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About the Author

LEANNE BANKS is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author who is surprised every time she realizes how many books she has written. Leanne loves chocolate, the beach and new adventures. To name a few, Leanne has ridden on an elephant, stood on an ostrich egg (no, it didn’t break), gone parasailing and indoor skydiving. Leanne loves writing romance because she believes in the power and magic of love. She lives in Virginia with her family and her four-and-a-half-pound Pomeranian named Bijou.

Billionaires Galore!
Bedded by the Billionaire
Billionaire’s Marriage Bargain
Billionaire Extraordinaire

Leanne Banks

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Bedded by the Billionaire

Leanne Banks

Special thanks to Cindy Gerard, Rhonda Pollero and all my wonderful, supportive writing friends and the great Melissa Jeglinski, who continues to make my work better! This book is dedicated to the comeback kid in all of us.

One

“I understand you’re pregnant with my brother’s child.”

Lilli McCall instinctively put her hand over her swollen belly and studied Maximillian De Luca. She’d reluctantly allowed him and his associate into her small suburban Las Vegas apartment. Heaven knew, she’d had several unwelcome visitors since Tony De Luca had died two weeks ago.

She’d spotted the family resemblance between Tony and Max through the peephole of her door—the natural tanned complexion, similar bone structure. Only this man wasn’t as pretty as Tony. Tony had been full of easy smiles and charm, and ultimately lies. This man’s face was so hard she wondered if it would break into pieces if he smiled.

Tony had told her about his brother, Max. He’d frequently complained that his brother was cutthroat, even with his own family. He’d called him the man of steel, a steel mind and a steel heart.

Lilli had detached herself from Tony for good reasons. She wanted nothing to do with him, his friends or his family.

“Miss McCall?” Max prompted.

Taking a quick breath, she gave a slow nod, willing herself not to be intimidated by the tall man. “Yes, we got involved after my mother died, but things didn’t work out between us,” she said in a voice she knew was stilted, but she couldn’t smooth it for the life of her.

“The details aren’t necessary. As you know, my brother died in an automobile accident. He had no will and no provision for children, so—”

“I didn’t expect anything from him,” she interjected.

He paused, his gaze flickering over her in a considering way again. “Really,” he said in a doubtful voice.

His tone jabbed at her. “Really,” she said. “Tony was kind to me after my mother died, but it became clear to me that I didn’t belong in his world.”

“Why is that?”

“I—” She hesitated, her chest tightening as she remembered the fateful night that had made her break up with him for good. “We had different values. I wanted the baby brought up in a different environment.”

His gaze fell to her pregnant belly. “You came to that decision a little late, didn’t you?”

In more ways than he could know, she thought. “Yes, but I can focus on the baby or on my failures. Focusing on my failures isn’t going to help me. So,” she said, more than ready for him to leave, “since I wasn’t expecting anything from Tony, you don’t need to—”

“That’s where we disagree,” he said and nodded toward the man standing behind him. “Jim, could you give me the paperwork? Lilli, this is Jim Gregory. You may recognize him as someone who has knocked on your door a few times recently.”

Lilli tore her gaze away from Max long enough to look at the older man and recognized him. “I apologize,” she said. “I live by myself, so I’m not really comfortable opening the door to men I don’t know.”

“I understand,” Jim said and she thought she saw a hint of compassion in the older man’s eyes. “Here it is, Max,” he said, producing some papers from a manila envelope, along with a pen.

Max took the papers and pen and handed them to Lilli. “It’s a simple document. In exchange for one million dollars now and another million dollars if and when the child reaches the age of twenty-five, you agree to give up any rights to my brother’s inheritance. If you should die or fail to raise the child in a responsible manner, you agree to relinquish custody of the child to a suitable guardian of my choice.”

Lilli felt her jaw drop to the floor.

“It’s all there,” Max said. “Let me know if you have any questions.”

Lilli stared blankly at the paper and felt her hands begin to shake with anger. Shoving the papers back at him, she stepped backward. “Are you nuts?”

“Should have known,” Max said to Jim. “I told you she would want more money.”

Stunned, Lilli continued to stare at him. “So you are nuts,” she said. “You didn’t hear me earlier, did you? I didn’t expect anything from Tony. I don’t now. And I certainly don’t expect anything from you. And if you think for one second that I would let someone I’ve never met choose who raises my child, you’re totally crazy.”

“That clause is just to protect the child in the event of your death or in case you develop any dangerous habits.” He placed the agreement on top of her mother’s marble-top table. “Read it. Sleep on it. I’ll negotiate the amount within reason.”

She snatched it up to give it back to him again.

He shook his head and held up his hand. “The drama is unnecessary. It costs a lot to raise a child. It will be difficult since you’re doing it alone. Think about your child’s needs. Do you really want to give up everything this money can buy for your child?” He paused while her heart pounded in her chest five beats. “I’ll be in touch.”

As soon as the two men left her apartment, Lilli flipped the dead bolt in place. Incensed and insulted, she paced into the den. Her pulse was racing in her ears, her nails digging into her palms as she clenched her hands together. Who in hell did he think he was, coming into her home and talking to her that way?

Granted, there were a few things that didn’t put her in the best light, such as the fact that she’d even gotten involved with Tony in the first place, and the fact that she was unwed and pregnant. But everyone made mistakes. The solution was owning up to them and making the best of whatever choices have been made.

