Page 19 of Daddy Billionaire Dragon

“I’ve never received flowers before,” I confess.

“Shut up.” Penny looks at me wide-eyed. I merely shrug. “Manuel never bought you flowers?” Her frank disbelief makes me wince slightly.

“He’s not the only boyfriend I’ve had, you know.” I sit up and lean forward on my elbows. A smile spreads on my face when I look at the flowers.

“Oh, come on! He has been your only long-term boyfriend,” she scoffs.

“Well, Manuel thought that flowers as a gift were wasteful since they only end up in the garbage bin two days later,” I say, still smiling widely. Suddenly, talking about what an ass Manuel really is doesn’t seem too difficult, not with this huge bunch of cheerful, colorful flowers brightening our little kitchenette.

“He did pretty well for himself, didn’t he? He is an overpaid corporate attorney for heaven’s sake! And they’re not wasteful if they make you happy. What a cheapskate!” Penny says, disgust evident in her voice. “But you know who isn’t a cheapskate,” she says, winking at me suggestively.

“I can’t go out with him. Tell me it’s wrong. Tell me I shouldn’t be thinking of agreeing to his demands,” I beg.

“Well, technically, it’s not wrong, but darling, it’s so, so naughty,” she says with another broad grin. “If I had a sexy hot hunk of a boss trying to seduce me, I wouldn’t have played so hard to get.”

“That’s not what I’m doing!” I protest.

“I know, sweetie,” she sighs. “But will you promise me something?”

“What?”

“No matter what you decide, just enjoy this, alright? Don’t think too much. Allow yourself to feel happy. Don’t beat yourself up for liking it. You’re finally being treated the way you deserve to be treated,” she says, giving my hand a squeeze. I am so glad to have a friend like Penny in my life. I get up, walk around the island, and put my arms around her.

“Thank you. You’re the best,” I say, squeezing her.

“You’re welcome. And I know I’m the best,” she grins.

“And so modest,” I say, rolling my eyes as I go back to the stove.

“Enough yapping. Feed me already.”

Throughout the brunch, my eyes keep darting to the bouquet. I know I’m grinning from ear to ear. The heady perfume from the medley of flowers is turning my brain to mush. I know I’m in deep, deep trouble.

Later in the day

It’s almost evening. After a leisurely bath where I may or may not have imagined Lex in there with me, I’m lounging on the couch in my comfy PJs in front of the TV, watching one of my all-time favorite movies Sleepless in Seattle. But I’m hardly able to pay attention to the movie, probably because I keep grinning like an idiot and glancing around the living room.

Five more bouquets, each larger than the previous, are now occupying every available flat surface in our living room. I’ve been accepting flower deliveries every hour throughout the day. I’m trying to tell myself that I’m not all that charmed, but I am failing miserably. When the sixth bouquet arrived, I called Lex and told him to stop sending the flowers as I didn’t have any room left for them. He just said ‘okay’ and hung up, which was a bit disappointing. But I could hear the smile in his voice, and I’m sure as hell that he heard the smile in mine.

When the doorbell rings, I think it is another delivery. I jump out of the couch, eagerly rushing to the door. Despite what I said to Lex on the phone earlier, I was kind of hoping that he wouldn’t stop sending the flowers. I had even picked out a spot for the next one. If I angle the one on the center island just right, there might be space to squeeze in another one. Provided it’s not humungous.

I buzz the delivery guy in. This time, he’s holding a single long-stemmed red rose. But before he can hand it to me, it gets snatched out of his hand. My gaze follows the hand that’s holding the rose, up the strong, bare forearm with its light sprinkling of dark hair to the body that it is attached to. Even before I see his face, I already know it’s Lex.

“Lex.”

There’s a mile-wide grin on my face. He’s wearing a white polo shirt, open at the neck, and stone-washed jeans. This is the first time I’ve seen him wearing something other than a suit. Just looking at him is making my mouth water.

“Changed your mind yet?” he asks with his lopsided smile.

The flower guy is watching the exchange with interest. Lex fixes him with a stare, which makes him scramble for the stairs. Lex turns to look at me again.

“It’s wrong, Lex.” I try to sound serious, but my wide grin spoils the effect. I can’t help it. He hands me the rose and walks into the living room.

“Nice place,” he says, meaning it. When he sees the flowers, he looks terribly pleased with himself.

“Thanks. It’s not much, but I like it,” I say, my smile refusing to leave my face. I walk in behind him and shut the door.

He turns around and takes in my PJs. They’re pink and fuzzy, and match the fuzzy rabbit slippers. The robe I threw on earlier in the day is hanging open around my middle. In this outfit, the only exposed parts of me are my hands, neck, and face. Yet the way his hot, hot gaze travels leisurely down my body makes me feel as if I’m wearing the sexiest, skimpiest clothes on the planet. I’m tempted to fan my face.

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