Page 52 of Saved By the Billionaire

“But not anymore?” Kate made her way back to the sofa, wondering if a safer choice might have been next to Tia rather than Roman.

Tia’s lips floundered, her features showing confusion. She turned to Roman. “She doesn’t know.”

Tia stopped walking, then winced as pain shot up her leg from her sprained ankle. “Know what?”

But Roman had seen it. He stood quickly. “You’re limping.”

“Yeah. I walked a bit today. My ankle hurts.” If it weren’t for three glasses of champagne, she might not have answered quite so baldly. Given his protectiveness of her, it was entirely predictable that he’d be annoyed with her choices. As it turned out, with good reason. “What don’t I know?”

“For fuck’s sake, sit down, Kate. You’re meant to be getting better while you’re here, not worse.”

“I’m not worse, and what aren’t you telling me?”

Tia was watching closely, eyes going from one to the other.

“You weren’t limping this morning.”

“Roman,” Tia said, so they both turned to look at her. “Why haven’t you told her?”

Kate couldn’t look away from him, the way his jaw was clenched. Her mind was all fuzzy, like fog had settled atop her brain, but two words broke through it. Not today. Why not today? What had Garrett meant?

“We just met,” he said, and it was strange to hear Roman sounding almost defensive. Not quite, because this was Roman Hayes and Kate couldn’t imagine him apologising to anyone. But there was a tone of surrender in his voice.

It didn’t matter that he’d spoken softly though. The words still cut through Kate like a knife in butter.

We just met. AKA why would I tell her?

“Guys, I think I’m done,” she said, suddenly feeling pulled in a thousand different directions. “I—need to lie down. I’m tired.”

“Amateur,” Tia said, light-hearted once more. “It’s the middle of the afternoon.”

“I’m not one for day drinking,” she said, not meeting Roman’s eyes. But before Kate could leave, Roman turned to Tia.

“Would you give us a minute?”

“I’ll give you ten,” Tia said, standing with all the ease of someone who was used to day drinking. I’ve got some calls to make.”

“To clients?” Roman asked, evidently sharing the same concerns Kate had—that Tia shouldn’t be doing business after drinking God knew how much.

“Nope. Not those kinds of calls.” She winked in a way that was utterly perfect, taking Kate’s breath away for how effortlessly beautiful the other woman was. Graceful and sophisticated whilst also appearing sparkling and fun. How was it possible that Roman wasn’t involved with her? A kernel of jealousy nestled inside Kate and the alcohol had weakened her usual abilities to dispel it.

Once Tia had left the room, disappearing towards Roman’s office down the other end of the penthouse, Kate put her hand on her hip.

“Sit down, Kate.”

She arched her brows. “What’s the magic word?”

“Now.”

She crossed her arms and winced.

“For fuck’s sake. Fine then, please.”

“Better,” she pouted, but stayed where she was. “You sure you don’t want to carry me, tough guy?” She knew she was tipsy. Or drunk. But she couldn’t help poking the big bear in front of her.

“That’s only the beginning of what I want to do to you right now, believe me,” he muttered, but he stepped forward and scooped her up against his chest, his eyes levelled straight ahead as he strode not towards the sofas but deeper into the penthouse, through the wide corridor with the high ceiling and into her bedroom. Not her bedroom, she reminded her foggy brain. The guest bedroom. She didn’t have a bedroom. Not here, not anywhere.

“I can walk.”