To Tame a Tycoon (14 page)

“Glad you had fun,” Asia said, trying not to stare.  The sight of his nipples and broad chest under the damp T-shirt was bringing back memories.  It was turning her on.

They stood there staring at each other as if the two of them were the only people there.  That was the way it must have seemed because Shelley suddenly cleared her throat, causing them both to turn.

 “Well,” she said, putting her hands on her hips, “I can see where this is going.  It’s as clear as day.  You two are in love.”  She directed a pointed look at Rico.  “So what are you waiting for?  When are you going to pop the question?”

Asia’s mouth fell open.  If the earth could have swallowed her whole right at that moment she would have gladly jumped in.  How embarrassing.  To have your friend demand a marriage proposal on your behalf?  Was there anything more pathetic?  And what if he thought she was the one who’d put Shelley up to it?

But that wasn’t the worst part.  No, the absolute worst part was the look on Rico’s face.  The only word Asia could think of was ‘stricken’.  The man’s face flushed and he looked so guilty that Asia knew without a doubt that marriage to her was the last thing in the world he would ever want.

He wanted her.  She had no doubt about that.  But he did not want her for his wife.

CHAPTER TEN

That night Rico lay in bed, the king-sized bed that now seemed much too big for him alone, and he could not sleep.  He kept reliving that question Shelley had asked and he still could not believe it.

Had he been so obvious?  Was it that easy to read that he was in love?  When Shelley had blurted out the question he’d been taken aback by her bluntness but he’d been even more surprised by her perceptiveness.  He, who had always prided himself on being a master of his emotions, had been found out.

And then he thought of Asia, little Mademoiselle Miller, the first woman to try her hand at dominating him.  And she’d done it in her own special way.  There was no shouting match, no conflict, but she’d taken control of his mind, his heart, and his life.  And, to his surprise, he welcomed it.

And that was how he knew.  He had to talk to Asia.  He looked at the clock on the wall.  Eleven-fourteen.  Too late to call.  It would have to wait till morning.

******

Asia sat clenching and unclenching her fists as she waited for Rico's car to arrive.  This was it.  The moment she'd been dreading but had expected all along.  Rico had called her early that morning to tell her he needed to see her.  She'd suggested they meet next week but he'd said it couldn't wait.  He had to see her this evening. 

And this was all taking place the day after Shelley had dropped her bombshell.  He'd probably decided it was best to end it before things got out of hand.

So here she was, waiting for the axe to fall.  But she had a plan.  She wasn't going to just sit and wait for him to ditch her.  She'd known this love affair wasn't going to last and she would tell him so.  That way, she wouldn't have to go through the torture of watching him try to wheedle himself out of the situation.

Resolved in her plan, when the car pulled up at her house she was ready.

Rico looked serious this evening.  He'd given her a brief hello and as soon as she got in they set off.  She was surprised when he pulled off the main road and drove to a deserted corner of the sea shore.  Then he turned to her.

"Let's go for a walk," he said.  "We need to talk."

They walked along the sand, not speaking, until they came to a sand bank on top of which a thick mat of grass had grown.  That was where he invited her to sit and then he sat beside her.

"There's something I should have said to you some time ago," he began as he stared out at the ocean, "but I've been too stubborn to share my true feelings."

Asia didn't want to hear any more.  "It's okay, Rico.  I know.  You don't have to say another word."

He looked at her and frowned.  "You do?"

Asia felt a dark and heavy fog rising up to surround her heart.  She was hurting, but she could not let him know.  She drew in a shaking breath then she nodded.  "Yes, and I feel the same way.  We've had a great time but I think it's best if we end this now."

"What?  Why?"  Rico looked at her with eyes full of disbelief.  "But I was just about to tell you about my plan."

Why did the man insist on rubbing it in?  "You don't need to dump me, Rico," she said, exasperated by his persistence.  "I'm going to walk away.  You have nothing to worry about."

"But you can't.  I was just about to tell you.  I'm going to do laser surgery.  On my eyes."

Now it was Asia's turn to look at him in disbelief.  "You drag me all the way out here to tell me you're going to do laser surgery on your eyes?"  She gave a hiss of frustration.  "You could have told me that on the phone."

Rico reached out and took her hand in his.  "No, Asia, I couldn't.  I wanted to see your face when I told you that you were the one who taught me to take risks.  You taught  me that I don't have to be on the defensive, and I don't have to  be a bully to be a man."

"And what does that have to do with eye surgery?"  She tried pulling her hand away but he would not let go.

