Tempted by the Billionaire: A Hometown Hero Series Novel by Clare Connelly Page B

flashing hot and cold. “Are you kidding me?”
    He shot her another look of confusion. “Willow… Is it possible you don’t know who I am?” He pondered, more amused than surprised.
    “Who you are?” She shook her head slowly. He was the man she was falling in love with. The man who had brought her all kinds of pleasure and delight in her bed. The man she was fast become totally hooked on. “Who are you?”
    “You mean you really don’t know?” He laughed then, a rich sound that filled the luxury interior with warmth. “This is absolutely fantastic,” he said, putting a hand on her thigh and squeezing the slender muscle.
    “Matt, who are you?”
    He sobered, and focussed all his attention back on the seaside road. To their right, a sharp cliff dropped towards the ocean. To their left, tiny little beach shacks dotted the grassy land. “Have you heard of McCain Industries?”
    “Of course. The airline.” She rolled her eyes. “Who hasn’t?”
    “Heard of Mattias McCain?”
    She angled her whole body to look at him. “You’re… You’re Mattias McCain.” She nodded, though, because it made sense. He carried himself with the confidence and authority of one who had been groomed to believe in their power. Someone who, from birth, had been given the best opportunities in life. She had never really thought him to be ordinary. But she hadn’t expected him to be a closet billionaire, either.
    “Yeah.” He laughed again. “I will say this: it’s nice to know my wealth has nothing to do with what you see in me.”
    Willow laughed now, her eyes crinkling at the corners. His heart turned over. Her laugh was incredibly beautiful. Possibly the nicest sound he’d ever heard. “As if anyone would fall for you because of money. You know, Matt, you don’t need to pretend modesty.”
    The compliment, dressed up as an accusation, was music to his ears. “Not so much pretended modesty as the voice of experience.”
    Willow frowned. “I don’t believe it. You mean your marriage?”
    “Yeah. Turns out, amongst her other faults, Meghan was a big old gold-digger.”
    “But… you’re gorgeous!” She said with complete disbelief.
    Happiness, an actual force, burst through him. “I’m glad you think so.”
    “I don’t think so. I know so. I don’t mean it in a subjective way. I mean, you’re seriously hot. I doubt anyone could disagree.”
    His smiled at her then looked back towards the road.
    “No, seriously Matt. And you’re incredible in bed. Like, mind-blowingly, insanely incredible.”
    He pulled over to the side of the road and cut the engine. When he turned his head towards her, his eyes burned with intensity. “Willow, we’re going to have a problem if you keep going like this.”
    “Oh yeah? What’s that?”
    “I’m going to find it hard to resist making love to you right here and now.”
    Her cheeks flushed pink.
    “Especially if you blush like that,” he muttered.
    “I’m sorry.” She shrugged. “It’s just that I find it hard to believe anyone married to you would only want you for the money.”
    His fingers gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles were white. “There was prestige too. Invitations to the best events in Manhattan. I think Meghan liked being Mrs Mattias McCain.”
    “And yet she left you…” Willow probed gently, putting a hand out and wrapping her fingers over his.
    He nodded, but when he looked at her, his expression was nonplussed. “She’s getting a good settlement. A great settlement, actually,” he corrected, thinking of their Manhattan penthouse apartment and the trust fund he’d set up for her. “She’ll still have the prestige of having been my first wife.” He shrugged. “And I was a pain in the neck to be married to, so she’s free of that.”
    Something rolled inside Willow’s stomach; as though the car, still stationary, had crested over a hill. “Were you?” She said quietly, and jealousy flushed her system. “Why?”
    He was silent