Although she hadn’t intended to get pregnant by Tony, Lilli was determined to be the best mother she could be. Even with all the uncertainty and responsibility she was facing, from the moment she’d learned she was carrying a life inside her, she’d felt a little less lonely.

Lilli walked into the nursery she had begun to decorate and took a deep calming breath. She’d given the walls a fresh coat of paint and hung a puffy Noah’s Ark wall hanging with removable animals. The crib was solid maple, and she’d already attached a mobile with friendly colorful butterflies and birds. With her next paycheck, she planned to buy soft crib sheets and blankets in blue for her little guy.

Pressing her hand to her belly again, she thought of Max De Luca. She’d never met a man like him. Arrogant, insulting, charm-free. At least to her. She couldn’t deny, though, that in different circumstances he would have fascinated her. But lions had always fascinated her, too, and she knew better than to get into a den with one of them.

“That went well,” Jim said in a wry voice as Max led the way to the black Ferrari.

Loosening his tie a fraction of an inch, Max unlocked the car and slid behind the steering wheel. Max preferred being in the driver’s seat. It gave him the illusion of control. He slid into the leather seat. “Damn Tony for this,” he said, even though his grief was still fresh. “He was going to be a father, for God’s sake. You would think he could have at least provided for his child.”

“You’ve been cleaning up his messes a long time,” Jim said as Max sped out of the apartment complex. “Just curious. Did you have to be a total ass to her?”

Max had known Jim since he was a child and that was the only reason he allowed the older man to talk to him so bluntly. “She surprised me,” he said, shifting into fourth as he turned onto the interstate. “I was expecting one of those showgirls he went through like cheap wine.”

“I told you she’s a pediatric dental hygienist.”

“I figured that was her day job. She had to have another angle.” He shook his head. “She looked almost wholesome. I mean, aside from the bump, she had a nice body as far as I could tell. Did you notice she was wearing bunny slippers?”

Jim laughed. “Hard to miss them.”

“She wasn’t wearing a speck of makeup. Her hair color didn’t look like it came out of a bottle. She looked soft,” he said, still trying to come to grips with his impression of Lilli McCall. “Real. Not Tony’s type at all.”

“She must have been his type for a while.”

Max felt his chest tighten in a strange way. How had Tony lucked into her? A woman like that shouldn’t have been abandoned. Not if his first instincts about her were correct. “Yeah. He got lucky.”

Lilli was that irresistible combination of soft and sexy that every man craved. It was all too easy to wonder how that mouth of hers would feel all over a man’s body.

He felt himself grow warm at the thought and shook his head. He’d never been attracted to one of his brother’s women. Turning the AC on high, he directed the vent at his face.

“I really ticked her off with my offer,” he said, his lips twitching in amusement. She’d looked as if she would have gladly ripped out his vocal cords. He’d found her reaction surprising and oddly attractive.

That didn’t change the fact that everyone had their price. Even a blond woman with pink cheeks, bee-stung lips and blue eyes that lit up like sparklers when she was angry. “She’ll take the money,” he said to Jim, shifting gear. “They all eventually do.”

Max would clean up this mess. He had a lot of practice. Left to deal with his father’s disastrous personal and financial choices, Max had worked nonstop during the past ten years to rebuild the family name and wealth.

His investments had delivered triple returns. The merger of Megalos Resorts with De Luca Inc. to form Megalos-De Luca Enterprises had sent the shares of his stock in the company skyrocketing. Determined to keep talent in the merged company, the new board paid the top performers eight-figure salaries.

Max’s father may have been kicked off the board of the family company, but Max was determined that the next CEO would be a De Luca. Nothing would stop him. Especially not a feisty little blonde who happened to be carrying a De Luca baby in her belly.

The following evening, as she left the dental practice where she worked, Lilli winced as she flexed her fingers. Three-year-old Timmy Johnson just couldn’t resist chewing on her index finger. Although she wore rubber gloves, they didn’t always protect her from a chewing child.

She worked late three nights a week for two reasons. One, she earned a little more money working after five and two, she didn’t really have anything else to do in the evenings. It wasn’t as if she were a party animal. She’d left that brief period of her life way in the past.

Pulling her keys from her purse, she walked toward her trusty four-year-old blue Toyota Corolla. Just as she neared her car, two men stepped in front of her. They both appeared to be in their twenties and they looked so much alike they could have been brothers.

“Lilli McCall?” one of them said.

The one man looked vaguely familiar, although she couldn’t recall his name. One of Tony’s friends? She tensed. “Why do you ask?” She backed away.

Both men took a step toward her. “We’re hoping you can help us.”

She bit her lip and took another step back. “I—uh.” She cleared her throat. “How could I possibly help you?”

“We’re here about Tony,” one of the men said with a shrug. “He left some unpaid debts. We knew you two were close and we were hoping you could help us.”

She shook her head. “I broke up with Tony a long time ago.”

“Not before he knocked you up,” the other guy cracked. “That baby’s gotta be worth something to the De Luca family. Tony must have left you something.”

“He didn’t,” she said, even though her throat was squeezing tight with fear. “Look at my car. It’s four years old. I’m working as a dental hygienist. Do I look like someone who is loaded?”

The men frowned.

“Maybe you’re hiding it.”

Frustrated and afraid, she shook her head. “I’m not. Just leave me alone.”

“It would be a lot easier to leave you alone if we got our money.” One of the men pulled a card out of his pocket and walked toward her.

