Page 38 of The Reluctant Billionaire

A hand on my lower back as he guided me through the doorway just now.

Knuckles grazing my arm earlier when no one was looking.

The lightest pinch on my waist through my t-shirt.

His fingers brushing mine as he hands me my wine glass, those eyes sweeping over my body.

It’s like he wants to remind me what’s coming. Not that I could forget for a second what I have in store tonight.

‘Cheers,’ he says when everyone has their drink. ‘To all of you. Thank you for making this project possible.’

‘To Gaz, for sacrificing a finger for the cause,’ Judy says, holding her Bailey’s aloft. ‘Stupid fucker.’

We all laugh, and Gaz holds up a hand. ‘Now, now, Judith. Where’s your Christian charity?’

‘I’ve used it all up on those poor kids,’ she retorts. ‘There’s none left for idiots who don’t know how to use a nail gun.’

‘Happens to the best of us, mate,’ Marv offers. ‘I’ve seen more nail gun accidents than anything else in my twenty years on the job.’

Gaz clanks his pint glass against Marv’s. ‘Thank you, my friend. See that, Judith? Nobody likes a beeotch.'

Sylvie’s eyes go wide as she brings her glass to her lips. ‘Children,’ she says when she’s taken a sip. ‘Why don’t we try to be grownups for an hour? Especially in front of these nice people who’ve helped us out all week?’

‘Nah,’ Gaz says. He rests an elbow on Judy’s shoulder, which is not difficult for him to do given he has at least a foot on her. ‘I’m going to get Judy drunk and then her filter will really come off. That’s when the magic happens. Let’s you and I get on the whisky after this, Judith, my love.’

‘You’ll be absolutely twatted if you do that,’ Judy tells him, wriggling out from underneath him. ‘I can drink you under the table. I could drink anyone here under the table except for the mighty Aidan Duffy.’

Aidan raises his pint to her and smirks. Amusement and arrogance are written all over that gorgeous face, and it’s hot AF. ‘Happy to meet that challenge anytime, Jude. Just say the word.’

Everyone’s laughing, including me, but there’s the funniest feeling in my brain. I feel dizzy. Ungrounded. Like the earth just shifted beneath me.

Aidan Duffy.

AidanDuffy.

That name is familiar.

My lightheadedness is growing. I put my wineglass down on the bar. ‘Mind that for me, will you?’ I ask Sylvie. ‘I just need to make a call.’

I make my way outside as fast as I can, tugging my phone out of my handbag and typing inAidan Duffy.

Oh my God oh my God oh my God.

It’s fuckinghim.

CHAPTER 16

Lotta

Iclamp a hand over my mouth as I lean against the wall and stare at my phone in disbelief.

Aidan Duffy.

A name I know well, and yet have never put a face to. Google has a subtitle below his name.

British entrepreneur.

Below that is a carousel of images. The first one shows Aide—myAide—smiling and holding an award. He’s in black tie.