Catering to the Billionaire (The Billionaire's Appetites) (BBW Billionaire Erotic Romance) by Daphne Loveling Page A

while you’re waiting.  Would you like anything to drink? Coffee?  Tea? Mineral water?”
    “I’m fine, thank you,” Lissa smiled, trying to appear as relaxed as possible. 
    Annie nodded.  “I’ll tell Mr. Thorne you’re here. I believe he’s on a conference call at the moment, but he should be finishing up soon.”  She disappeared down the hall, her black heels making no sound on the carpet. 
    Lissa sat down in a leather love seat, a low glass coffee table in front of her.  She set the briefcase on the table and pulled out her notes, intending to go over them one more time.  Her hands were shaking as she did so, and she stopped.  She had to calm down; if he could see how nervous she was right now, he would never consider hiring her.  Even though she felt as though her entire twenty-eight years on this planet were culminating in this one moment, she reminded herself that whatever happened, she would be able to take what came and move forward.  She had dealt with harder things, she told herself sternly.  She had what it took to succeed, she knew, and if Gregory Thorne didn’t see that, others would.  Lissa drew herself up tall in her seat and placed her hands on her thighs.  She took a few deep breaths, and tried to pay no attention to the hammering of her heart.  Using a trick her sister had taught her, she imagined herself relaxed and professional with Thorne, answering all his questions with ease and poise.  She had finally managed to stop her hands from shaking when Annie reappeared, walking back down the hall toward where Lissa was seated.  “Mr. Thorne will see you now,” she said. 
    Lissa got up and followed her back, where the blonde motioned her to a door at the end of the hall.  “Just through there,” she said with a smile, and left Lissa to go on by herself.  Taking one final deep breath, she squared her shoulders and stepped through the doorway.
    Inside, a large office done in rich grays and browns greeted her. Behind a large, modern mahogany desk sat the man who could only be Gregory Thorne. Lissa drew in her breath in spite of herself as she stared at this man she had only glimpsed in pictures.  Dark, brooding eyes looked out from a rugged face that appeared as though Thorne was as comfortable out battling the elements as he was in a board room.  His chin was square and strong, with the barest shadow of a beard accentuating the defined lines.  Full, sensual lips were slightly parted as the man frowned in concentration a large, flat computer screen.  Lissa’s heart thudded in her chest as she realized he was quite possibly the most gorgeous man she had ever seen.
    Mr. Thorne did not bother to get up.
    “Come in,” he said in an impatient tone, waving her over to the chairs facing his desk.  He barely glanced at her as she did as she was told.  Thorne continued to stare at the screen in concentration, for long enough that Lissa began to feel as though she were invisible.  As the minutes ticked by, her nervousness faded, replaced first by confusion, then irritation.  By the time Thorne looked up from his computer, she was contemplating whether to just get up and walk out.
    Thorne turned to look at her, their eyes meeting for the first time.  His furrowed brow raised slightly as their eyes locked, and a little jolt ran through Lissa.  He froze, his eyes taking in first her face, then sliding quickly down over the rest of her.  A little shiver ran through Lissa. She suddenly felt exposed, naked almost: it was as though his gaze burned right through her clothing to her core.  A wave of nervousness welled up inside her, and she tamped it down quickly. 
    “Mr. Thorne,” she said boldly.  “Very nice to meet you.”
    He continued to stare at her, his eyes widening slightly at the sound of her voice.  Finally, he drew back an inch or so, and the look of slight irritation returned.  “Yes,” he said mildly.  “Apparently, Ms. Randall was supposed to have