Page 73 of Marrying the Billionaire Single Dad

In real life, it never works that way.

In real life, the bad boy breaks the heart of any female who dares get close to him. He’ll push her away, trample over her feelings, and walk away…

Don’t let him push you away.

Shit, that’s what Meredith had said. Guess she’d anticipated his reaction—no surprises there. Not that I care… I mean, this entire thing is a transaction, huh? A way for me to make money while I figure out what to do with my life. What do I want to do with my life?

Pursue my non-existent career as a clay artist? Continue as a nanny? Why can’t I have both? Why can’t I have the career I yearn for and the kids of my own that I’d hoped to have by now. I mean, I am only twenty-six. I’m not old…but hell, if I don’t feel my biological clock ticking. Which is crazy. Women have kids into their forties… But me? I’d always hoped to have them early… Only things hadn’t worked out that way…yet.

If he’d come inside me earlier… Shit, I’d wanted him to come inside of me. Bloody hell… I hadn’t realized, until now, how much I want to be pregnant… And not with just anyone’s child. With Damian’s child.No, no, no, don’t go there. You stupid idiot, don’t fall for him.Do something else… Anything else… Think of how you’re going to spend the money you’ve already earned. Orgasms in exchange for cash. The deal is crazy, too good to be true.

And I don’t, for one second, buy that all this is a test.

It’s more. Something more. But what? Shit, I need to find out. I’ve got to figure out why he's so frustrating, complex, and gorgeous, yet obnoxious and dominant. And yet, I sense, he harbors such a melting heart, which is never more evident than when he talks about his daughter. Just why is he the way he is? What makes him tick?

What does he want out of this weird set-up? Got to find out. Got to… I pivot, head for the bathroom. First things first: a bath, then a call…

The next day, the sun is already dipping down into the horizon, when I lean across the bar at the top floor of the National Portrait Gallery in Trafalgar Square.

"Thanks for coming." I raise my wine glass at the two women who flank me.

"Of course," the petite woman with flashing eyes replies.

The last time I met her, she’d been all business as she’d ensured the flat I occupied was secure from future break-ins. Yeah, when Amelie lived there, a burglar had surprised her. Thankfully, Weston had been there with her, and according to Amelie, she owed the burglar, because it was thanks to that incident that Weston had confessed his feelings for her. Well, bully for her… If only it were that easy with Daddy Savage, huh?

"So, you want to know about him?" Karina reaches for her glass of sparkling water.

I blink, "Uh, yeah. I mean... I confess, it’s refreshing that you come straight to the point, but I need something stronger than wine for this conversation.”

I drain my glass of wine, then reach over the counter, "A shot of tequila?"

"Coming right up." The bartender pours out the golden liquid of my faithful lover, the one who’s stayed with me through thick and thin, the one who never cuts and runs, who never abandons me when the alarm on his phone goes off… Not that I begrudge Damian that, really. I love that he’s devoted to his kid. It turns me on, to be honest… Still, if only there were a way to take up more of his time without feeling guilty about it. Aargh. I reach for the shot glass, drain it, then cough.

Isla pats my back, "There, there." She draws soothing circles on my back.

"Thanks," I swipe my hair over my shoulder. "You didn’t have to come."

She frowns, "Of course, I did."

"I didn’t mean to drag you away from your job."

"Pfft." She waves a hand in the air, "This is more fun. Seems even I need a break from planning weddings. For once, all that talk of true love and celebrations…” she winces. "It was getting to me."

"Or is the hangover from meeting Liam, yesterday?" I shoot her a sideways glance.

She freezes, then reaches for her own margarita and downs it. "Who?"

"You heard me." I stick my tongue in my cheek. "I’m not the only one with an alphahole-shaped hole in my heart, apparently."

"What does that look like?" Karina places her glass back on the table; the perfect red of her lipstick stains the side of the rim. Damn it, why does this woman ooze sex like she owns it? Why the hell can’t some of that confidence rub off on me, huh?

"What?" I frown.

"The alphahole-shaped hole," she elaborates.

"Like sex and chocolate and an incomplete shag fest."

Both women look at me, then Isla bursts out laughing. Karina cracks a smile. Whew, this one’s a tough cookie.