The house was not a house, it was a mansion, and the front driveway housed ten more cars. Her heart was pounding. Dominic Wright was not who she thought he was.
Holy crap, what had she done?
He parked the car, and turned toward her.
For the first time since she met him, she pulled back just a little. This man clearly had money, and she hadn’t known that about him.
“You don’t have to be afraid.”
“You’re rich.”
“A little. It doesn’t change who I am.”
“I don’t know who you are,” she said. “I don’t know what you do, and this is not a scam.” Her cheeks were starting to heat, and she stammered a little.
“Babe, you don’t have to worry. I know you’re not a gold digger.”
She stared down at her lap, hating this. “I think you should take me home.”
“Why don’t we go and have some dinner, and then talk? I promise I won’t hurt you. I won’t even touch you.”
He moved his hands away, and she missed that touch.
“You’re safe with me. I promise.”
Staring up at the house, she’d never felt so small in all of her life. “Okay.”
Climbing out of the car, she watched as he grabbed her bag, and made his way toward the house. The expense, the wealth, it suited him.
She followed behind him. Her hands had gone a little sweaty with this whole other side of him. Entering the large house, she paused as she took in the grandness of the place.
“I bought this place five years ago, and had the whole thing redone. Now, I love the place.”
“It looks very beautiful.”
“I’ll take you on a tour after some food. I want you to be comfortable.” He placed her bag on the floor beside the stairs, and took her hands. “I know this is probably completely unconventional for you, but I want you to relax.”
“I’m out of my comfort zone. At the end of the month I have to support myself on noodles so I don’t starve.” She sucked in her lips, hating her own honesty.
“Always be honest with your Dom.”
“You’re not mine.”
“Not yet, but you never know what could happen by the end of the night.”
There was a promise in his voice, and she found it utterly thrilling.
* * * *
Dominic led her down toward his dining room. He’d already arranged for a highly qualified chef to handle the food for the evening. Everything had to be perfect, and he wouldn’t accept anything else.
No one at the club knew of his personal life. He was the owner of one of the biggest technology firms in the world. His father had a startup business where he helped smaller firms become huge successes. From the moment he had access to a computer, he’d been hooked, creating his own technology that spearheaded the future. With success came fame, and with fame, Dominic had found only loss.
Women flocked to him for his money, and the power they got from him. When his parents were killed in a plane crash that had been the turning point for Dominic. No matter how much money he had, nothing could bring back loved ones from the dead. It had been thirty years since his success, and he’d withdrawn from the media and the public, sticking to a quiet life. There was speculation, but he made sure his PA handled that crap.
“I feel really underdressed,” she said.
“You look beautiful. Besides, if I wanted you any other way, I’d have asked.” He pulled out a chair, and she took a seat.