1925 - Millionaire's Secret Seduction Read Free Page A

her lab coat on a hook by the door, ushered him out then locked the door behind her.
    Phew .
     
    The tour didn’t require much travel, since Tarrant was such a megalomaniac and control freak that he had gathered his entire empire under the slate mansard roof of a former hotel, a robber-baron-era extravaganza overlooking the southern tip of Central Park. The palatial building contained the corporate offices, conference rooms and auditoriums, the lab, a private art gallery, three glittering retail floors and a world-class restaurant on the top floor.
    Costly fragrances hung in the air as they stepped out of the elevator on the ground-level retail floor. Hardcastle’s exclusive products took pride of place among Chanel, Dior, et al, in the cosmetics department. Bella watched Dominic stride unself-consciously past counters laden with seventy-dollar lipsticks and “miracle” skin-renewing potions.
    His easy chatter with retail associates demonstrated an insider knowledge of the business. It also revealed total ignorance about cosmetics—or was that feigned to encourage more blushing and fluttering explanations from the stunning girls behind the counters? He even let one raven-haired goddess spray him with the latest unisex Calvin Klein scent. Bella resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
    “Where are you going so fast?” A big hand closed around her upper arm as she tried to march onward. Heat gathered under the silk of her blouse.
    She eased her arm out of his grasp. “There’s a lot to see.”
    “Indeed there is. Can you blame me for wanting to take my time to enjoy the view?” His face revealed a raised eyebrow and a twinkle of humor. Though his eyes were on her face she had a distinct impression he was appraising her body.
    She lifted her chin. “It’s nearly seven o’clock and I imagine you’ll want to at least see the couture and designer collections on our women’s apparel floors.”
    “Not really.” He continued to smile pleasantly. “I had something else in mind.”
    For a second she thought his voice was thick with suggestion, then she decided she must have imagined it.
    “What, exactly?” Her voice sounded clipped.
    “Food.”
    “Oh.” She distracted herself from his hungry stare by brushing a tiny piece of white lint from her sleeve. “Is that your specialty as a retailer?” She was following the usual lawyer’s advice to never ask a question unless you knew the answer. Several associates had gushed over his chain of food stores.
    “In fact it is, but I was thinking dinner.”
    She blinked rapidly. Did he expect her to have dinner with him? She needed to get back to the lab and put those files away.
    “I think you owe me, don’t you? You did try to get me thrown out of the building.”
    He cocked his head and let his gaze drift over her mouth. The mouth that had called security to eject the boss’s son.
    She swallowed.
    “I hear The Moon is quite the place to be.”
    “Oh yes. Five stars,” she murmured. She’d read the reviews but had never been there. Way out of her price range.
    “Tarr—my father told me to be sure to eat dinner there, on his tab.” Something about the way he said the word father made her ears prick up. His tone had a guarded quality that surprised her. “It would be my pleasure if you’d join me.”
    His expression looked entirely genuine, and warmth shone in his dark eyes.
    She blinked as part of her brain demanded that she agree without hesitation and another more sensible part told her to make up a good excuse, and quick.
    “Um, gosh.” She checked her watch while she racked her mind for a way out. It’s my hair-washing night? “Sure, I’d love to.” She forced a smile.
    It was an interesting experience, walking beside him through retail floors, amid the glamorous, well-heeled shoppers. Every female eye swiveled to Dominic, drinking him in, from his slightly unruly black hair to his black wingtip shoes. After about forty-five seconds Bella began to feel