The CEO Takes a Wife / The Throw-Away Bride: The CEO Takes a Wife / The Throw-Away Bride. Ann Major

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ You could get harassed and I won’t be around to help.”

      “The media are not out in force, Alex. There’s only the one guy who—” Suddenly she caught a movement out of the corner of her eye and she spun toward it. Just as quickly she twisted back toward Alex. “That’s not a reporter,” she hissed of the photographer a couple of yards away. “He’s only a kid.”

      “He’s a teenager and now he’s just run off, no doubt looking to sell the photographs to the highest bidder.” Alex’s mouth flattened. “I meant what I said, Olivia. Don’t come down here by yourself.”

      She lifted her chin. “You’re blowing things out of proportion.”

      “Humor me.”

      “I’d rather strangle you.”

      He arched a brow but his lips quirked. “That’s a bit drastic, don’t you think?”

      “Look, I’m not used to sitting around all day doing nothing.”

      “Then it’s about time you did. We have a swimming pool up at the house. Why not laze around it for a couple of hours? And I’ll take you into town for dinner tonight.”

      Her pulse leaped at the thought of dinner with him, despite herself. “I’m not a child to be rewarded for keeping out of your way while you’re working.” Her chin set stubbornly. “As a matter of fact I still have some work to do of my own,” she fibbed. “I wasn’t going to work on our honeymoon but…” she paused deliberately “…if you’re working then I may as well, too.”

      He tensed, a muscle starting to tick in his jaw. “Sorry about that. My father has been easing off on the work lately and that’s put more pressure on me.”

      “Oh.” Something about his words clutched at her heart. Perhaps it was the rough edge of emotion in his voice that made her soften toward him. “Alex, I understand.” She still didn’t like being told what to do, but she’d cut him a break this time.

      He inclined his head, his mouth not as tight as before, his shoulders not as tense. “Good.”

      Then he cupped her elbow and they walked back up the beach. Surprisingly their sandals were still where they’d left them, but she didn’t look at Alex nor did she say a word as they stepped into them and made their way up to the house.

      Once there, he took off for the study, reading through a handful of phone messages, already forgetting that she even existed. Olivia watched him go, a silly sense of loneliness filling her. She was never lonely.

      It must be because she felt suddenly tired, she decided, and went up to the bedroom to take a shower to wash off the sand.

      When she came out, dressed in her silk bathrobe, the bed looked so very inviting. Perhaps if she lay down for just a few minutes…

      She woke to find herself covered with a light blanket, the bedside clock showing midafternoon. Feeling guilty, she threw back the blanket, got dressed in white capri pants and a cherry-red top and hurried downstairs. Alex was still in the study, but he put his pen down when he saw her in the doorway.

      “I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep for so long. It was supposed to be a quick nap.”

      “No need to apologize. You must have needed it.” His gaze traveled down her body, his eyes darkening at every lowering inch. “I was tempted to join you,” he murmured, his raspy voice sending a frisson of excitement racing through her.

      She moistened her lips. “I thought Harriet might have covered me up.”

      She hoped.

      She prayed.

      A faint smile curved the edges of his mouth. “No, it was me.”

      She gave an inner gasp. Her bathrobe would have covered her, but the fabric was thin…

      “By the way, Olivia, you don’t snore,” he said, his voice silky smooth.

      She felt the flush of heat enter her cheeks. “That’s good to know.” It was time to get out of here. “Um, I missed lunch so I might go get a snack.” She half expected he’d want to join her.

      But his eyes turned businesslike. “Don’t forget I’m taking you to dinner in town. Let’s make it seven.”

      “I’ll be ready.”

      He nodded and picked up his pen. “You’d better go get something to eat.”

      Before she’d even stepped away to head toward the kitchen, Olivia heard the preoccupation in his voice and knew it wasn’t with her.

      She sighed as that strange sense of loneliness filled her again, but she quickly pushed it aside. She had too much time on her hands right now, that’s all. It wasn’t that she was feeling like a neglected bride.

      Not at all.

      Alex sat back in his chair after Olivia left and tried to focus on his work again, but she unsettled him and he wasn’t sure he liked being unsettled. Never before had he ever let a woman distract him from his work. He was usually able to keep the two things separate. He liked it that way.

      Of course, he’d never been married before.

      Never had a woman living with him.

      Never had a woman on his family turf.

      The family’s Christmases had always been here at Villa Valente with his parents and his two brothers and sometimes various relatives, but neither he nor his brothers had brought their girlfriends here. None of them would ever give a woman that false sense of power over them.

      Yet having Olivia here now wasn’t about giving her the wrong impression. Olivia already knew the score. This year they would be together, and next year they wouldn’t be, and that was the way they both liked it.

      And the way they both wanted it.

      It had to be that way.

      For now he’d enjoy the benefits of having a beautiful woman in his life—and in his bed. Making love to Olivia last night for the first time had been amazing. She’d been married before so he hadn’t expected to be her teacher, yet there had been an innocence about her, as though he was the first lover to give her more than he took.

      And in the giving he’d been given back far more than he’d ever expected. She’d turned into a more than willing pupil. He hadn’t been joking when he’d said she’d been a dream to make love to.

      And this afternoon when she’d been sleeping…if he hadn’t known she was so exhausted he’d have woken her up with a kiss to that gorgeous mouth of hers. And then he’d have kissed her all over before making her his again.

      Hell, just thinking about it sent the blood pounding to his groin but he told himself that waiting would make it all the sweeter. Later this evening he would wine and dine her, then make love to her over and over.

      But that was easier said than done when he saw her later coming down the stairs dressed in a short brandy-colored dress that showed off her gorgeous curves and long СКАЧАТЬ