Page 49 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol 4

I paused in my onslaught. Why was I being like this? I was judging him again before I really knew him. He seemed smart. We easily held a conversation. Why was I trying to prove he wasn't a good guy?Because you like him, you idiot. Because he's leaving tomorrow. Because you can't afford to get attached.

"Sorry. I'm just...frustrated." There was the understatement of the year. Frustrated that all my friends had found their soul mates? Frustrated that I was falling behind? Frustrated that I couldn't have Rob? Because I wanted him. I really, really wanted him. But it went against every rule I had ever made for myself. I couldn't have him. Not the way that I wanted, which was the only way I knew how.

"You're just horny," Kristen said. "You need to tap that while you can. Rob Hunter is a catch."

"I don't do one night stands."

"Who says it only has to be one night?"

"He's leaving tomorrow. He's literally here for only one night. Thus, it's a one night stand."

"Then get his phone number."

"What, so I can text him and he can wait at least two days and then text back some generic message that just leads me on? No thank you."

"You don't know that."

"Yes I do. He's a player. I don't want to date a guy like that. I want something real. Like what you guys have."

"I'm just saying...if you date Rob Hunter, we'll all be the ones that are jealous of you. Do you know how hard it was for us to get into this resort? And Layla and Alina are famous. It should have been easy, but it wasn't. And Rob probably got in just like that." Kristen snapped her fingers. "He's got connections. And he's hot. Like almost as hot as James. Which means he's above a ten."

"I don't care about those things. Looks are fleeting. Money doesn't make you happy. I'm not looking for any of that."

"Mhm. Then why can't you keep your hands off each other?"

I sighed in exasperation. "I can keep my hands off him."

"Mhm. The hickey on your neck says otherwise."

"What?"

Layla laughed as I ran back into the bathroom. Sure enough, there was a hickey on the left side of my neck. And not just a little one, but one that was prominent enough to be almost impossible to cover with everything I was trying to put on it. Was I so turned on that I hadn't noticed him do that to my neck? Just picturing him kissing me behind that waterfall made me start to get wet. He could have done whatever he wanted to me. But he chose to brand me like some...hooker.That bastard.

I walked back out of the bathroom, trying to keep my head held high.

"Layla's right you know," Alina said. "You look happy when you're with him. And it was pretty clear that you couldn't keep your eyes off him."

I was trying to be discrete about that. Was I really that open of a book?

"What Kristen is trying to say is that you should give him a chance. Because he's been looking at you the same way you've been looking at him. Plus, it was really adorable that he showed up at that waterfall to surprise you. I don't think players put in that much effort."

I knew she was right. Yes, Rob had the dirty mouth of a sailor. But he was also sweet and thoughtful and protective of me for some reason. He had gotten all the bracelets off of me after all. Not that I'd go so far as to say he was a gentleman.

"You aren't really going to stand there and deny that you like him are you?" Kristen said.

I scrunched up my face. They had cornered me. "Of course I like him. I'm just trying to say that it isn't worth pursuing."

"Momma Bear, happiness is worth pursuing." Her words made me feel cold. I knew that. I loved teaching. I loved living in New York. I was actively pursuing happiness. Wasn't I?

"Why are you guys pushing this so hard?" I asked.

"Because we want you to be happy," Alina said.

"And wearing this dress and flirting with a rich playboy is going to make me happy?"

"In the case of Rob Hunter, absolutely."

"I don't know." I sat down on the edge of the bed.