Page 95 of Rosabel and the Billionaire Beast

“It’s a good thing you brought me along, then, isn’t it? I’m great at shopping, and if I’m not mistaken, we passed by several adorable shops on our way through town. Let’s see what we can find for her.”

“I don’t know, Rosie.”

Withdrawing her hand, she slowed, her eyes centered on the colorful tiles adorning the tabletop. “You know, my dad used to call me that.”

“Rosie?”

“Yes. Plenty of others have tried calling me that, but I always correct them.”

I shifted in my seat. I’d been calling her that for a while and she’d never mentioned dislike of it before.

“Why don’t you correct me?” I asked.

“I have before,” she said. “I don’t know. I guess I feel like it’s something to verify the new friendship we’ve developed during this trip. If you call me Rosie, then I’ll call you Dunc.”

She grinned as if knowing how ridiculous this sounded.

“Don’t call me Dunc.”

Plenty of people had before—my friends used it regularly—but that nickname was almost as ridiculous as having her name the dimple on my cheek that I hated.

The waitress returned with Rosabel’s card. Needing something to do, I took a long swig from my glass. The cool water perspired down the cup’s side, wetting my hand along with my mouth.

“Hey, look,” she said with a little twist to her mouth. “You’re drinking the water here.”

I chuckled. “Think it’ll cure me?”

“I’m not sure anything is strong enough to fix what’s wrong with you.” Her eyes danced.

I dipped my hand into the cup and flicked some water at her. She retreated with a gasp, her full lips parting in surprised delight.

She was beautiful, but that wasn’t all I saw in her in that moment. Her kindness, the connection we were sharing, worked wonders for my entire outlook.

She was so much more to me. If I’d had this conversation with anyone else—Mom, Dad, even Maddox—they would have pointed out my flaws at every turn. My family had certainly launched every particle of blame they could at me.

Rosabel didn’t do that. She pointed out my imperfections, sure, but she hadn’t done that to be nasty. Something told me she’d done it to help me.

I wasn’t sure how to tell her what that meant to me, not without crossing this line I’d drawn for myself.

Tucking her wallet back into her purse, Rosabel stood. She crossed to my side and offered me that hand of hers.

“Come on, grump. Let’s find her a present and see if we can’t cheer you both up.”

Her hand was right there. Logically, I knew I had to keep fighting the battle, yet something other than logic took over.

I acted on impulse.

Without thinking, I took her hand. And almost as if someone other than me was driving the action, I brought it to my lips. It felt so natural, so right, I couldn’t regret it.

I heard Rosabel inhale a sharp gasp, but she didn’t pull away.

She should have.

She should never have let me get close to her at all. If I’d only known how much harm doing so would cause, I would never have allowed myself that little liberty.

TWENTY-FIVE

rosabel

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