Scandalous: Scandalized!. Lori Foster

to get ahead occasionally became too much, she had only herself to lean on.

      Tony was staring at her in his intent, probing way and Olivia had the horrible suspicion he was reading her thoughts, knowing exactly what it was she concealed, and how empty she often felt.

      He looked down at her hands, which were tightly pressed together in her lap, then covered them with one of his own. “Is that why you’ve isolated yourself?”

      “I haven’t.”

      His gaze snapped back to her face, as if struck that she would deny such an obvious thing. “Of course you have. You keep to yourself, don’t date, don’t form long-standing friendships. You put everything you have into the lingerie shops. It’s almost like you’re afraid of getting involved.”

      “I am not afraid.” She didn’t know what else she could say. She felt defensive, as if she had to explain her choice of lifestyle, but that was impossible. She would never be able to give Tony the truth.

      “It’s not natural for a woman like you to still be single, to not want some kind of commitment.”

      Despite herself, she stiffened. “A woman like me? What exactly is that supposed to mean?”

      Tony closed his eyes and made a sound of frustration. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. It’s just that…I never thought of you as you are. You always seemed pleasant enough, but so businesslike and…well, detached. And here you are, a very warm, caring woman, wearing sexy lingerie that makes me go a little crazy and looking so damn sweet and vulnerable at the most surprising times.”

      “Tony…” She didn’t like being labeled vulnerable any more than she liked feeling defensive.

      “I don’t understand you, Olivia, and I want to. I really do.”

      “But why?”

      He quirked a smile. “Don’t sound so panicked. I promise, I’m not asking for orange blossoms and golden rings. I just…I guess I like you more than I thought I would.”

      “Sex has a way of making a man feel like that. Believe me, it will pass.”

      He reached out to wrap a lock of her hair around his finger, then gently pulled until her face was closer to his. His tone was low, his expression heated. “Honey, you don’t know enough about men and sex to make that assumption.” He laid his palm warmly on her thigh, gently squeezing. “And I’d say that nasty little comment deserves some form of retribution, wouldn’t you?”

      Olivia tried to pull away, but she couldn’t get very far. She wasn’t afraid of Tony, but she didn’t trust the look in his eyes. He was pushing, and there was too much she could never tell him.

      “I didn’t mean it to sound nasty, exactly.” She was beginning to feel cornered, and that made her so very nervous. Then she went on the attack, hoping to force him to back off. “Dammit, Tony, we agreed not to get personal, right? And this discussion is getting very personal. You want a baby from me, not my life history. Why don’t we talk about sex instead?” Trying to be subtle, she leaned into him, allowing her breasts to brush against his chest.