Page 94 of The Elusive Billionaire

Sitting back in my seat, I bite my cheek. Anything I say now would give him the upper hand. I’m pretty sure this jerk just cheated his way back into my panties.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

GREYSON

“This is ridiculous,”Savvy complains through the bathroom door.

“I agree,” I say from our bed at the inn. I miss the solitude of my house, but I lie back and cross my arms behind my head, replaying everything that happened during the golf tournament today.

“I don’t understand how any of this is going to solve anything.” She’s been hiding in there for a very long time.

“It probably won’t, but it will bring in more money for Stillwater, and that’s what’s important right now.”

Her grumbled curses behind the closed door make me smile, even as I try to work out what was off about today.

It keeps coming back to Kristen, and that rips the smile from my face.

I haven’t been able to find a single connection between Kristen and me or Savvy, so it wouldn’t make any sense that she’s attempting to sabotage us, but that’s what my gut is telling me.

It also means that Braxton was probably right, and I can no longer trust Quinn either.

The bathroom door slides open, and my jaw drops as Savvy steps over the threshold. “How the hell is spending thousands of dollars to attend a gala helping people who lost everything?”

She stands before me in a form-fitting rose-gold silk dress that makes her skin appear to shimmer.

“Grey?”

Blinking rapidly, I force my focus on her words. “What did you say?”

“How is this”—she scans her curves with her open palms—“supposed to help people who lost everything?”

Goddamn. She has no idea how gorgeous she is.

“Rich people like to get dressed up and flaunt their wealth. It’s a dog and pony show, but we do it because in the end, they donate money we can give directly to those affected by Hurricane Isolde.” My voice is pinched, and I’m beginning to sweat.

“Why can’t they just donate the money? Do you have any idea how much this dress cost?”

I nod, knowing exactly how much it cost because I chose it myself. Madi offered to help, because fuck knows I’ve never purchased women’s clothing before, but I know Savvy’s silhouette, and I knew exactly what I wanted to see her in.

Now I regret my decision because every person in attendance will see what I do—perfectly welded broken bits that create a beautiful masterpiece. She’s stained glass in human form.

“You look?—”

But she holds up her hand to quiet me.

“Grey, this isn’t a date. You don’t have to placate me with empty words.”

My eyes narrow as I stand to my full height.

“I don’t say things I don’t mean.”

“This isn’t real. You don’t have to play pretend when no one’s watching.”

“I’m watching.” I speak harshly, tired of the bullshit. “Against all odds, I find myself wanting you, Savvy. We made a deal, and the deal is very real.”

Her eyes widen a fraction before she slips on a mask. She wants to hide from me, but I’m done playing these games.

“You want to fix me, Patch. That’s not the same thing.”