Page 25 of Rosabel and the Billionaire Beast

“May I now remind you who was there after Scarlet slashed your tires?” I said. “And who gave your theme park a chance? Who gave you the brilliant idea of rebranding that has now paid off in the region of millions?”

Maddox’s laughter died off. “All right, all right. I guess I’m enjoying this a little too much. You’re just…you’re usually so closed off about personal stuff. This is kind of strange to me.”

“What else am I supposed to be?” I asked.

I’d never gotten this disgruntled over a woman before because I’d never allowed any woman to have this much sway over me. It only made sense that Rosabel would because despite my best efforts to push her away, despite my cutting remarks and snapping jaws, she’d wormed her way through my defenses.

She was craftier than the Trojan horse—and she hadn’t even tried.

It was just who she was. She was my heart’s perfect infiltrator. It was like she’d been designed to be my match in every way, even those I could never have imagined.

“Tell us what happened again,” Hawk said.

So I did. I told them the whole stupid situation with my grandma and mom, the whole preposterous, impulsive offer to date Rosabel, and her unapologetic, automatic rejection.

“Sounds like she needs help,” Maddox said.

I gaped at the goofy stripes behind Maddox, on the wall behind where he sat—he must be in his office—and grippedthe phone in my hand. Maddox’s statement wasn’t snarky or sarcastic. He sounded genuine.

“What makes you say that?” I asked.

Rosabel needed help? With what?

Maddox rested his hip against the rabbit cage. Inside, the white rabbit’s ears twitched.

“You said she wouldn’t quit before because she needed the money. That probably hasn’t changed. If her dad is sick, she is probably hurting right now, and you’re being well—you.”

I grunted. I hadn’t wanted to show compassion. I hadn’t…

I hadn’t…

“Dude,” Adrian chimed in, cutting into my thoughts. This time, sure enough, he cradled a small baby with dark hair wrapped in a blanket. “She probably couldn’t handle one more thing, and to have you throw a relationship at her? That was too much.”

I remained silent for several moments. Maddox and I had talked about women many times, but my friend had never displayed such sharp powers of deduction before.

Then again, he had changed quite a bit since marrying Adelie. I mean, the guy shopped for flowers now. And Adrian was holding babies.

But they were right. Rosabel had made herself vulnerable. She’d confessed something extremely stressful and difficult for her—and I’d been about as thoughtful as a conveyor belt on a machine.

“Since when did you get this perceptive?” I asked.

Maddox dusted his hands. “I’m only saying—sometimes, having someone else’s viewpoint on things can help you see it differently.”

I sifted through Maddox’s suggestions. There was Rosabel’s dad’s disease—I couldn’t do anything about that.

But I could offer something else.

“I can give her money,” I said. “If that’s what she needs.”

There was a pause.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Hawk asked.

“Sure.” My certainty grew by the minute. Boosted by the thought, I even rattled open my little container of Tic Tacs and popped an orange one into my mouth. “Money. Security. If that’s what she wants, I can do that. I’ll offer her a raise if she comes back.”

“I’m not sure that’s…”

“Thanks, guys. I’m glad we talked this out.”

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