She wanted to run, but her feet seemed to grow roots into the pavement. The man pressed his card into her hand. “Call me if you find something. We’ll check back in case you forget.”

Her heart racing, she watched the two men leave and felt sick to her stomach. How much longer would they harass her? And how many more of Tony’s so-called business acquaintances were going to show up at her door?

Taking a deep breath, she walked quickly to her car and got inside. Maybe she should move out of town. That could be expensive, though, and she’d like to keep the few friends she’d made over the last couple of months. The idea of being surrounded by strangers after she had her baby unsettled her.

She mulled over a dozen different options as she drove through a fast-food restaurant and ordered a milk shake. After she got home, she sipped on it and changed into a tank top that covered her pregnant belly and a pair of terry cloth shorts. Then to drown out her disturbing thoughts, she turned on the television to watch a rerun of her favorite medical drama.

Five minutes later, her doorbell sounded. She sighed, hoping it was her best friend Dee, off early from her second job as an aerobics instructor. The doorbell rang again before she could reach it. She looked through the peephole, but her porch light wasn’t on. She could only make out the shadow of a man.

Fed up, she pounded on her side of the door. “Go away! I don’t have Tony’s money. I—”

“Miss McCall,” a male voice cut in.

Lilli immediately recognized that voice. Mr. Steel, she’d named him. She bit her lip.

“Lilli,” Max De Luca said again. “Can I come in?”

She glanced down at her outfit. It was far from swimsuit bare, but she knew she’d feel more comfortable wearing something else. Armor would work. “I’m not really dressed for visitors.”

“This won’t take long,” he insisted.

Swallowing a groan, she opened the door. “I don’t think we have anything else to—”

Max walked past her. He was dressed in a black suit that probably cost more than her car. Meeting him again, she could see why Tony had resented his older brother. Max was taller, his shoulders were broader, and he oozed enough confidence for a dozen men. Lilli suspected he was the type who would command any situation no matter how he was dressed. Despite the hard edges of his face, there was something sensual about the shape of his mouth. His thick black eyelashes gave his dark eyes a sexual cast.

If he were inclined, she would bet he could reduce a woman to melted butter with just a look. There was nothing boyish about him. He was all man and he would want a woman as tough and confident as he, a raving beauty. Lilli knew she would never make the cut.

Max stared at her, his dark eyes flashing. “Why do you keep talking about my brother and his money?”

She met his hot, hard gaze. “Since Tony died, some of his business acquaintances have been asking me to pay off his loans.”

He frowned. “You? Why you?” His expression turned cynical. “Were you involved in some of his business dealings?”

“Absolutely not. I told you I stopped seeing Tony over six months ago because I realized we didn’t share the same values.” She remembered that terrible last night and closed her eyes, trying to push it from her mind. “We were only together for about four months.”

“Long enough for you to get pregnant,” he said.

Offended by his tone, she glared at him. “Just in case you weren’t paying attention in your high school biology class, it doesn’t take four months to get pregnant. It takes one time. One slip.” She shook her head. “Listen, I didn’t ask you to show up at my home, insult me, offer me a big check and threaten to take my baby away if you don’t approve of how I’m raising him.”

“Him,” he said. “So it’s a boy.”

“Yes,” she said and felt her baby move inside her. Cradling her belly, she watched as Max’s gaze raked over her from head to toe. After lingering on her breasts and legs, his eyes moved back up to her mouth. The intensity in his eyes made her feel as if she’d stayed out in the sun too long.

He finally lifted his gaze to hers. “How many men have come asking for money?”

“Five or six,” she said. “They usually come in pairs. I stopped answering if I don’t recognize who’s ringing the doorbell.”

“So this has happened, what three, four times?”

She bit her lip. “More like seven or eight,” she admitted. “And two men showed up in the parking lot of my office after work tonight.”

He paused one moment then nodded. “You shouldn’t stay here by yourself any longer. You can come and stay at my house. I have ten bedrooms with staff and security.”

Stunned, she stared at him. “Whoa, that’s kind of fast. Don’t you think they’ll stop coming around when they realize I really don’t have anything to give them?”

“But you do,” Max said. “You have a De Luca growing in your belly. Did any of them give you contact information?”

“One of the guys tonight gave me his card.”

“Please get it for me,” he said in a voice that was so polite and so calm it made her uneasy.

“Okay,” she said and went into her bedroom to retrieve the card from her purse. She gave it to Max.

“I’ll have Jim find out about this guy by morning.” Max looked at her intently. “You got involved with a De Luca. We’re a powerful family and there are people who resent us. There are people who want to hurt us. If you really care about the safety of your baby, then you need to come home with me.”

She immediately shook her head. “I just met you. Why in the world would I leave my apartment to go to your home?”

“Because you’ll be safe there,” he said, impatience threading his voice. “Do you really trust that door against someone determined to get inside?”

Her mouth went dry at the image of an intruder, but she refused to be intimidated. “You’re deliberately trying to scare me.”

“No, I’m not,” he said. “I’m merely protecting you and my nephew.”

His words rocked her. He seemed to take the responsibility for granted, where Tony had been just the opposite. She shook her head. Could two brothers be so different? “How do I know you’re not like him?” she had to ask.

His eyebrow creased in displeasure. “Like who? Tony?” He gave a harsh laugh. “I’m nothing like my brother. Or my father, for that matter.”

