The dumb teenager in me still wants it to be real, for it to finally, for once, be my turn, be me the guy wants.
Grow up.
“How do you feel about dating—”
He chokes on the pastry. Sets it down. “You actually want me to take you out?”
There’s that emphasis again onyou.
“Me? What?” I choke out a laugh, play it off like I didn’t care that he didn’t immediately sweep me into his arms and fly me to Paris for a romantic date right then and there. “No, my sister. Supermodel,Sports IllustratedSwimsuit Edition. You met her a couple times. Seems just your style.”
I read the intrigue in his eyes.
I can’t draw this out. My heart’s not going to take it.
Again, the drama, Winnie.
It’s all the wine and late nights outside of my house.
“She’d be the perfect billionaire’s girlfriend. Pretty. Doesn’t run her mouth.”
The corner of his mouth turns down.
“She’s basically a virgin.” I grasp for all the tropes, anything that would make my sister enticing. “She has self-esteem issues and just wants a man to run her life. Also, she’ll probably name your children something problematic, so definitely don’t give her free rein with the birth certificates.”
He doesn’t say anything for a long moment. Those gray eyes just bore into mine.
Then something snaps into place.
Cold.
It’s unnerving.
He breaks the glance.
“I’ll think about it,” he says, going for another pastry. “I do have other options, you know. Also, other women send nudes, not pastries, when they want to fuck their way into a billionaire lifestyle.”
This mother—
“No.” I slam the lid on the box.
He tries to take the food.
“No food if you don’t date my sister.” I wag a finger at him. “You don’t get to eat for free and be difficult.”
“Fine,” he snarls, grabbing the box back. “I’ll date your sister. But she better know how to cook like this.”
My sister burns water—one of Knox’s many complaints.
“Great,” I snap. “I’ll let you plan something then. Tell me what time works for your first date.”
I stomp out of his office, furious so I don’t have to be sad.
I just need to find a way to make them fall in love.
Then I can worry about figuring out how I’m going to survive living in the same city as my sister and her new billionaire husband—aka the man that I have a massive humiliating crush on.
I wipe my eyes in the elevator on the way down to the lobby.
