The Italian's Bedroom Deal by Elizabeth Lennox Page A

the job he had in mind. “Clarissa doesn’t want anything to do with my businesses. But they’ll need someone strong enough to take over when I’m ready to retire. I think that person should be you. What do you think?” he asked, letting his words sink in. “Would you marry Clarissa and take over my companies when I’m ready to fade out of the picture?”
     
    Max immediately shook his head. “Clarissa doesn’t need a husband to be bought for her. She’s beautiful enough to find her own husband.”
     
    Those words only confirmed James’ opinion and forced him to continue. “So don’t think of it as a business deal. Think of it as a continuation of a legacy.”
     
    “I’m not for sale,” Max reiterated harshly. Just the thought of this man trying to buy a husband for Clarissa set his teeth on edge. She deserved so much more than that, didn’t her father realize it?
     
    James eyed the younger man closely, then shrewdly changed tactics, understanding that each person had their own weak points. He hadn’t gotten this far in the business world by ignoring that salient point and had learned to read people accurately in order to guess what those weak points were. “Then how about because you’re perhaps feeling the same thing Clarissa is?” As soon as the words were out, James knew that he’d hit on the right approach. Smiling with satisfaction, he leaned back in his chair and enjoyed watching Max’s inner struggle.
     
    Max leaned back against his chair and rubbed his forehead, a small but insistent headache had started forming behind his eyes.
     
    Unfortunately, the man had a point. He definitely felt something for Clarissa although he wasn’t sure he was ready to define what those feelings were quite yet. She was beautiful and desirable, not that he would admit to Clarissa’s father that he desperately wanted to take her to bed for days on end and explore her incredible, lush body with his hands and his….Max fought to gain control once again. No father wanted to know a man was thinking in those kinds of terms about his daughter, Max acknowledged.
     
    Sighing deeply, and trying to understand why he was so angry, he finally turned to James, his eyes shuttered in an effort to hide the confusion from the world. “I’m not ready to marry yet. Maybe in a couple of years, but not right now.” He had too many things to do and a wife would get in the way.
     
    James shrugged his shoulders. “Fair enough. I can certainly understand your point of view. Marriage is a big step and I’m glad you’re being honest with me and with yourself. I wouldn’t want anything less for Clarissa.” James sighed and extended his hand. “I appreciate your honesty. I’ll see who else might be ready and will introduce Clarissa to them. Maybe they’ll pique her interest as much as you do.”
     
    Max gnashed his teeth but he extended his hand to Clarissa’s father. Max knew exactly what James was doing and he didn’t appreciate it. He refused to be manipulated, no matter how angry the thought of another man touching Clarissa made him. “Good luck to you,” he said evenly, not rising to the bait.
     
    Max wanted to smash something as James walked away. Clarissa deserved to be married to a decent husband. Not someone who worked eighteen hours a day and traveled just as often as he was home. He had no doubt that James would eventually find someone who would be interested in Clarissa. Who wouldn’t? She was every man’s fantasy! She was smart, beautiful, incredibly sexy and all of that was wrapped up in package of kindness with lots of spirit to spare.
     
    But would she be interested in whoever her father found for her? James wouldn’t push her into a marriage simply to get a grandson or granddaughter, would he?
     
    Whoever James found, would he find someone who could appreciate her sense of humor? Who wouldn’t crush her spirit by dominating her gentleness? He doubted it. Men at his level aren’t known for their