Page 148 of The Billionaire's Baby

She stares at Diana then back at me.

"However, since I am already here," she juts out her hip and plants her hand on it, "maybe we can talk about the emergency that you called me about earlier?"

"Emergency?" I frown. "I don’t think there’s an emergency."

She snaps back her shoulders, then schools her features into a pleasant expression. All along, she glares at me. A chuckle rumbles up and I, wisely, swallow it. Not even I am foolish enough to toy with a woman who’s working herself up into a temper, the way Sparks is right now.

"You were saying?" I prompt her.

"No, you were." She scowls at me. "I distinctly remember you calling me earlier and telling me you had an emergency." She draws herself up to her full height. "On the other hand, if you don’t recall…" She turns away, and damn her, but I can’t stop myself from jumping to my feet.

"Oh,thatemergency," I drawl.

She pauses.

"I remember now."

She stares at me over her shoulder, "Perhaps you’d care to step this way to discuss it then?"

"Of course." I drop my napkin on my chair, then turn to my employee, whom I had enlisted to go along with me on this charade, "You don’t mind, do you, Diana?"

She glances at me, then at the retreating back of my woman.

"Good luck," she half smiles, before rising to her feet, "you are going to need it with that one."

Isn’t that the truth?

I follow Sparks as she skirts the tables and walks to the door that leads to a hallway at the back.

I step inside and she turns to me.

"How dare you?" she snarls. "How dare you…you flaunt her in my face like that?"

"I was sitting there, minding my own business, and you come along."

"And you happen to show up in the same restaurant where I am eating lunch?" She fumes.

"Heard about coincidences?"

She scoffs, "It’s as much of a coincidence as…being able to touch your feet the very first time you attempt a sun salutation."

I blink. "Uh, is that a yoga reference?

"Of course, it is, you moron." She tips up her chin, then purses her lips. "I thought I told you to stay away from me?"

"I was at the restaurant before you arrived," I point out.

"So, you did notice when I walked in?"

Clever woman. She’s got me there. I draw myself up to my full height. "I’m always aware of my surroundings and everyone in my vicinity," I mutter. "It comes with the territory."

"You mean of being part of the Bratva?"

"I’m not with them, Sparks." I scowl. “I told you. I merely did Niko a favor—"

"Favor?" she bursts out. "So…so you asked me to marry you as a favor to him?"

"You know that’s not true!"