Rico gave her a solemn look.  He drew in a deep breath then let it out in a sigh.    "I've never been one to take chances, Asia.  I've always been in control.  But you taught me..." he frowned, seeming to be struggling to find the right words, "...to give up some of that control and to trust."

He lifted her hand to his lips.  Then he kissed it.  "I've never trusted anyone with my heart.  Until now."  He looked away then and stared out at the waves as they rolled in to the shore.  "My decision to trust the surgeons is symbolic of an even greater decision I've made."  He turned his gaze back to her and this time he was smiling, his look earnest and loving.  "Asia, I want to trust my heart to one woman in this world.  That woman..." he raised his hand to caress her cheek, "...is you.  Asia, my little mademoiselle, will you be my wife?"

Asia's heart lurched in her chest.  The air suddenly grew thin and she felt like she could not breathe.  She gasped for air and then she burst into tears.

"Don't," she cried.  "Please don't.  You're torturing me."

"
Ma cherie
, what is the matter?"  As her body shook with heavy sobs Rico gathered her into his arms.  "Please don't cry."

"Don't play these games with me, Rico," she cried.  "It hurts."

"This is not a game,
mon amour
.  Not a game.  This is for real.  I love you."

"Are you...sure?"  Her sobs subsided into a hiccup as she stared up at him through tear-filled eyes.

He was smiling down at her, his eyes gentle and kind and true.  "I am one hundred percent sure, my  love.  I am giving my heart to you.  Will you take it?  Please say yes."

The fog inside Asia vanished.  Rico loved her.  At the realization she felt the light of the sun and all the colors of the rainbow fill her heart.  "I will say yes," she whispered, "on one condition."

"What's that?" Rico asked with a soft smile.

"That you take my heart in exchange for yours.  I give you my heart for always.  And," she gave him a look of mischief and love, "refusal is not an option."

"Mademoiselle, I accept."

And as the gentle waves rolled in to caress the shore Asia and Rico, lion tamer and tycoon, celebrated their love with a kiss that joined their hearts...forever.

THE END

Thank you for reading ‘To Tame a Tycoon’.  I sincerely appreciate your support.  If you liked this story please visit the Amazon page where you can click on the ‘Like’ button at the top of the page.  Positive reviews are also very welcome!  That’s the best support any author could ask for.

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TO TAME A TYCOON

The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Series by Judy Angelo

Volume 1 -
Tamed by the Billionaire

Volume 2 -
Maid in the USA

Volume 3 -
Billionaire's Island Bride

Volume 4 -
Dangerous Deception

Volume 5 -
To Tame a Tycoon

Box Set -
Bad Boy Billionaires Collection, Vols. 1 - 4

COMING SOON:

Sweet Seduction

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VOLUME 1 - TAMED BY THE BILLIONAIRE

THE TAMING OF A PRINCESS...

Serena Van Buren, the privileged daughter of a wealthy businessman, can't wait to begin her three-month tour of Europe with her college mates. Little does she know that fate has other plans in store!
Instead of dancing with handsome Italians and dining with charming Frenchmen Serena finds herself trapped in a six-month internship with overbearing business tycoon, Roman Steele - an arrangement orchestrated by her own father.
Serena is determined to show Roman that she won't yield to the demands of any man, boss or no boss. She's a Van Buren, after all, known to wither a man with one look. But Roman Steele is like no man she's ever met before. Suave, sexy and stunningly handsome, there's something about him that she can't resist. It looks like Serena Van Buren has finally met her match.
A sweet and saucy romance that will have you smiling...

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TAMED by the BILLIONAIRE
 

VOLUME 2 - MAID IN THE USA

WHO EVER SAID BILLIONAIRE BACHELORS AND MODEST MAIDS DON'T MIX?

Celine Santini couldn't have been more shocked when billionaire bachelor Pierce D'Amato offers her a job as nanny to his four-year-old charge. After all, he hardly even knows her. But after finding herself thrown into an unexpectedly intimate encounter with him, are they really strangers? Celine is captivated by the green-eyed heartthrob who takes her heart ransom but how can she give in to her feelings when they're from two totally different worlds?
From the first day he lays eyes on the dark-eyed beauty, Pierce D'Amato knows he is lost. He immediately devises a plan to get her under his roof...and it works. But the more he gets to know the sweetly seductive Celine Santini the more he realizes there's a lot more to this woman than he could ever have imagined. Her intriguing combination of sophistication and innocence keeps him forever off-balance and, before he knows it, his bachelor heart turns traitor. The heart knows what the heart wants and it wants Celine Santini...whatever the cost.
A thrilling romance with twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages...