Page 16 of The Bossy Billionaire

“Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it,” I say to her, a small smirk on my face at having all her attention.

“So, businesses are like dating… Have you been through a lot of businesses then?” she teases, bringing me back to our last conversation. My business presentation might have a fun title, but it is all true, and I needed something to entertain the crowd that also educated them. I know it worked.

“I have, but I have found one that has caught my eye,” I murmur, flicking my eyes to her lips before settling back on her gaze. I feel tight in my chest, and hungry. Very fucking hungry.

“It must be quite the business, then? Good financials?” I raise an eyebrow as she toys with me, liking this side of her.

“Hmmm, maybe. I am looking at them this week, actually.”

“Good luck with that,” she whispers almost in challenge, and I smirk again. The two of us are standing way too close, yet neither of us moving away from the other. We are not touching, but God, I want to be.

“Yes, a fantastic presentation, very insightful.” The guy who is standing with Lucy butts in. I was so focused on her that I completely forgot he was still standing there, and I look at him with a tight smile. I put him at about my age. The suit he is wearing is cheap, his cologne even worse, and the way he is looking at Lucy is doing nothing but pissing me off.

“Thank you,” I say to him, staying close to Lucy. He has no shot with her. I will make sure of it.

“Huxley, this is Jamie Dawson. Owner of Dawson Plumbing, the largest plumbing company in Baltimore,” Lucy says, smiling up at him, and I want to push this guy out of her view and position me front and center, so her eyes are only on me.

“Great. Ready to go?” I ask her, not giving him the time of day.

“Already?” she asks, quickly looking at her watch.

“Yeah, I need to get you back to the bookshop. Who knows what your brothers have done with the place already.” I give her the only reason I can think of that will make her want to leave with me now, because I am a selfish asshole and want her all to myself. That and the fact that she has networked all morning, and I have seen plumber boy here talk to her a few times already, clearly trying to make a move.

“I can drop you home later if your ride needs to go, Lucy?” the prick offers, and I have to hand it to him. He knows who I am. He just saw me on the stage, owning the entire room, and yet he has the confidence to shoot his shot in front of me.

“Oh, thank you, Jamie, but Huxley is right, my brothers in my shop is never a good idea for too long. Lovely to meet you, though. Good luck with your expansion,” she says, smiling, and my hand is quick to go around her back and start edging her away and out of the room.

I feel her stiffen a little under my touch as we walk through the crowd of people, but I don’t remove my hand. I want every fucker in this room to know that we are here together.

“Could you have been any ruder?” she murmurs through her smile as we make our way out of the room.

“Could he have been any more of a douche?” I reply, as I quickly shake hands with a few guys at the exit.

“Seriously? You are the one who brought me here to network. That is exactly what I was doing.” I know she is annoyed because I can see her bite the inside of her cheek.

“Yeah, network, not pick up men,” I hiss at her. “I watched you all day, and plumber boy was hot on your heels at every opportunity.”

“I was not picking up men! If you watched me all day, you would have seen that I met over ten different people, all of whom were men because the glass ceiling is actually a real thing. Seriously, it was almost ninety percent male today.” I don’t have a comeback for her because she is right.

“Did you meet anyone who could assist you besides someone who can fix your pipes?” I ask, now sounding like a sulking teenager, but I can’t let it go.

“Well, I met a guy who owns a courier company, which might be good to investigate for price comparison on my deliveries. I also met a woman who does illustrations. So she could be good to keep in touch with. Maybe we could do some sort of collaboration in the future…” she says with a genuine smile, and I like that she got so much out of today. But I like seeing her smile even more.

“Sounds like you did more than pick up men, then,” I tease, watching her roll her eyes.

“You were the one with the business is like dating presentation, not me.” Her sarcasm makes me want to spank her.

“Yeah, I also know what men at these events are like. No doubt, Mr. Plumber Man has a room upstairs that he just needs to take you to later.” My hand now firmly on her lower back, I guide her out the door.

“Why do you even care?” she asks me, and I shouldn’t. But I do.

“Your brother would kill me if I let you flirt around with the businessmen of Baltimore,” I murmur, using Harrison as an excuse. Although it is accurate. Harrison would kill me, but after he posted bail for me when I went to jail for killing the guy for touching her in the first place.

“Ugh, you and my brothers are so annoying. Do you know how long it has been since I have been on a date?” I can see her neck going a shade of pink, so I know she is angry. “Years,” she says, and I nearly stumble. Years? This woman hasn’t been on a date in years? How can that be possible?

“Impossible.” My head continues to nod to people in greeting as the two of us walk along the foyer toward the exit.

“I know a man like you would find that hard to understand. You have a different woman every weekend,” she says, not for the first time, and my nostrils flare.

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