Page 97 of Pucking Billionaire

He clears his throat. “The day I start giving my clients relationship advice is the day I’m going to burn my law degree.”

“I wasn’t… never mind. I’ve got to go.” I hang up and rush outside to hail a cab.

Suddenly, a Bugatti Bolide comes to a screeching halt next to the sidewalk.

I gape as Sophia emerges from it, her brown eyes zeroed in on me.

“Hi,” I say stupidly.

“Hi,” she replies.

“I’m sorry,” we say in unison, and then we just stand there, staring at each other.

The way my heart is hammering in my chest, you’d think I’ve just gone through the whole rink on a single breath and scored a goal. What is Sophia thinking? Is her mind in the same kind of turmoil as mine?

I clear my throat. “Ladies first? Or is it more gentlemanly for me to explain myself?”

She swallows. “I’m not sure where to even start.”

“Well, I do.” I take a deep breath. “I’m sorry if it sounded like I was threatening Abigail’s dream job. I would never do that, no matter what happens to the team, or between us.”

Sophia bites her lip. “I’m sorry about that too. I didn’t think you would… after I gave it a second of thought, that is. That’s just not like you.”

“Thank you.”

I’m not even sure if I agree that getting the team no matter the cost is “not like me.” It’s just that I wouldn’t do something like that if Sophia was in any way involved.

“You’re welcome.” She steps closer. “I shouldn’t have run from the cruise. And I should’ve told you about Rupert—or at least said something like, ‘I had a shitty long-term relationship and don’t want to talk about it.’”

When I hear the fucker’s name, my fists clench and unclench, a gesture she clearly notices, judging by the way her gaze flicks to my hands.

I do my best to relax them. “I understand why you didn’t.” At least I think I do. “He hurt you.”

“It’s not just that. I was stupid. And gullible. I let myself be used and?—”

I clasp her shoulders. “You don’t have to go into it right now if you don’t want to,” I say softly. “You can tell me whenever you’re ready. Or not tell me at all. It’s up to you.”

And what she says or doesn’t say will determine just how many of the fucker’s bones I will break. But that’s a decision for later.

Her eyes gleam brighter. “Okay. But again, I am sorry. And I shouldn’t have assumed the worst of?—”

I stop her with a kiss. One that continues in the elevator to my apartment and culminates in a long, steamy session in my bedroom.

We’re still wrapped around each other when a jungle creature pounces on my feet and nibbles playfully on my toes.

“Spike!” I say sternly, untangling myself from Sophia to sit up and give my cat a glare.

He gives me the most innocent look ever and strolls over the blankets to Sophia to give her chin a furry rub—the ultimate feline complement. Grinning, she pets him, and a rush of warm emotions overwhelms me.

This feels so right, having her here at my place, playing with my cat in my bed. This is where she belongs… with me. Forever.

Sophia is still petting Spike when her gaze catches mine, her expression peculiarly uncertain. “So… there’s something you said in Jamaica that I wanted to talk to you about… That, and when you said that there was something between us. Something real. Something special.”

My heart picks up its pace again. “You mean when I told you how I feel about you?”

She sucks in a breath. “So… you were talking to me?”

I stare at her. “Who else?”

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