Page 33 of Rosabel and the Billionaire Beast

I took a breath and tamped down my tone to keep my voice steady, patient, and controlled.

“What Iwantis time to think things over. This isn’t just a job you’re offering me. After working with you in the past, I’m not sure accepting would be all that smart. So, I’m going to think, and I’m going to make up my own list of demands. Goodbye, Duncan.”

Opening the front door, I ambled inside.

Duncan shuffled forward, gripping the screen’s handle. His expression was rattled. Almost panicky.

The sight struck my heart, but I couldn’t give in. This man was the definition of bossy. Expectant. Demanding and inconsiderate.

Even after buying me the punching bag, he didn’t care that it wasn’t something I wanted. Or even needed. He’d pushed the idea on me, not giving me much of a choice when he showed up wearing casual clothes and wielding a chain in one hand and a drill in the other.

What else was I supposed to do? Dad didn’t need that side of the garage anymore. I’d let Duncan hang it up just so he’d leave me alone about it.

Duncan was too used to walking all over me. That wasn’t going to happen this time. But I still couldn’t shake the expression on his face when I’d told him goodbye.

He’d looked fearful. What had him so afraid?

The next morning, I wasn’t at all surprised when Sarah showed up on my doorstep with a bag. I was, however, stunned by her added explanation of having been paid generously to move in for the next two months, rotating with two other nurses throughout that period.

Two months? How could Duncan’s grandma’s birthday party last that long? I’d been expecting a single weekend.

Well.

I hadn’t agreed—yet. I had to get Duncan’s word on a few things. I also needed to look into these other nurses. I wasn’t sure how I felt about additional strangers here on the regular.

Sure enough, when I opened my email during breakfast, the In-Home Angels care facility had sent me just that. I scoped out the list of ten or so nurses, taking careful note of each one as well as her credentials and even a few testimonials as to why each was qualified to be the caretaker I needed for Dad.

Dad sat at the kitchen table, hands on his knees as he stared at his slippers. I’d thought through my part of things and, on the off chance that my beastly boss agreed to my terms, had my belongings packed. There was a good chance Duncan wouldn’t accept, however; and I was ready for that likelihood, too.

If he didn’t, I’d just come home. I’d go back to working through my finances on my own.

I parked my suitcase near the door, and hugged Dad, breathing in his scent of soap.

“I’ll be back, Daddy,” I promised, pushing away a twang of worry. I just wished I had a better idea ofwhenthat would be.

He’ll be fine,I told myself.If this works out with Duncan, he’ll be getting the best care he’s ever had.

Dad’s distant, shrouded gaze swept the room before landing on me. “Henry? Where’s Henry?”

With a sad smile, I kissed his cheek, bade Sarah goodbye, and rolled my suitcase to my car, eyeing the punching bag hanging in its corner of the garage before tapping the button to close the large, clattering door.

For some reason, the line that Horace Vandergelder says inHello, Dolly!ran through my mind.

“Not in a million years, Duncan Hawthorne. You go your way, and I’ll go mine.”

Except in the movie, Horace was wearing Dolly’s feather boa, and while directing it “her way” and “his,” he gestured the boa in the same direction every time.

Like her waywashis way.

I shook the thought off. While I had to set down terms of my own before I decided whether or not I was going with him, I couldn’t accept Duncan’s offer of being his girlfriend. A relationship with him wouldn’t be possible. Not unless he changed the very fabric of who he was.

No one could change that much.

NINE

duncan

I pacedalong the runway’s asphalt beside my car while worst-case scenarios plagued my brain. No additional threats had come, but the ones I’d received still made me skittish. Overbearing. Obsessed with her well-being.

---