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“Mr. Beck, perhaps, if you could bring yourself to be completely upfront and honest without the attached mind games as to why you feel it’s necessary to pretend to have a romantic interest in me, I can make an informed decision as to help you or not. I’ve never been a fan of cat and mouse, and I refuse to play.”

Conflicting emotions chased across his face at being called out.

Haley nodded at him while taking a slice of bread from the basket to twist in her hands.

“I’m not—”

“Please.” She disdainfully dropped the mangled bread on her plate. “If you respect my work for your company to oversee million-dollar accounts, then afford me the same courtesy and respect that I have the same mental capabilities to recognize when a man is attracted to me or not.”

His expression drew closed. “I need to get some undisclosed information about your relatives.”

And there it was.

Wiping her hands on her napkin, she resumed eating her sandwich. The world was right again.

“Which relative?”

“George.”

Haley chewed on her sandwich, staring off into space.

“You’re not interested in what information I want?” he asked.

She took a drink of water to clear her throat. “It doesn’t matter. Neither George nor Amelia would give me the time of day if I asked.” She shook her head at him. “My family and I have been estranged for several years.”

“Many families take breaks from one another; it doesn’t mean all the avenues leading to reconciliation are closed.”

“I see. You were hoping that with me dating you, I would be once again privy to what is going on within my family?”

“Yes.”

Haley nodded in understanding. “What is the information you’re seeking?”

She watched a muscle in Desmond’s jaw twitch, as if he was holding back a strong emotion.

“I can’t tell you.”

“Why? Because you’re afraid of what I would do with the information?” Her eyes met his over the table. “Desmond,” Haley finally allowed herself the familiarity of using his given name, “like I said before, you trusted me with millions of dollars of your money; you can trust me to keep anything we discuss confidential.” She shrugged as if it didn’t matter what he told her. “I feel no particular obligation toward neither George nor Amelia. In fact, I will disclose that I detest both of them, with extra emphasis on George, and they are well aware of my feelings toward them, and the feelings are completely mutual.”

Desmond dropped any pretense of eating, sliding his plate to the side. “I need to find out if your family has any undisclosed property, somewhere off the grid, with no capabilities of Internet, completely out of the way where it would be hard to find.”

“This place”—Haley studied him curiously at the vague description—“how large does this place need to be? The size would be helpful to click a few off the list.”

She prepared to rack her brain for the few memories she had of George and Amelia’s holdings. A few properties had been purchased by Amelia after Julia’s death. Those Haley wouldn’t know anything about.

Desmond’s expression became even grimmer. “A piece of land that a few hundred people could survive on by themselves.”

Seven

Desmond regretted revealing his true purpose. Unsettled when she had been unmoved by his lack of interest, he had switched gears. When their lunch had started out, he had been determined to set his plan in motion to use Haley, to use what charm and charisma he had in his arsenal to get her to fall for him.

She had turned the table on him, using her quick mind until he was the one captivated by her. As if removing a pair of imaginary thick glasses that distorted his view of Haley, he was able to see past the image she presented to the world.

The beige dress gave her a shallow complexion, making the flower planter placed behind her glow, and brightened her eyes. What was really throwing him for a loop was the stirring of his cock every time she took a bite of her food, his gaze drawn to her lips.

Under the table, his cock hardened when Haley pressed against the table as she leaned forward, unwittingly exposing her lush curves and the pale pink bra underneath the modest neckline of her dress.

“Did you just say a few hundred people?”

He could retract his statement, yet he found himself giving a curt nod. Time was running out. “Yes.”

She leaned back in her chair, her expression turning introspective.

Desmond was nonplused that Haley seemed to be contemplating his question without giving him the third degree as to why.

Giving her several minutes, Desmond had to concede there was more to the woman than he expected, especially when he saw her repocket her inhaler, as if discussing any possible relationship was off the table.

“My family owns several properties in the Unites States and abroad. Some larger than others. I believe George has three apartment buildings, but they aren’t exactly considered off the grid. Two in Florida and one in the Bahamas, which I believe they use as sold time-shares to their friends. Four properties were willed to Amelia by Julia. All are in the United States. Three are in the Washington area, the fourth in New York. All of them single residences. I have no idea if she owns other properties or if those I mentioned have been sold since Julia’s death.”