He wondered when she’d last taken a good look at herself in the mirror. Her beauty was breathtaking and she was just as gorgeous as the women she’d just described. Saturday night she’d been tall, sleek, sophisticated…and irresistible, mainly because he believed everything about her was the real thing. There was nothing phony or fake about Ms. Danville.
“That’s where people make their mistake—in assuming anything about me, Rylee. I don’t have a type. I date women who suit my fancy.”
“And now you think I do?”
“I was interested in you right from the start.” Then, deciding to be completely honest, he added, “The only reason I attended Saturday night’s gala was because of you. Had it been Hank in charge, I would not have bothered.”
She stared at him, as if trying to not only believe what he’d just said, but also to figure out why. Again, Frazier believed Rylee Danville honestly didn’t have a clue just how beautiful she was. He still found it hard to believe that she didn’t have a man in her life already.
“I honestly don’t know what you want from me, Frazier.”
He wondered if she’d like him to compose a list, starting with his need to taste her mouth, taste her all over, thenmake love to her. But he was willing to do something he hadn’t ever done with a woman--take time to get to know her and for her to get to know him.
“I want to get to know you better. And there’s only one way to do that. I’d like to take you out one night this weekend,” he finally said.
She blinked. “You mean, like dating?”
“Yes.”
“Out in the open?”
“Most definitely.”
She shook her head. “There’s no way I can do that, Frazier. People will talk, here in the office. Besides that, reporters are always up in your business.”
He chuckled. “I think you can handle both, Rylee.”
• • •
But the question of the hour, Rylee thought, was if she wanted to handle them. Why should she? Regardless of what Sheryl had said, having her name linked to Frazier’s would be disaster for her. Her life as she knew it now would be over.
Articles about her would appear in the newspapers. If the press dug deep enough, her secret—that she was the popular book narrator who called herself Electra--might be discovered. It didn’t matter that she had already decided to reveal that herself, once she left Connelly Enterprises. Her agent thought going public and putting a face with the name would be a good PR move and boost her career.
As far as an affair with Frazier… Everyone would be curious about the new woman in his life. And that was all she would ever be to him. His latest fling. His flavor of the week or month. His midlife crisis chick. His…
“I’d like to invite you to go somewhere with me this weekend, Rylee.”
She blinked again. The man was moving fast--way too fast. “Where?”
“To my island off the Bahamas.”
The man owned a freaking island? She should not be surprised. After all, he was wealthy. But still. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“I think it’s a wonderful idea. It would allow us to get to know each other better. I promise to be on my best behavior and we will have separate sleeping arrangements.” He paused. “I like you, Rylee Danville. And I’d like to get to know you. Please consider it.”
“And then what, Frazier?”
He held her gaze for moment. “After this weekend, it will be up to you to decide if you want to take things further, Rylee. It will be your decision and I’ll honor whatever it is.”
It will be her decision? What if he was the one to decide, after getting to know her, that she wasn’t worth the trouble? As if he’d read her thoughts he said, “I already know you are worth it.”
She didn’t say anything for a minute, then took a deep breath. “I need to think about it.”
“I’ll need to know your answer by tomorrow. If you decide to go with me, we’ll leave Friday evening. I’ll fly us there in my private plane from Connelly Estates.”
The man had his own private plane and an airstrip on his property. What was she getting herself into?
LENNOX SETTLED AGAINST ROLANDas they stared up at the three-story structure that reached thirty-feet high. It was a treehouse situated between several huge pine trees.