Page 44 of Billionaire Bachelor

Or, you know, after I left your sister’s apartment.

I feel Rosie’s eyes on me as I rub a hand over my jaw, exhaling through my nose. She knows me well enough to pick up on my distress—my clenched jaw, the tight set of my shoulders, the way my fingers drum restlessly against the counter. She doesn’t interrupt, doesn’t press, but her quiet presence grounds me even as my mind races.

“Why would they back out? I thought everything was pretty much a go.”

“That’s what I’m working on now,” he answers. “Why don’t we meet for lunch? I should have enough intel by then. Say Lou’s at one?”

“Yeah, that works. I’ll see you then.”

I end the call, raking a hand through my hair.

“You okay?” Rosie asks.

She rounds the counter, wrapping her arms around my waist and resting her head against my chest.

“Better now.” I squeeze her back. “As for work, I don’t know all the details yet. Ry’s looking into it, and we’re meeting for lunch at one.”

Rosie’s chin lifts. “Are you worried about seeing him? Having to hide…this?” She gestures between us.

I tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. “Of course, I am. I don’t like lying. You know that. And it’s not like I have any chance of avoiding him. Now is not the time to work remotely.”

She sighs. “I feel like I’m being unfair, asking you to do this.”

I crouch down to meet her at eye level. “I will do whatever I need to do to protect this.” I mimic her gesture from earlier. “I know this is new, and intense, and you’re scared, but I’m not going anywhere. Take as much time as you need. When you’re ready, I’ll fucking tell anyone who’ll listen that you’re mine.”

She smiles shyly. “I’m yours, huh? Does that mean I get to call you mine?”

“Rosie, I’ve been yours since the day we met.” I grin. “I’ve just been waiting for you to catch up.”

She lets out a soft laugh, shaking her head as if I’m ridiculous, but the pink tint on her cheeks gives her away. With a glance at the clock on the microwave, she groans. “I have to go,” she says reluctantly. I watch as she pulls away and grabs her bag, slipping her shoes on before turning back to me. “Lock up when you leave?”

I nod. “Have a good day at work, Pip.”

“Good luck at lunch, Mr. CEO.” She smirks, then heads for the door, pausing just long enough to look back at me.

I step forward, pressing one last kiss to her forehead. “Drive safe.” I add another to her lips because once isn’t enough. As I watch her walk down the hallway toward the elevator, I realize I’ll likely never get my fill of kisses from that woman.

Now I just need to figure how to make her feel the same way about me.

16

LOGAN

I spotRyan the moment I step inside our favorite diner, tucked into a booth near the back, scrolling through his phone. This place hasn’t changed much since the ’50s, with its chrome fixtures, checkerboard floors, and faded red vinyl booths. It’s kind of a dive, to be honest, and the smell of bacon grease and coffee is permanently embedded into every surface, but the place is clean, and they make the best burgers in town, so we come here often.

Ryan looks up as I approach, locking his phone and tossing it onto the table. His brown eyes, a near match to Rosie’s, sharpen as they take me in.

“You look like shit.” His dark brows lift.

I snort as I take a seat across from him. “Good to see you too, asshole.”

He smirks. “What’s the matter, pumpkin? Haven’t had much sleep lately? Too busy sinking balls-deep into hot ski bunnies? How many were there? Be honest. Two? Three? Twenty-Five?”

Nope. Just your sister, dude.

“Jesus.” I roll my eyes, shaking my head. “You really think I spentthe entire time I was in Tahoe hooking up with strangers?And twenty-five?!I was gone ten days. What the hell, man?”

“Okay, maybe twenty-five was a bit of an exaggeration.” Ryan shrugs.