Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 68810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Wait. A. Minute.
Where were all these horrendously shameful thoughts coming from?
Her eyes flew to the billionaire’s in miserable confusion, and oh, dear Lord, was it just her imagination or were those hazel eyes of his smirking at her knowingly?
One thing became clear to her then.
She had to leave before things got any...stranger.
“I, uh, just remembered something, uh...”
But just as she turned around, desperate to leave before she did anything stupid – which Pollyanna was terrified she was bound to do in the billionaire’s strangely hypnotic presence – she heard him say, “You haven’t answered my question.” His voice was seductively low, and dear Lord, the only time she heard someone who could speak like that without sounding like a conceited loser was when she was watching a George Clooney movie. That actor could speak a mixture of African-Chinese and still make it sound as sexy as French.
And yet, Pollyanna thought with a gulp, the Hollywood actor had never managed to make her heart beat so hard and loud like the Greek billionaire behind her.
Without a word, she started walking away, intending to leave the yacht. But as soon as she took a step forward, she sensed Kyrillos Gazis coming after her, moving slowly but steadily like a predator deadly methodical in its pursuit.
She panicked and quickened her steps, stammering, “I really have to—-”
Caught.
His hands, large, strong, and so unbelievably hot, settled on her slim shoulders from behind. His touch set her on fire, and Pollyanna stumbled to a stop. Oh dear Lord, what was happening? Was this how being seduced felt?
Again, she sensed him taking a step closer, and then his breath was tickling her ear as he commanded, “Tell me your name.”
Her knees were wobbling precariously by the time he finished speaking, and she whispered helplessly, “Pollyanna.” A part of her thought he was being too high-handed, demanding her name rather than asking nicely for it, but a larger part of Pollyanna didn’t care at all. All this latter part of her cared about was how he made her feel so...strangely...alive.
Again, the same question popped in her mind, and this time, she blurted it out, unable to stop herself.
“Am I being seduced?”
Kyr managed to swallow back a laugh at the unexpected question. Theo. This girl was like no one he had ever met. Instead of giving her a straight answer, he decided to shock her again. Bending close, he gently nipped the curve of her ear, and as she shuddered violently, he asked in a soft, mocking voice, “What do you think?”
Oh. Dear. Lord.
What had she gotten herself into?
Behind her, the billionaire released her ear but did not step back. Instead, his voice continued to caress her as he said, “I’ll ask you again, Pollyanna. Do you want me to be a playboy...around you?”
She gulped.
Did she? Or did she not?
Closing her eyes, she gave herself a moment, allowing her wildest fantasies to come to life and beguile her into taking a risk. Let him be a playboy. Let him try to seduce her. Because that would be fun, wouldn’t it? The kind of fun only a gorgeous, sexy billionaire like Kyrillos Gazis could provide.
But then the moment ended, and Pollyanna knew that the dream would have to do.
So she said shakily, “No.”
Chapter Three
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Kyrillos Gazis muttered a week later.
Pollyanna privately thought the same, but since admitting it out loud could backfire, she answered with rare diplomacy, saying placidly, “It could be my kindness rubbing off on you.”
The Greek billionaire shot her a dirty look, and Pollyanna hastily smothered the smile trying to form on her lips. It was barely seven on a beautiful Saturday morning, and everyone in the island would probably be shocked to speechlessness to find out that Teleios’ high and mighty owner had spent the last sixty minutes in her company, cutting stems and thorns from the latest crop of roses she was tasked to gather.
As Kyr bent down and resumed working, Pollyanna was given another chance to stare at him, and stare she did, with a combination of wistful longing and misery. She had never thought it was possible to feel deliriously happy and devastatingly sad at the same time, but one week’s worth of being in the company of the island’s owner had proved it to be true.
For some reason, the Greek billionaire seemed to enjoy her company, and it was in fact why he had deigned – his exact choice of word – to help her with this morning’s chores.
With Ezio down with a migraine, Pollyanna had told Kyr regretfully that she would have to cancel on today’s activity. Aside from gathering flowers, she also had to prepare them for deliveries and perform the other tasks that Ezio wouldn’t be able to take care of.
Kyr had simply hung up after her forlorn speech, and she had still been struggling to sniff back her tears when he showed up at the fields, dressed for field duties.