she care how they showed it such as throwing themselves at him as the redhead had just done.
    So why did her mood feel dampened as she felt the sudden urge to simply head home and sort out her mixed-up emotions?
    Chace wouldn’t be the astute man he was if he didn’t notice the recent little exchange with the redhead was giving Emily cold feet. He swore underneath his breath and gently grabbed her elbow to turn her to face him.
    “What just happened…had nothing at all to do with me. That woman and others like her – it’s all on them and how they choose to act. I don’t set myself out to attract such attention.”
    “Of course not,” Emily said drily. “I mean, you may well be the playboy type and certainly look it, but something tells me you wouldn’t go for the cheap or easily accessible…prospects. You like the thrill of the hunt.”
    Emily faced him squarely while his steady gaze held hers. “That’s why someone like me would interest you – if only for that fleeting time. I don’t just bend over