Silence.
And then—-
“Oh, Jaak.”
And it was the most beautiful words that had ever touched his ears because in them he heard the promise of hope and redemption, the promise that one day soon, the other words they both needed to hear and say would come.
“Is t-there a TV where you are?”
The question startled him. “Why?”
“Switch to E.”
The billionaire frowned, knowing that the said channel had exclusive rights to air real-time coverage of the invitational ball Willem had organized. “This is a bad idea,” he said grimly even as he gestured towards the bartender and murmured the request under his breath.
“Why would you say that?”
“Something tells me this has to do with the woman friends of mine have been hinting about.”
“O-oh?”
“I had a business meeting earlier.” The TV display switched to E as the billionaire spoke. “They were telling me about this woman they had met last night at the premier, some airhead who seemed to have said something to make people believe she was my girlfriend—-” He broke off as he found himself meeting Ilse’s big brown eyes...
Through the TV.
“An airhead, you say?” Ilse asked very sweetly.
“The loveliest, sexiest airhead,” he said without missing a beat.
Ilse glanced back at the camera, and as the camera zoomed in, her lovely full lips curved in a secretive, seductive smile – a Mona Lisa smile if he had ever seen one. And that smile said simply,Come look for me.
“HE’S HERE.” THE WHISPEREDwords from Serenity Raleigh waltzed teasingly to Ilse’s ear, and the palest shiver ran down her spine.He’s here. He’s here. He’s here.It had only been three days since she had last seen the billionaire, and yet each second had made her heart ache like it had been hurting for an eternity.
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 wantmore.
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.”
