He sighed and took a drink from his glass as he stared out at the lake. His smoldering eyes turned and looked at me. “Fine. If that’s your condition, then fine.”

I smiled as I pulled out my phone and sent a text message to G.

“I need you to pack a light bag for me. A couple of outfits, makeup, a bra, and lots of panties. I have a feeling I may be needing them.”

“You’re staying the night with him? No emotions, right? Just great sex?”

“Yep. No emotions. My body is craving his, so...yeah. Patrick will pick up the bag soon. Thank you, G.”

“No problem, Gabs. Have fun and be safe.”

I couldn’t tell her that my emotions were running at an all-time high. The fact that he wanted me to stay the night with him at his house had to mean a little something. Right? Or was I being delusional and this was something he frequently did with all his women?

“Giana is packing my bag now.”

“Did you tell her to be sure and pack plenty of panties?” He grinned as he pulled out his phone and dialed Patrick.

“Yes, I told her.”

“Good.”

“Now spill it, Young. I want to know about you.”

He got up from his seat and held out his hand to me. “Let’s go inside. It’s a bit chilly out here. We can sit next to the fire.”

I placed my hand in his and we went to the living room. He turned on the fireplace and then took a seat next to me on the sofa and turned so he was facing me.

“My parents were killed in a train accident in London when I was five years old. They were the only family I had there, so I was sent back to the States to live with my grandfather. He raised me like his son. He drilled into my head that money and success was everything that life was supposed to be made up of and he told me every day that Young International, one of the world’s largest luxury hotel chain, would be all mine someday. According to him, my father was a failure and didn’t see things the way he did. My mom got pregnant with me before she and my dad were married. One night, he packed up all his things and the two of them moved to London. Apparently, he thought that was far enough to escape the wrath of my grandfather. They married and made a home for us there.”

“So you had never met your grandfather prior to coming to live with him?”

“No. I had never met the man before that. Imagine how scared I was.”

“What about your mom’s family?”

“I don’t even know if there is any. My grandfather was and still is a very powerful man. He made sure that I was to live with him.”