Page 38 of The Billionaire Alpha Surrogate

“Woman, I need you to listen and to hear me well. I can promise you that I wouldn’t go through the mating ceremony with you if you were the last woman left on this Earth.”

Caroline gasped and put her fingers to her lips.

“I strongly suggest that you get out of my office before I physically remove you. Now.”

She stared at him in disbelief for half a second and then practically ran out the door. A sound that was something like a sob echoed in the hallway as her shoes clapped against the floor.

“Way to go,” Martha said. “I do wish that you would have let me physically remove her, though. Us old bags have such little joy in our lives.”

Micah laughed and shook his head. “Next time, the pleasure is all yours. I need to get home and straighten things out with Lucy.”

She was in the gazebo focused on her computer screen. A notebook filled with notes, some scratched out was on the table next to her computer. A pen was stuck in the top of her braid that went down her back.

“I don’t know how to announce myself without scaring you,” Micah said.

“I heard you walking up,” she said. “That helped. I just wanted to finish my paragraph before I forgot what I was going to say.”

He sat down on the cushioned bench across from her and leaned back.

“I heard that a harpy visited you today.”

“You could call her that, I ’spose.”

“I’m really sorry. She had no right to come here and harass you.”

“No worries. I kind of had to laugh when she called me a hoochie. I hadn’t even heard that term in a long time.”

“She called you a what?” Micah growled.

“A hoochie. No big deal. I thought it was funny.”

“It is a big deal. I’m going to strangle the bitch. Or better yet, let Martha do it,” Micah said. “Just so you know, Caroline and I are not betrothed. We are most definitely not going to go through a mating ceremony together. I would rather eat battery acid.”

“That’s a little extreme,” Lucy said.

“You’ve met her.”

Lucy nodded. “I can see why a battery would be a better choice.”

Micah was certain that Lucy was relieved. He wanted to ask her how she felt about him and tell her that he was starting to care for her, but the words just wouldn’t come.

They went to the mountain and got a little bit of exercise. After dinner they hung out and watched Poltergeist and Poltergeist II: The Other Side.

“I first saw this movie when I was a kid. I’ve been terrified of clowns ever since,” Lucy said.

“Your mom let you watch it when you were little?”

“I was at a friend’s house,” Lucy admitted. “Mom was furious when she found out.”

She yawned and stretched. “I would love to hang out more, but I’m tired.”

“Babies will do that.” Micah grinned.

He brushed a kiss across her lips and went to his room. Micah thought about asking her to come with him but decided not to. She needed her rest if she was tired.

Angie texted him the next morning reminding him that the annual charity event that they hosted was Sunday. It was a huge gala with hundred-dollar plates and dancing afterward. Everyone showed up dressed to the nines and the women showed off their jewelry.

Martha finalized everything last week. The caterers are good to go, the folks doing the decorations are scheduled, and so is the DJ.

---