She wondered what that meant, but from his expression, she suspected there was a world of history in his statement. A world she wasn’t sure she wanted to know. She felt his shimmering impatience, but she resisted the pressure. “The only thing I know about you is what Tony told me.”

Max gave a slow nod. “And that was?”

She bit her lip, reluctant to repeat the insults. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea for me to—”

“Okay, then let me guess. Tony said I was heartless and unforgiving, straitlaced, boring, power-hungry and greedy.”

She winced at his accuracy. “I’m not sure he used those words. He did refer to you as a man with a steel heart and steel mind. And he said you were ruthless.”

“Ruthless,” he said with a nod. “That was the other word I forgot. Not that far off the mark. I can be ruthless and I guard my heart and mind. I’m not distracted and I won’t be tricked or deceived. But tell me, if I were completely cold and ruthless, why would I give a damn about you and your baby’s safety?”

Good point, she thought, but the man still made her nervous.

“What do your instincts tell you about me?” he demanded.

She bit her lip again, and felt a flash of disappointment in herself. “My instincts got a little off-kilter after my mother died. I’m not sure how much I can trust them.”

His expression was enigmatic. “Then you have a choice to make. You can either trust your door to those thugs who have been showing up and who aren’t going away. Or you can trust me.”

Two

“Dee,” Lilli said. “This situation is crazy.”

Max paused just inside the open sliding-glass door that led out to the patio, and watched Lilli as she paced and talked on her cell phone. After just one night in his home, she looked rattled and nervous. He couldn’t remember a time when he’d had to work so hard to get a woman to stay overnight at his place, and this one hadn’t even slept in his bed.

“Oh, it has to be temporary,” she said. “It has to be.”

He turned to walk away.

“It’s clear that I don’t belong here and I’m sure Max De Luca would be thrilled if I could disappear from the earth.”

He stopped at the mention of his name, curious despite himself. Turning around, he watched her wavy hair bounce against her shoulders and her silver hoop earrings reflect the late-afternoon sunlight. She was wearing shorts that revealed her long, shapely legs, and he noticed her toenails were painted a vibrant pink. A silver chain wrapped around her ankle. She was an odd mix of feminine and practical. He didn’t know why, but he’d liked the combination of strength and vulnerability he’d witnessed in her last night. She’d been determined not to be a pushover, but she’d also revealed her regret over her involvement with Tony. Although Max could name a million reasons, he wondered what had made Lilli decide to break up with his brother.

“How would I describe Max? Tony always called him a man of steel, but he didn’t mean it as a compliment.” She laughed. “Yes, he’s disgustingly good-looking and completely lacking in charm.” She sighed. “Maybe I just bring that out in him. Anyway, I can’t imagine staying here. I can’t imagine a baby living here, spitting up on carpets that probably cost twice what my car does. And speaking of my car, you would get a good laugh at how ridiculous it looks in the garage next to a Ferrari.”

Max felt a twitch of humor at her colorful descriptions. Crossing his arms over his chest, he decided to listen to the rest of the conversation. She was providing him with more amusement than he’d had in a while.

“His wife? I don’t even know if he has one. This house is huge. Maybe she hides in a different wing. Or maybe he keeps her chained to his bed to take care of his every need and pleasure,” she said in an exaggerated voice. “Come to think of it, he’s not wearing a ring and he doesn’t really strike me as the kind to pin himself down to just one woman. Not that it’s any of my business,” she added. “I would move to the other side of the world except I hate the idea of going to a new place with a baby and not knowing anyone.”

The honest desperation in her voice slid past his cynicism.

“I know I should be more brave about this. Maybe it’s just hormones. And what happened when I was with Tony doesn’t help.”

Besides the obvious, what exactly had happened between Lilli and his brother? Max wondered, and he decided to make his presence known. Clearing his throat, he pushed the sliding-glass door farther open.

Giving a jerk of surprise, Lilli turned to look at him. “Uh, yeah I should go now. Dinner next Tuesday with the girls. I wouldn’t miss it. Bye, Dee.” She turned off the phone and lifted her chin defensively. “I, uh, didn’t see you.”

He nodded. “Was your room okay last night?”

“It’s beautiful, of course,” she said. “Your entire house is beautiful.”

“The parts of it you’ve seen,” he said, recalling what she’d said about his bedroom. He could practically see her mind whirling, wondering how much he’d heard. “It was too late for me to give you the complete tour last night. I should do that tonight.”

“Oh, you don’t have to—”

“I insist. The rumors about the dungeon are all false,” he joked and watched her eyes widen. Swallowing a chuckle, he continued to meet her gaze. “And your bed? Did it work for you? Too soft? Too hard?” Last night the image of her in bed had bothered him. He’d wondered what kind of nightclothes she wore, if she ever slept naked.

“Oh, no. It was very nice, thank you.” She cleared her throat. “I’ve been thinking about my living arrangements and—”

“So have I,” he interjected. “If you’re free for dinner, we can discuss it then.”

She worked her mouth in surprise then shrugged. “I’m free.”

“Okay, then we can eat on the terrace.” He glanced at his watch. “Will you be hungry in an hour?”

“Sure,” she said. “How do you dress for dinner?”

He allowed himself a leisurely gaze down her body. He wondered why she made something inside him itch. “Casual is fine. It will be just you and me.”

Despite Max’s insistence that dinner would be casual, Lilli changed from shorts into a periwinkle cotton baby-doll dress she hadn’t worn in a while.

