Page 97 of The Elusive Billionaire

There’s so much confusion floating in her eyes, I almost feel guilty.

“I think we should slow down. I—I don’t even know if I want kids, and you desperately do.”

I nod. “I do. In time, but if I’m being fully transparent here, since the hurricane hit, I haven’t really thought about babies or surrogacy. I’ve been too consumed by…you, so that tells me that maybe I need to reevaluate my plans. I wanted a baby because they inherently love you unconditionally. Love any other way has never been on the table for me before.” I shrug. “I’m asking for time, with you, to figure all that out. In the meantime, we have a lot of other shit to figure out.”

“You mean the DeVanes?” she guesses.

I scan her too-thin figure.And getting you healthy. But my latest research showed I shouldn’t force that conversation on her. She has to want to talk to me about it.

“Among other things,” I say. My attention catches on the ring box I placed by the bed, and I move to retrieve it.

“This isn’t…well, this is the ring I could get on short notice.” A jeweler in London is working on the real one, but I think that will freak her out too much. Before she can respond, I slip the single oval solitaire diamond ring with a pavé band onto her finger. It’s too loose, but once she’s healthy again, it’ll fit perfectly.

“Jesus, Greyson. This is all moving too fast.” She pulls away, and I watch her go, feeling a sense of pride when she stares at the ring on her hand.

“I know. But now you know where I stand, and I’m about to put my flirting skills to work to win you over.”

“Who the hell are you, and what have you done with Drill Bit Grey?”

“Back to Drill Bit, huh?”

“It’s better than asshole.”

My bark of laughter sounds loudly in the silent room. It’s a rusty sound I’ll have to work on.

“That’s very true.” I hold my hand out to her. “Shall we go? Braxton and Madi are probably waiting for us downstairs.”

She mumbles something about a lobotomy but takes my hand.

Perhaps my directness has thrown her, but once I’ve made a decision, I rarely go backward, and now it’s full steam ahead to get her to agree to everything Happiness has to offer…with me.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

SAVVY

“Is this for real?”I wobble slightly in my too-tall heels as we step into the glittering foyer of the new Omni-Reyes headquarters. I don’t even want to know how they transformed this building in such a short amount of time.

If this is what they’re working with here in Georgia, what the hell did their California offices look like? It’s all so shiny, so pristine, like a hurricane didn’t nearly destroy a town a few miles away.

The contrast stings. We’re standing in opulence, while others still search for pieces of their lives. The chasm between the haves and the have-nots hits harder when you’ve always been on the side of the outcasts.

The entire first floor of their newly constructed office building has been converted into an elegant gala, complete with open bars, tall floral arrangements that reach for the sky like geysers, and blackjack tables that are supposed to encourage generosity. I don’t know whether to gag or grab a cocktail.

“This is another world… Such a waste of money,” I mutter under my breath.

Grey responds coolly, “Unfortunately, this is just the way it works in some circles.”

My stomach betrays me with a loud, low grumble. I don’t even respond—just shrug. I can fake it till I make it with the best of them, but Grey throws me off kilter.

Unfortunately, the man doesn’t miss a damn thing. “Hungry?” His tone is clipped, almost irritated, which makes me straighten my spine, but I don’t answer.

He grabs my elbow and guides me toward the side room where catering is prepping trays. Before I can even blink, he’s flagged down a waiter and is studying the hors d’oeuvres like it’s his job.

“See anything you like?” His gruffness grates my nerves like the roughest sandpaper.

“I’m too nervous to eat.” It’s a lie, and I know instantly that he’s caught it.

He snorts and starts plucking pastries and finger foods onto a plate. “Sweet. Little. Liar.”