1925 - Millionaire's Secret Seduction by Jennifer Lewis Page A

“Let’s go.” She left her report on the counter.
    Dominic’s eyes widened. Apparently he hadn’t expected her to be so easy. To her chagrin, he gestured for her to go first. She deliberately left her lab coat on all the way to the door. She could feel his gaze burning through the white fabric.
    “I’ll be back in a few,” she called, as she hung her lab coat on a hook. She smoothed a hand over the front of the new cream-and-black dress she’d bought on sale. It had called out to her from the window, “Buy me, you know you want to.”
    It gave her perverse pleasure to buy clothes from anywhere except Hardcastle.
    Dominic let out a low whistle as the lab door closed behind them. “Bel-la. The name fits.”
    His eyes roamed shamelessly over the fitted dress. It had a 1950’s-style bodice cut like it was tailor-made for her. The diamond-shaped cutout below the neckline hinted at cleavage but didn’t actually show any. Fitted through the waist and hips, the dress flared and fell below the knee.
    “Thanks. It’s new.”
    She wanted to smack herself on the forehead the moment the words left her mouth, but his admiring gaze had scram bled her brain.
    She’d bought stilettos at the same time. Dominic’s lips parted as his gaze drifted over her ankles and feet.
    One dark eyebrow lifted very slightly. “If my high school chemistry teacher had looked like you, I might be in a different line of work today.”
    She shrugged. “Just part of the job. Can’t work for Tarrant and be a slob.”
    His eyes twinkled. “Why does that make me want to change into jeans?”
    “I thought you didn’t work for Tarrant. Yet. Or did you decide to stay?” Her stomach clenched inside the fitted waistline.
    “Any reason why I should tell you?”
    “None whatsoever.”
    The elevator doors opened and he gestured for her to go in first. She couldn’t stop her hips from swaying slightly as she stepped over the threshold.
    Reality came back with a crunch as the doors closed. She swallowed hard. “Did you tell him about me?”
    “No.” He leaned against the wall.
    A rush of relief made her light-headed. “Thank you.”
    “Did you find what you were looking for?”
    “Not yet.” She bit her lip. “It’s got to be there somewhere.”
    “What if it isn’t?”
    “It is.” The door whooshed open and several people entered. Dominic’s steady gaze heated her skin but she didn’t flinch.
    On the ground floor he waited until everyone else had left, then offered her his arm. “Where would you like to eat?”
    “I usually get a hot dog in the park.”
    “If eating a hot dog for lunch every day got you that body, I’m not inclined to mess with a good thing.”
    They pushed out through the revolving door into the sharp midday sunshine. Her new heels clicked on the tarmac as they crossed Fifth Avenue and went into the park. Beneath the thin layer of civility suggested by his expensive suit, Dominic’s thick arm held hers tight.
    “What do you want with me?”
    “We have a deal, remember?” He tilted his chin, enjoying the sun on his face. “Or is breaking your word a habit with you?”
    “I’ve never broken my word.”
    “Oh, you told my dad you’re working against him?”
    “I’m not! Well, I want my own father’s work back, but I haven’t been backpedaling on the science. I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved.”
    “But you plan to take it with you?”
    “No. I would never take work I’ve done for Hardcastle. I just want the basic research back. I won’t sue for any products I’ve developed here using it. My dad had no interest in cosmetics. His work had to do with the perception of reality.”
    “Which I guess can translate into making people appear more trustworthy than they are.”
    “I can’t believe I confided in you.”
    He looked back at her. “You trusted me.”
    “Why would I trust you?” She spoke her own question aloud.
    “I have that kind of face.” His mouth widened into a predatory