To bolster her confidence, she stepped into a pair of sandals with heels. She suspected she would need every bit of confidence she could muster when she told Max that she was returning to her apartment.

She walked downstairs through a hallway of marble and a living area that looked as if it had been taken out of a high-end decorator magazine. The sliding-glass door was open and Max stood, holding a glass of red wine, in front of a warming stove. With his back to her, she couldn’t miss the V-shape of his broad shoulders and his narrow waist.

She felt a strange dip in her stomach at the sight of him and grabbed an extra breath. He must have heard her because he turned to face her. He was dressed in slacks and a white open-neck shirt that contrasted with his tanned skin. Moving beside a small table already set with plates and platters with sterling covers, he pulled out a chair for her.

“The chef prepared orange juice and seltzer for you. Is that okay?”

“Very nice,” she said, surprised he’d known about the no-alcohol-during-pregnancy rule because he didn’t seem to have any children of his own.

“My chef has prepared one of his specialties. He’s excellent, so you should enjoy it.”

A woman dressed in a uniform appeared from the sliding-glass doors. “May I serve you now, Mr. De Luca?” she asked.

“Yes, thank you, Ada,” he said. “Lilli, this is my assistant housekeeper. She assists my chief housekeeper, Myrtle. Ada usually covers the 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. shift, so if you need anything after hours, feel free to ring her.”

He had an assistant housekeeper? Lilli took another gulp of her drink, feeling more out of place than ever. “It’s nice to meet you, Ada.”

“My pleasure,” Ada said with a smile and proceeded to serve the meal.

As soon as Ada left, Max turned to her and lifted his glass. “To a good meal and a meeting of the minds.”

His gaze dipped to her décolletage and she felt a shocking awareness of him as a man. A strong, sexual man. Pushing the feeling aside, she took a deep breath and gave a determined smile. “It was very generous of you to invite me to stay here last night and tonight. I’ve given it some thought and I believe it will be best for me to move back to my apartment.”

He shook his head. “I’m sorry. I can’t allow that.”

She blinked. “Allow?”

“I have some information that makes the choice clear, but I intended to tell you after our meal. I suspect you’re concerned about staying here. You’re probably afraid this setup isn’t conducive for a baby.”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“Please go ahead and eat.”

Lilli wanted to protest, but politeness compelled her to force down a forkful of the beef dish. The delicious taste momentarily distracted her and she took another bite. “Oh, you were right about your chef. This is amazing.”

“You’ll find I’m often right,” he said. “I learned at an early age not to allow emotion to determine my choices.”

“Why?” she asked, taking another bite.

“I watched my father spend half his fortune trying to keep his mistress happy.”

She heard cynicism creep into his tone again, and for the first time understood why. “I’m assuming his mistress wasn’t your mother,” she ventured.

“She wasn’t. She was Tony’s mother.”

“Oh,” she said again, remembering something Tony had told her. “But I thought Tony’s parents were dead.”

“They are both dead. Died in a boating accident.”

She set down her fork. “I’m so sorry.”

He shrugged. “It was ironic because the boat was called Franco’s Folly. My father’s name was Franco. He spent a good part of his life chasing after things that eventually ruined him. Something I refuse to do. But that’s a different subject.” He took a sip of wine. “Jim did some research on the man who gave you his card yesterday. Trust me, he’s bad news. You may as well be a sitting duck if you move back to your apartment without protection.”

“Protection?” she echoed, appalled. “That’s got to be an exaggeration. The man was a little pushy, but he backed off when I told him to. I’ll just have to be very firm—”

“Lilli,” Max interjected in a quiet, ultracalm voice that immediately got her attention. “It turns out he’s involved with the local mafia. They’re not above kidnapping or murder to collect on a debt.”

Lilli froze, her appetite fleeing. “Oh, my God.”

Nausea rose inside her and she turned from the table, automatically turning away. Terror coursed through her. How could she protect her child?

She felt Max just behind her. His body heat warmed her back. “You won’t need to worry if you stay here. No one would dare hurt you as long as everyone knows you’re in my care.”

“Maybe I should go ahead and move out of town. I didn’t want to do that, but—”

“You’re too vulnerable for that right now,” he said.

She turned to look at him. “What do you mean, too vulnerable?”

“Physically, for one thing. It’s not like you’d be able to beat off an attacker.”

“But if I moved away, I wouldn’t have to beat off anyone.”

He shook his head. “They’re watching you too closely. Maybe later, but not now.”

“Oh, God, I feel so stupid,” she said, fighting back tears. “How did I let this get so out of control?”

“It could be worse,” he said. “You can set up a nursery here. I’ll cover the cost. We’ll make the necessary adjustments in the house. Your life will be just like it was before, with a few perks.”

“Just like before,” she said, laughing with gallows humor. As if anything could ever be like before. “There’s no way I could allow you to cover the cost of the nursery. It wouldn’t be right. And I can’t imagine living here. It’s just so—”

“So what?”

“Perfect. This isn’t at all what I pictured for my child.”

“Why wouldn’t my home be appropriate? I’m a blood relative. How is it right for your child not to know his uncle?”

Oh, Lord. She hadn’t even thought of it that way. Her heart splintered. Her father had left before her third birthday and since her mother’s relatives had lived on the other coast, she’d never had an opportunity to meet them, let alone enjoy any sort of family bond.

