Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
As she turned, she could feel the crowd reacting to his presence, a wave of heated interest coming in the form of sultry glances and throaty laughter, all meant to entice—-
Him.
His blue eyes captured hers the moment she lifted her head. Look at me, his eyes commanded silkily, and only me.
It almost made her laugh. Did he really think she would have any interest in any other man than him?
His tall, dark figure cut through the crowd like a powerful, gleaming sword, people parting instinctively as he bore down on them in swift, long-legged strides. When a charming, sexy smile curved on his lips, drawn breaths and gasps swirled in the air. He was so heartbreakingly handsome, so exquisitely charming, a woman had only to look at him and want more.
When he finally reached her, they stared at each other, smiling, their eyes doing the talking for them.
Hello, babe.
What took you so long?
He moved forward, closing the distance between them, and he bent his head, murmuring very tenderly, “Ilse.”
“Y-yes?” She had the craziest urge to laugh but managed to rein it in and keep her face expressionless.
“Never do this to me again, damn you.” The billionaire meant every word. She had driven him mad the past three days, wondering what the hell he had done to make her leave, wondering what he could do to get her back and make her stay.
The words were so at odds with the smile still playing on his lips, she could no longer help it, a rare laugh breaking past her lips. The lovely sound had the billionaire curling an arm around her waist, and as he pulled Ilse closer, he allowed himself a moment to savor her scent.
As she turned in his arms to face him, her shoulders still shaking with silent mirth, he whispered against her hair, “I’m not fucking joking.”
Twinkling eyes met his grim gaze, and she said solemnly, “I miss you, too.”
Someone cleared his throat loudly before he could answer, and Jaak smiled when he saw the bespectacled middle-aged man standing in front of him. “Uncle Maurice.” Ilse tried to pull away as he spoke, but instead of letting her go, he tightened his hold. “It’s nice to see you again, and may I have the honor of introducing my girlfriend Ilse Muir?”
Ilse jerked, but he pretended not to notice as he slowly but firmly made her face his uncle.
“A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Muir,” Uncle Maurice said with gruff warmth.
“Hello, Uncle Maurice. I can see where Jaak’s got his good looks from.” Ilse’s training in entertaining the opposite sex automatically kicked in even as her head swam at the billionaire’s too-casual way of publicly referring to her as his girlfriend.
And it was just the start.
They began circulating the cocktail area, Jaak allowing himself to be waylaid by anyone who cared to say hi to him. And of course everyone did, seeing how the billionaire who used to shun such gatherings appeared to be in an amazingly good mood.
He introduced her to at least two hundred persons, and to each of those acquaintances, he wouldn’t stop referring to Ilse as his girlfriend.
Sometimes, the things he would speak of were unbearably sweet. When a society matron showered Ilse with effusive compliments, the billionaire had taken the time to study his girlfriend leisurely, his gaze caressing her as he took note of the way her silver gown accentuated her curves while baring every inch of her flawless back, and after, he had said simply, She’s not just easy on the eye. If you get to know her better, you’ll discover – as I did – that she’s even easier on the heart.
Other times, the things he would say just plain cracked her up. When a former lover of Jaak came up to them, hinting snidely about Ilse possibly having her nose done because it was too perfect, the billionaire had only sighed, saying, I don’t blame you for thinking that. Ilse’s just too beautiful, isn’t she? There are times when I look at her and I seriously contemplate about what I can do to make her ugly. I’m sick of the way she makes it hard for me to breathe around her.
But then there were times he was just so unbearably irritating. When asked by a catty-looking redhead if Ilse had ever made him jealous, the billionaire had answered unhesitatingly, Every second of the day. If I find out she’s entertaining thoughts of using a vibrator, I’d still be jealous as hell. She’s the only one I see, and in my eyes all other women look like horses next to her.
When the redhead had walked out on them, visibly enraged, the billionaire had only raised a brow, a look of sham innocence on his face as he asked if he had said something wrong.