Page 26 of The Billionaire Babe

“Sometimes.” Although, I do come here almost weekly. “I haven’t been in a while. I need to keep fight fit.” Burgers a week or so out from a fight is unheard of for me. Yet another thing I completely forgot about since seeing her tonight.

“Tell me about this fight you have coming up. Have you faced this opponent before?” she asks as her head tilts slightly, her hair falling subtly to the side. She looks genuinely interested.

“He is a new guy. I haven’t seen much of him, to be honest,” I tell her with a shrug, not sure how much detail to go into. I’m not used to sharing information about myself. No one has really ever asked me too much before.

“Rago something-or-other, isn’t it?” My eyebrows hit my hairline.

“Sounds like someone has been doing their homework.” I never told her about my opponent, and I smirk, calling her out on her internet sleuthing.

“Well, I am not agreeing to have burgers with just anyone,” she teases as Betty, the waitress, comes up to us.

“Anthony James, it isn’t like you to come in here on a weeknight,” Betty greets us, and I give her a look as my full name leaves her. “Ohh, and aren’t you a sweet thing.” She ignores my scowl as her eyes sweep across to Valerie, placing a menu in front of her. Val picks up the menu and gives her a wide smile, her eyes almost sparkling under the dim lighting.

“Hi, I’m Valerie.” She introduces herself with a big grin, and Betty almost swoons at how polite she is. I imagine she usually doesn’t get more than a few grunts from the people who come here.

“Nice to meet you, Valerie. I’m Betty. I will be your server tonight.” I have never heard Betty speak like that before in my life. And I have been coming here for years.

“The usual for me, please, Betty,” I tell her, not entertaining her clear need for information on Valerie.

Valerie is looking at me with a small smirk on her face. “And for your date…?” Betty asks, her head moving to look at Valerie. I remain silent, not correcting her.

“I’ll have whatever he is having,” Valerie says, putting down the menu.

“Coming right up. Nice to see you here with a friend, AJ,” Betty says, then gives me a wink before she saunters off to pit in our order.

“So you do come here a lot?” Valerie asks, smiling like she has caught me on something.

“Seems like it,” I tell her, pressing my lips together to prevent them from quirking up.

“I can’t remember the last time I had a burger.” She sighs as she looks around the diner. “I can’t even remember the last time I was ever in a place like this.”

“Why is that?” I ask, interested to learn more about her. She looks out of place here. We both do. I am still in the black suit and she’s in her dress and heels. It almost looks like we stepped off a catwalk. I undo my shirt cuffs and roll the sleeves up to my elbows, then unbutton my shirt at the collar so I can breathe. Watching her at close range like this has me hot.

“To be honest, I really don’t know. I guess burgers and diners are not really what my father would have thought was appropriate.” She bites her bottom lip in thought.

“What do you eat, then?” I ask, wondering if she really is the type to have lobster and gold-leafed shit like I imagine all rich people eat.

“Urgh, fish and salad,” she says with a groan. “I have had so much fish and salad in my life that I think I am growing gills.” She rolls her eyes.

I lean over the table and put my hand on her chin, eliciting a small gasp from her lips. My hold firm and possessive as I look deep into her eyes before I move her head one way and then the other slightly. “Nope. No gills,” I confirm, letting her go and sitting back again. I watch her tongue dart out and wet her lips.

“You should see the fin that is growing out of my back, though. It is frightening.” She’s making fun of herself, but I’m still tempted to ask her to show me. When I notice her biting her lip, I realize I’ve been staring at her for too long.

“Do you always do as your father wants?” I ask, wondering exactly how close she and her father are because I am sure he wouldn’t think I was appropriate for her either. Even I know I’m not.

“I used to. But not anymore.” Her eyes alight with determination, and I nod.

“Sounds like I brought you to the right place, then.”

“Well, if Mr. Burger doesn’t live up to the hype now, I will be disappointed,” she says with a laugh, her mouth wide, eyes bright. Fuck, she is stunning.

“I would only suggest the best. You will not be disappointed when you are with me.” The words sound more seductive than I was planning, and I see her chest rise and fall a little faster as she looks at me.

“Two choc malt milkshakes for you,” Betty says, cutting into our moment and putting our drinks down. “Burgers won’t be long.” Valerie clears her throat as Betty walks away.

“So, how did you get started in security?” she asks me, and I am momentarily silent as I watch her lean forward and take the straw in her mouth and suck. I have never been more jealous of an object in my entire life. I hear a small moan escape her lips as she tastes the chocolate, and I think I almost go into cardiac arrest. I swallow roughly as she sits back, oblivious to the fact that I am staring at her once again.

“We started Fortress about six months ago. Still trying to build it up, get some clients. We have each worked and trained in different parts of security before, though. I fight and have been a bouncer before. All three of us have trained in defensive driving and personal security somewhat.” I watch her take in the information. “What about you?” I ask, still not really knowing exactly what she does.

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