She shook her head. “I’d never considered any of this. Once I broke off with Tony, I knew it would be just me and the baby. I didn’t think Tony’s family would want to be involved, and frankly I didn’t want anything to do with anyone bearing the name De Luca.”

Max narrowed his eyes. “Tony and I are not the same man.”

“I’m beginning to see that,” she said. “I need to think about this.”

“Finish your dinner,” he said, cupping her arm with his strong hand. “We can discuss this more later.”

Lilli’s stomach jumped. She wasn’t sure if it was a result of Max’s hand on her bare arm or the terrible news he’d just delivered. She looked into his eyes and had the sense that this man could turn her world upside down in ways she’d never imagined. She stepped backward, needing air, needing to think. “I’m sorry, but I can’t eat right now. Please excuse me. I need to go upstairs.”

Max watched Lilli as she fled the patio through the door. With each passing moment, he felt more drawn to her, but for the life of him, he couldn’t explain why.

Her immediate rejection of his offer to pay to furnish the nursery had caught him off guard. He was so accustomed to covering expenses for a multitude of people that he rarely gave it a second thought.

Women had always been more than happy to accept his generosity. In fact, on a couple of occasions, his companions had tried to take advantage of him. One woman had even gotten herself pregnant by another man and tried to make Max take responsibility for the child.

Lilli was the exact opposite. Unless it was all an act, which it could be, he thought, his natural cynicism rising inside him. Still, Lilli didn’t strike him as a woman adept at hiding her emotions or motives.

He suspected she didn’t want him to know that she was attracted to him, but he had seen it in her eyes. The attraction was reluctant, but strong, the same as it was for him.

In other circumstances, he would want her for himself. And he wouldn’t just want her. He would take her.

Lilli paced her bedroom for two hours. With her head feeling as if it were going to split into a million pieces, she lay down and surprised herself by falling asleep. When she awakened at eleven-thirty, her stomach was growling like a mountain lion.

“Sorry, sweetie,” she murmured, rubbing her stomach. The idea of that dinner going to waste nearly made her sob. Max had told her to call Ada, the housekeeper, if she needed anything, including a snack, but Lilli couldn’t imagine imposing at this hour.

Dressed in a tank top and shorts, she quietly crept downstairs to the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and peered inside. She found the leftovers and turned around.

“I’m glad you got back your appetite,” Max said, startling her so much she almost dropped the container she was holding. Swearing under her breath, she managed to save the dish. Her heart racing, she backed away and closed the refrigerator door.

“I didn’t think you would be down—” She broke off when she saw that he was shirtless, his pajama pants riding low on his waist. His chest was a work of art. Her mouth went dry.

“I heard a noise,” he said casually, as if he didn’t know that seeing him half-naked took her breath away.

She needed to keep it that way, she told herself and locked her gaze on his forehead. “I was hungry. I can just grab an apple and go back upstairs.”

He moved closer to her and pulled the dish from her hands. “Why would you eat an apple when you can have this?” He put the dish in the microwave and started to warm it up.

Lilli tried very hard not to allow her gaze to dip across his naked shoulders, but she didn’t quite succeed. When the plate was hot, he directed her to a seat at the table.

Twenty minutes later, she’d polished off a reasonable portion of beef, bread and a brownie he’d insisted she eat.

She leaned back in her chair and stretched her legs. “That was delicious. Thanks.”

His gaze enigmatic, he gave a slight smile. “You’re welcome. Not bad for Mr. Steel.”

Lilli blinked, then realized there was only one way he could have known she’d called him that. Her cheeks heated with embarrassment. “How long were you listening to my phone conversation?” she accused.

“It wasn’t premeditated,” he said. “I was going to tell you about the report I got from Jim, but you were so absorbed in your conversation that you didn’t notice me.”

Lilli closed her eyes, wishing she could hide. “Great.”

“And no, I don’t have a wife or mistress tied to my bed. I haven’t found it necessary to tie women up to keep them in my bed.”

She opened her eyes. “I didn’t mean it the way—”

He waved his hand. “We may as well get this on the table. I know you’re attracted to me,” he said without a millimeter of arrogance.

She opened her mouth to deny it, but her throat closed around the lie.

“I’m flattered that you think I’m hot,” he said. “But it’s probably a good idea that you also think I’m cold because, for some reason, I find you attractive.”

Lilli gaped at him, sure he was mocking her. “No.”

“Yes,” he said.

“But I’m pregnant,” she blurted out. “And not with your baby.”

“Your pregnancy doesn’t conceal your other assets. It doesn’t conceal your fire.” His gaze traveled to her breasts and lower to her legs, then all the way back up to her mouth, making her feel as if a hot wind had blown over her. He gave a short laugh as if the joke was on him. “Don’t worry. I’ll get over it. You may have seduced one De Luca, but I’m not as easily impressed as my brother.”

She felt as if he’d slapped her. “I haven’t been trying to impress you,” she told him. “Besides, your brother did the seducing, not me.”

“It doesn’t sound like you fought him.”

“I didn’t,” she told him, but there’d been a time he’d taken advantage of her. “My mother died one week before I met Tony and I freely admit I was a mess.” She met and held his gaze for a long, fierce moment. “And besides the fact that you’re hot, what makes you think I would want to go round two with anyone with the last name De Luca?” She stood and whirled away.

He snagged her wrist, pulling her against him when she stumbled. Her hand fell against his chest and she felt his heart against her palm, his heat all over her.

