What His Money Can’t Hide Read Online Free

more bemused. ‘This is quite a career change for you, then?’
    ‘Yes, it is. Is there anything else you want to ask me before I get back to work, Mr Ashton?’
    ‘Yes.’ His gaze suddenly became disturbingly intense. ‘There
is
something else, Layla. I’d like your telephone number.’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘So that I can ring you and invite you out for a drink. Will you give it to me?’
    Shock eddied through her like an ice-cold river. She hadn’t missed the gleam of admiration in his eyes when he’d first seen her, but she hadn’t expected him to invite her out or to be quite so quick in asking for her phone number.
    ‘If you’d asked for my brother’s number, so you couldtalk to him about his views on the area’s regeneration or about his business, then I would have been more than happy to give it to you. But to be honest I’m not in the habit of giving my number to men I hardly know.’
    ‘But you
do
know who I am. By that I mean I’m not some stranger who’s just walked in off the street. And, whilst I would definitely appreciate having your brother’s number so that I can ask him a few questions, right now it’s
yours
that I’m far more interested in.’
    ‘I’m sorry.’ Uncomfortably twisting her hands together, she nonetheless made herself meet his intense silvery gaze unflinchingly. ‘My answer is still no. I enjoyed our little chat earlier about what’s needed in the community, and I’m very encouraged by your interest, but—well … let’s just leave it at that, shall we?’ The need to protect herself from another over-confident and arrogant wealthy man like her ex-boss was definitely at the forefront of her mind as she spoke.
    With a sigh, Drake stretched his sculpted lips into a slow, knowing smile ‘Maybe we will and maybe we
won’t …
leave it at that, I mean.’
    He didn’t sound at all offended. In fact, as he picked up his briefcase, he gave her another enigmatic glance.
    ‘This is hardly the busiest or most populated town in the country. No doubt we’ll bump into each other from time to time. In fact I’m certain we will. Have a good day, won’t you? Oh—and why don’t you give your brother my number? I’d very much like to have a chat with him about his views on the town.’
    He slid the business card that he’d taken from his jacket pocket across the counter, not waiting to see if she picked it up to examine it.
    Opening the heavy glass door, he stepped outside onto the damp and grey pavement, and as Layla watched him go several seconds passed before she realised she was holding her breath …

CHAPTER TWO
    J EROME … The name should have rung a bell as soon as he heard it. Slowing his stride, Drake turned his head to take another look at the faded, worn exterior of the building he’d just vacated. As soon as Layla had given him her surname he ought to have remembered that it was the name of the newsagents that had been in business there before the café. The place had been called Jerome’s, for goodness’ sake. Had the friendly newsagent who had often discussed the football results with him while he was waiting for his dad to make up his mind about what he wanted been her father? he wondered.
    Drake calculated that she must be at least ten years younger than he was. That put her age at about twenty-six. He wondered whether, if he mentioned to Layla that he’d had genuine regard for her father, it might help persuade her to meet him for a drink—better still, dinner. At any rate, unless she had a boyfriend he wasn’t going to give up on the idea any time soon. Not when his first sight of her had been akin to falling into a dream he didn’t want to wake up from. He’d felt stunned, dazed and disorientated all at once, and it was hard to recall the last time his heart had galloped so hard and so fast.It struck him that she was the first woman who had ever declined to give him her phone number.
It made him all the more determined to get her to change her