Page 3 of Accidental Theirs (Alpha Billionaire Daddies #6)

Chapter Three

SEBASTIAN

My cheek stings something fierce.

Damn. She didn’t hold back.

As she storms away, I watch her walk off, and the tattoo on her lower back comes into view. A snippet of memory emerges of seeing it up close and personal.

Oh.

I’m an idiot. I went up and introduced myself to her, and it turns out we’ve already slept together.

Oops.

Her name is Hayden? Harley? Surely, not Harriet.

It’s hard to keep up with all the names.

I’ve been accused of being a womanizer, but in my defense, I always am upfront with my partners. I’m quite sure I gave Hayden/Harriet the spiel.

Well, I guess Hayden/Harriet doesn’t want any more fun.

I try to shrug it off, but my ego is a little wounded.

It doesn’t matter. It’s not like she’s the only woman in this club, or even the most attractive.

The most attractive is standing over at the bar near Damien .

Lucky sonofabitch.

Her legs are long and shapely, and I can’t help imagining what they’d feel like wrapped around my waist.

Long Legs comes toward me, and I sweep my gaze up to her face and blanch.

Olivia Carter.

Jesus Christ. When did she get so leggy?

A fire spreads across my face.

She steps up to me, grinning, her little upturned nose wrinkling when she gets close.

“Oof, your face is red.”

“It’s the booze.”

She places her cool hand on the right side of my face, where the girl hit me, and I finally fully understand what she means.

“I think you’re going to bruise.” She drags her thumb across my cheekbone, and my heart races away in my chest.

I didn’t know her when she was younger. Her father kept her pretty isolated until she was of age, and I only heard stories about how well she was doing in school and softball, things like that.

When I first met her, she was already in her twenties.

But still. She is Richard’s daughter, so even if just for that, she should be invisible to me. Forbidden.

She just has a pair of rocking legs, that’s all.

My eyes struggle to stay on her face, wanting to rove back over and check out what else I’ve been ignoring all the years I’ve known Olivia, but I restrain myself.

“It’s the risk you take, I suppose.” I take her hand and place it by her side again, clearing my throat.

“What? Being a dog?” There’s a teasing lilt to her voice even though her words are harsh.

I grin. “I wouldn’t say dog. I’d say... connoisseur.”

She scoffs. “Of women? ”

I spread my hands. “They’re all beautiful. Every last one of them.”

“You’re the worst.” Her words don’t match her face, the little smile on her lips.

I gesture to her mostly empty wine glass. “Want another? I’ll pay.”

She shakes her head. “Damien is taking care of my bar tab tonight.”

There’s a hint of pride in her voice.

“Damien, huh? Isn’t that against the rules or something?”

“What, a drink?” She frowns slightly. “Of course not. We’re colleagues. In fact, we’re going to dinner together this weekend.”

“Oh?” I smile, showing my teeth. “I guess you’ve gotten a little less stuck-up than when I first met you.”

“I was barely twenty-one when we first met, and you’re my father’s boring best friend. I wasn’t exactly thrilled to meet you.”

I grin wider, a chuckle coming up from my chest. “But you’re thrilled now? Looking forward to the merger?”

Olivia stiffens. “It’s what’s best for everybody.”

My grin fades, and I look down at her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “If it’s not what you want, Olivia...”

She shrugs me off but not violently. Olivia shakes her head as if clearing it.

“I’m not here to talk about the merger.”

I freeze. “You’re not?”

She shakes her head, that little, wicked grin spreading across her face again.

I swallow hard.

Is she... is she hitting on me?

“I’m not sure your father?—”

“Did you use to be married? ”

I freeze for a whole different reason. “That’s really none of your business, is it?”

I know my words seem cool, but my marriage isn’t something I want to talk about right now... or ever.

She pouts. “It’s not, but I’m curious. Are you going to have a crazy ex-wife show up to the office after the merger?”

I shake my head. “Nothing like that.”

I don’t offer any more, and she just looks up at me for a moment longer and sighs.

“I guess I’ll never get to eat at Sophia’s.”

I don’t know what that means, and I don’t care, I just suddenly need some air.

I nod slightly to excuse myself and make my way through the crowd to the back door, opening it and gulping in the cool night air.

My throat tightens with the mere mention of my marriage, and I refuse to break down. Not here. Not now.

I’m mingling . I’m meeting women. Clients. Maybe mostly women who would warm my bed, but still. I’m kind of on the clock.

As CEO of Titan Industries, I have to keep myself together.

“You all right, boss?”

I jump slightly before turning toward the voice.

Dominic stands there, leaning against the brick, his eyes curious as he looks at me.

“Did something happen?”

I shake my head, not exactly trusting myself to speak.

Dominic is a new executive who began working for Titan a few years ago, and sometimes, we go out for a drink or two together.

“Just needed some air.”

He nods, looking down at the ground between his feet. “I used to love this club. Used to come here all the time, with... ”

I’m too lost in my own dark thoughts to push him to finish his.

Besides, it’s none of my business. Though we are friendly, we’re not exactly friends, I suppose, and he doesn’t owe me any explanations.

“Crowded in there.”

I don’t really know what to say. I came out here looking for some solitude, but I don’t want to be rude and tell him that.

Dominic isn’t a bad guy, though, so it could be worse. It could be someone like Bellows out here.

I look around. “Have you seen Bellows?”

Dominic snorts. “Not yet. I hope he doesn’t show.”

I bark out a surprised laugh at his words. “Me, too.”

Dominic grins. “Had enough fresh air?”

I roll my neck around on my shoulders, and it cracks.

“Plenty.”

We walk back inside toward the bar, and I order us a couple of beers. But as soon as Dominic grabs the beer, he disappears, and I’m left standing at the bar alone.

Oh, well.

I turn toward the crowd, scanning it, and lock eyes with a bleach blonde who looks to be in her mid-twenties.

At forty-two, I know that I shouldn’t only go after younger women, but it’s just... Women my age, while beautiful and wonderful to be around, they have certain... expectations.

They are looking for a family. Looking for a relationship .

I can’t give them that. And no matter how upfront I am about it, they always seem to get upset.

I don’t like hurting people, even unintentionally, so usually, I stick with younger girls. Girls who are looking to play the field, things like that. Not a woman in her forties who’s looking to marry and settle down .

I glance over at Damien and snort out a laugh, seeing that he’s drinking water.

“I guess not even alcohol can remove the stick from your ass.”

Damien blinks, turning toward me and frowning. His eyes are a bit glassy, and I’m surprised.

“I don’t drink much.”

I’m hit by a pang of guilt for making fun of him.

I clap him on the shoulder. “Hey, no judgment.”

I don’t know the man that well, but I know he’s run Carter Holdings for years, and Yvonne and Richard never had a single complaint about him.

“Saw you strike out earlier,” Damien teases back, and it stings but only a little.

I shrug. “It happens.”

“Not to you.”

I snort. “Not that often, no. But everyone gets rejected now and again.”

“I’d think a guy your age would want to settle down.”

“Nah. I’m a lifelong bachelor.”

Damien just nods, looking back down into his water cup. He seems a little off, but again, I don’t know him that well, so maybe he’s normally like this.

I don’t say anything more. With the four drinks I’ve had, I may start getting maudlin. And there is no way this is the right place or time for that.

I had love once. Thought I had it forever.

Shit happened, and now it’s over.

I’m not looking for another. Not now. Not ever.