“Hold on to that thought,” he said. “You’re going to need it. But just so you know, if you ever went to bed with me, you would never think of it as round two.”

Looking into his hard, sensual gaze, Lilli felt a shiver run through her. Somehow, deep inside her, deeper than her bones, she knew that again he wasn’t bragging. He was just telling the truth.

Three

Lilli awakened to the sound of the Bose alarm clock on the elegant bedside table. The strains of classical music lulled her into consciousness. Rolling to her side, she pulled the pillow over her head.

Just a couple more minutes. This bed was divine. It felt so wonderful she hated to leave it. Much better than her lumpy mattress back at her apartment.

She stiffened at the thought and immediately sat up in bed. Frowning, she told herself not to get used to this level of luxury. Sometime, more likely sooner than later, she would be living in a place where she was both the chief housekeeper and assistant housekeeper. There would be no Bose stereo systems and the closest she would get to a gourmet meal prepared by a chef would be a frozen dinner.

Rising from the bed, she padded across the luxury carpet to the large shower in the connecting bathroom. She would need to get up earlier since her commute to work was longer from Max’s home. The very thought of him made something inside flutter and flip.

Hunger, she told herself. It had to be hunger or the baby. After she donned her colorful scrubs, she headed downstairs and was surprised to see Max pacing and speaking into a cell phone via a Bluetooth in his ear. He wore running shorts and a tank top that showed off his muscular legs and arms. Everything about him oozed strength. “Tell Alex we’re limiting our domestic expansion until we see what happens with the dollar.”

He saw her and lifted a hand. “Yes, I know Alex still resents that I was promoted over him. We each serve an important purpose. I provide the balance. He provides the fireworks. Tell him I said to think global. I’m working from home this morning. I’ll be in the office this afternoon and will get an update then. Thanks. Bye.”

He immediately turned to Lilli. “Good morning. Did you rest well?”

She nodded. “Yes, thank you.”

“We have fresh-squeezed orange juice and the cook will be happy to prepare anything you like.”

She shook her head. “I need to get on the road if I’m going to make it to work in time.”

He frowned. “You can’t skip breakfast. What about the baby?”

“I’ll grab something at work. We always have fruit and bagels in the workroom,” she said.

He shot her a disapproving glance. “That’s not good nutrition.”

“I don’t think my baby is suffering. I’m taking my prenatal vitamins.” He moved toward her and she struggled with the urge to flee. She was doing her best to keep her gaze fixed on his eyebrows. She refused to look into his eyes, or at his mouth, or at that stubborn chin or at those shoulders. Or lower. Feeling a flush of heat, she stepped backward. “Better go. See you la—”

“Your things from your apartment should be here by the time you return,” he said.

Lilli stopped abruptly and blinked. “Excuse me?”

“I arranged for someone to pack your belongings and bring them here. Duplications like most of your furniture, dishes and linens will be put in storage. All the baby items will be moved into the nursery.”

Trying to catch up with him, she shook her head in confusion. “Where is the nursery?”

“Across the hall from your bedroom,” he said. “A decorator will be calling you later today so you can tell her what you would like done to it.”

She shook her head again. “Did I ever actually say that I was going to stay here?”

He lifted a dark eyebrow. “There was another choice?”

She sighed, hating him for being right. “Well, you could have given me a little time to adjust to the idea. There’s no reason I couldn’t pack my own stuff and—”

His eyes widened in horror. “Moving in your condition?”

She sighed. “I’m very healthy. Women have been getting pregnant and delivering babies for years. In ancient times, it wasn’t unusual for a woman to be working in the fields one minute, having her baby the next, then back at work immediately.”

“I won’t have you in the fields, period,” he said in a dry tone. “In terms of the speed of the movers, there was no need to wait. We both agree, even if you don’t want to admit it, that you belong here until we figure out a safe place for you and the baby. And that will be months from now.”

She made a face at his imperious tone. Lord help her, he sounded like an emperor.

“In the meantime, I’ve asked my personal attorney to draw up some documents regarding custody of the child in case something should happen to you.”

Lilli felt a chill. “I already told you I’m not signing those papers. If signing those papers is part of the bargain for me staying here, then I’m leaving.”

“I never said that.”

“No, but even you admitted that you could be ruthless. I’m not signing my child over to Ruthless Mr. Steel,” she said, mentally drawing a line and daring him to cross over it.

“Yet,” he said.

“I won’t be manipulated over this,” she warned him.

“Manipulation is for sissies,” he said with a scoff.

“Then what do you call what you do?” she asked. “Bullying?”

“Reason and logic prevail among rational human beings.”

Lilli knew she wasn’t totally rational about this subject. It was too close to her heart. She took a shallow breath and met his gaze. “I don’t want you to intimidate me about this,” she said in a quiet voice.

He studied her for a moment, his gaze more curious than threatening. “Okay. Are you open to gentle persuasion?”

“Not if it involves any power plays,” she said.

He nodded, stepping closer. “Deal. By the way, I’m hosting a casual business gathering Friday night. It’s just a barbecue. Feel free to drop in and fill up a plate.”

His closeness made her feel as if he’d set off a dozen mini electrical charges inside her. He lifted his hand to a stray strand of her hair. “Your hair reminds me of your personality.”

He looped the strand around one of his fingers and she felt her heart accelerate. “How is that?”

His mouth stretched into a sexy grin. “It’s the color of an angel’s hair, but the curl shows it’s rebellious.”

