Page 45 of Saved By the Billionaire

“Kate?” She expected Roman but it was unmistakably not him, tentatively calling from outside the bedroom.

The thought of staying naked had been too strange, so she’d compromised by reaching for a robe and wrapping it around her naked body instead. She’d made a coffee, then grabbed a book, and curled up in bed, her heart racing with thoughts of what would come soon…

Now, Garrett on the other side of the door had her sitting up with a strangled squawk. “Erm, don’t come in.”

“I’m not going to. Roman asked me to pass a message to you.”

She stood, as if somehow knowing she needed to brace for that. “Oh?”

“He’s been detained. He says he’ll be a few hours longer than planned.”

Kate’s stomach seemed to hollow out. She told herself she was being ridiculous and needy to feel hurt by that, that she was being everything she’d sworn to avoid, because of course something else had called his attention. He was Roman Hayes, a billionaire, a tycoon, a bloody superstar in the investment world, and there must have been a thousand people at any given time wanting to make demands on his time. The fact he’d been shining his attention solely on her for days, like some kind of megawatt spotlight didn’t mean anything. They’d both bloody agreed to that. So why did her stomach suddenly drop to her toes, and it felt as though the light in all the world had gone out.

“Kate?”

“Yeah, I heard.” Her voice sounded hesitant. Hurt. She cleared her throat. “Hey, Garrett?”

“Yes, ma’am?”

She winced at that sign of deference, a pointed reminder that she was in Roman’s world, when she knew she didn’t belong. “Is there a spare key to this place somewhere?”

“Yes.”

She rolled her eyes. “Can I grab it?”

“I’ll have to check with⁠—”

“I don’t mean to keep,” she interrupted, moving towards the door and cracking it open a bit, so she and Garrett were eye to eye. “I might as well go out seeing as Roman’s been held up.”

Garrett’s eyes dropped to Kate’s ankle. “Of course, I’ll take you anywhere you’d like.”

“I’m much better, that won’t be necessary.”

“I’ll let⁠—”

“No,” she forestalled. “We both know he’d worry, and I’m sure that whatever he’s doing is more important.”

“Nonetheless, he’d want to know.”

“Has he ordered you to keep tabs on me?”

“He doesn’t generally give orders.”

“Has he required it of you?”

“No, but⁠—”

“Then you’re not breaking any promise to him.” She expelled a breath slowly. “I’ll just go get a coffee or something. I’m getting cabin fever.” She could tell he was relenting. “I’ll be back before he is, promise.”

Garrett hesitated another moment and then nodded slowly. “Fine.”

She expelled a breath of relief, hoping it hid her surprise. “Here are the rules.”

“Rules?”

“No more than five blocks, no more than one hour. You’ll have your phone on you at all times. And what’s your number?”

She stared at him, a smile quirking her lips. “Did you get bossy bastard training from Roman?”