Memo: The Billionaire's Proposal

Shut up.

“Excuse me?” he asked.

Oh, no. She hadn’t meant to say that out loud. “Sorry, I was just trying to quiet the voices in my head.”

“What were they saying?”

“That it was past my bedtime, but don’t worry. I won’t leave until the job is finished.”

“I knew I could count on you.”

Chaney didn’t understand his confidence in her when she wasn’t sure she could count on herself in this situation.

Finally the snap came undone. Slowly, much too slowly for her liking, she opened each of the remaining ones. “They’re all unsnapped.”

“Can you help me out of it?” Drake asked.

“Sure.” Her voice sounded stronger than she felt.

“Open the back.”

As she did as he asked, Chaney realized how much the chain mail weighed. He shrugged out of the shirt so it rested on his upper arms.

“Now come around in front of me,” he said. “Be careful, it’s heavy.”

Chaney held on to the shirt as he pulled one arm out and then another, never once leaving her to hold the entire weight of the chain mail.

He placed it in the container. His damp, quilted shirt clung to him. He pulled the tails out from the waistband of his pants. “Much better and cooler.”

Maybe for him.

“I should go.”

“Stay.” One soft word in that sexy, accented voice.

She sucked in a breath. “But we’re done.”

His eyes lit again with that wicked, wicked laughter. “Darling, we’re just getting started.”

He walked—no, strutted—toward her, the set of his jaw full of purpose.

Drawn to his strength and heat, Chaney leaned toward him. She tilted her chin.

His gaze smoldered. His lips parted.

Chaney stood transfixed.

Drake stopped in front of her.

She could barely breathe, let alone think. She stared up at him, confused, afraid, attracted. He lowered his mouth to hers.

He was going to kiss her.

The realization ricocheted through her brain. She wanted him to kiss her. Badly. Except…

She ducked her head and stepped back so the only thing his lips touched was air.

“I should so not be surprised by this.” Her voice sounded shrill. She didn’t care.

His head drew back. “Excuse me?”

“I probably shouldn’t ask, given your reputation, but why would you choose to make a move on me now, when you know I’m so tired?”

“I thought you wanted me to kiss you.”

She placed her hands on her hips. “Why would you think that?”

“The way you leaned toward me. The tilt of your head. The look in your eyes that said kiss me.”

Oh, boy. Shame flooded her. She’d done all those things and probably more. “I’m sorry if I misled you.”

“Don’t be sorry.” His smile could have charmed a starving mouse out of its last nibble of cheddar. “We can try again. Let me show you what you missed out on five years ago.”

Sex. That was all he’d ever wanted from her.

Anger surged. Disappointment, too. She glanced to the bed and back at him. “In case you haven’t figured it out, I’m not about to be another notch on your bedpost or wherever else you keep track of your conquests.”

“If that’s all I felt about you, Chaney, I wouldn’t be here.”

Even though she was upset at him, his words piqued her curiosity. “What are you talking about?”

“I decided to host this episode so I could see you again.”

The air in his room sizzled. Drake saw a mix of disbelief and hope in Chaney’s eyes. He wanted hope to win. That way he would win, too.

“You thought I was married and you still wanted to see me?” she asked.

“See you, yes. Nothing else.”

“And if I hadn’t agreed to fill in for Gemma?”

“But you did and you’re here. Not to mention unmarried.” He moved closer to her. “We’ve been given a second chance, Chaney. Let’s make the most of this opportunity.”

She put her hands on his chest to stop him. “Why don’t you park yourself at the round table and cool down.”

Her anger confused him. He hadn’t expected that reaction.

She walked away from him. “You can’t actually expect me to believe you.”