Looking into his eyes, she felt as if she were sinking into a place where she was aware of only him. He was the most dynamic man she’d ever met in her life. She felt totally fascinated and totally out of her league.

Grasping on to that thought, she took a shallow breath and stepped back. It was a move totally motivated by survival. Max De Luca was a powerful force, too powerful for her.

The strand of her hair stretched taut between them. Max hadn’t released her. She lifted her hand to unravel her hair from his finger, brushing his skin. “I should go. I don’t want to be late,” she said and fled out the door, feeling as if she’d been burned.

Max arrived home after going several rounds with Alex Megalos, Director of Domestic Operation and Expansion for Megalos-De Luca Enterprises. Alex had been Max’s rival for his current position as Director of Worldwide Operation and Expansion.

Talented and aggressive, Alex was always trying to focus resources and energy in his area. Max, however, was forced to continually remind Alex that he had to consider the big picture.

Alex provided a lot of energy, but he also caused more than his share of heartburn. Suffering from a burning sensation in his gut even now, Max just wanted a quiet peaceful evening and an opportunity to wind down. He headed for the bar downstairs and poured himself a glass of red wine.

Sitting in the darkness of the den, he took a sip and savored the stillness of the moment.

A crashing sound followed by a scream shattered the quiet. Alarm shot through him. Immediately jumping to his feet, he raced upstairs. That had been Lilli’s scream. What had happened?

Rounding the corner, he found her on the floor of the nursery surrounded by scattered pieces of a crib and tools.

“What in hell are you doing?”

Dressed in shorts that revealed her long legs, her hair straying from the ponytail in back, she glanced up at him with a scowl. “Trying to put this crib back together. Your moving guys took it apart.”

He frowned, entering the room. “They should have put it back together.” He reached into his pocket for his cell phone. “I’ll get my driver up here immediately. He’s excellent, extremely mechanical. He’ll put it together in no time.”

Scrambling to her feet, she put her hands over his to prevent him from dialing. “No. No.”

“Why not?”

“Besides the fact that it’s not his job to put together cribs and it’s almost ten o’clock,” she said, “I want to do it myself.”

He stared at her for a long moment. “Why?”

“Because I just do. I put this crib together after I bought it. I should be able to do it now.”

“Why is it so important that you be the one to assemble it? The baby isn’t going to know.”

She lifted her chin. “Someday he will. Someday he will know that his mother loved him so much and was so excited that he was coming that she put her time and energy and money into making a nice place for him.”

Her heartfelt determination tugged at something inside him. “That never would have occurred to me. I’m certain my mother didn’t assemble my crib. I had a string of nannies and was shipped off to boarding school before my parents divorced.”

“My mother could sew and knit and she made blankets and caps and booties for me. I’m going to use some of them on my little one.”

“But not anything pink,” he said.

She smiled and laughed. “Nothing pink. I have a few white and yellow things. After my father left, it was just my mom and me.” She bit her lip. “I wish she was still around. I have a feeling I’m going to have a lot of questions.”

“I’m sure you’ll do an excellent job and when he goes to boarding school—”

Lilli gaped at him. “I’m not sending my child to boarding school.”

“There’s no need to automatically reject the idea. A young man can get an excellent education and important connections at an elite boarding school.”

“And they end up with warm, affectionate family ties just like you,” she said.

He opened his mouth then closed it. “Mr. Steel haunts me again.” He shook his head. “There’s no need to discuss boarding school. That’s years away.”

“Never,” she corrected.

He loosened his tie and unfastened the top couple of buttons of his shirt. “Let me help you put this crib together. Where are the instructions?”

Lilli winced. “That’s the problem. I threw them away after I put it together the first time.”

He couldn’t swallow a chuckle at her stymied expression. “Okay, then we’ll just look it up on Google.”

“Google it?” she echoed. “I never thought of that.”

“So I’m good for something,” he said in a wry voice. “My laptop is in my quarters. Come on. I still haven’t given you that tour. From the way you act toward me, I wonder if you still think I have a woman tied to my bed.”

Her face bloomed with color and she groaned. “When are you going to stop teasing me about that?”

“When you stop calling me Mr. Steel,” he said and led her to another wing of the house.

When Max opened the door to his suite, all Lilli could do was stare. Lush carpet covered the floor, cushioning every footstep. A gas fireplace featuring a stone mantel provided instant warmth. On either side, stone shelves held books, electronic items and a full bar. A large bed covered with luxury linens provided the centerpiece, but what captured her attention was the dramatic arched window that showed the starry sky in all its glory.

“I have shades to cover them if it’s too bright,” he said.

“How can you bear to do that? It’s so beautiful,” she said.

“Thank you. I like it. I also have a flat-screen television that comes down from over that wall.” He walked through one door and motioned for her to follow. “Personal gym and lap pool.”

Lilli blinked at all the equipment. “But you already have a pool.”

“That one is for being lazy. This one is for exercise.” He glanced her. “You can use it anytime you like. It’s okay to swim during pregnancy, isn’t it?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

He led her to another room, which held a desk, sofa and more electronic equipment. He turned on his laptop. “There’s another office suite downstairs, but I tend to accomplish more up here. Would you like some juice or sparkling water?”

She shook her head. “No. I’m fine. All you need to live in here are a kitchen and washer and dryer.”

His lips twitched. “There’s a galley kitchen across the hall. Laundry chute in my closet.”