Page 10 of One Hot Chase

"Are you and Declan Wilde dating?" Roger asks curiously.

"No, absolutely not. I just met him yesterday, and he's been nothing but rude to me."

"What? I can't believe that."

Great. It seems like even Roger is a fan of Declan, just like that constable. Instead of getting into a debate about his supposed charm, I take a different approach go for politeness. "Do you know Declan personally? I don't. Everyone seems to love him, though."

"Yeah, everyone does. He's a good man. One of the best."

"What does he do for a living?"

Roger continues driving with one hand on the wheel while he turns to face me. "Declan Wilde isn't your average playboy. He's actually one of the most generous philanthropists in England. And he's a successful digital entrepreneur too."

"I've never heard of that. What does a digital entrepreneur do?"

"Lots of things." Roger navigates around a corner, then explains. "Sir Declan's company discovers podcasters and helps them find their niche. But he also gives struggling online storefronts a boost with grants. He nurtures social media influencers too, and he also finds and hires computer wizards who've lost their jobs. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. He only takes a minimal salary for himself."

What?! Thats's what I want to shout, but I stop myself out of politeness. The jackass is also a do-gooder? It's hard for me to wrap my head around this new information. "What kind of playboy is Declan?"

"He loves women, but he always treats them with respect. 'Playboy' isn't really the right word for him. Declan Wilde isn't like anyone else."

No kidding. Have I completely misjudged him? No, he was stalking me. And it seems like he plans to keep on doing that.

On the way to Trafalgar Square, Roger and I talk about everything except for Declan. The driver is delighted when I mention that my sister is marrying a British man.

"Will she move here?" Roger asks. "I assume your parents are in the States."

"Yeah, they own a lovely antique shop in Asheville, North Carolina. But Tabitha won't be relocating to England. She works with her fiancé, Spencer, at a company in Arlington, Virginia."

"He won't get to see his family much, eh?"

"Oh, he can visit them anytime he wants and vice versa. Spencer has friends who are super rich, including two billionaires."

Roger grins at me. "Are you having me on? Billionaires?"

"It's true. Diana Hahn, formerly Diana Sangster, married an American man and they live here in London. Then there's Evan MacTaggart, who mostly lives in Utah with his American wife but also visits Scotland from time to time."

He chuckles. "No wonder you were staying at the Savoy. Did your mates pay for your holiday?"

"Yep." Should I tell Roger about my mission? He's so nice, and maybe he could help. "Okay, this might sound crazy, but I'm actually in England to find my PC."

"Somebody stole your computer?"

"No, no. I mean my Perfect Catch, aka my PC."

"Oh, I see. Declan would be perfect for a sweet girl like you."

How do I tell Roger how much of a jerk Declan really is without hurting his feelings? It's clear that he's a big fan of that asshat. But can I really blame him? Declan can be charming when he wants to be, like when he seduced me last night. Maybe I should try the diplomatic approach. "Actually, Declan isn't really my type. No offense to him. I just have certain criteria for my PC and he doesn't quite fit the mold."

"Fair enough." Roger slows down as we approach our destination. "Where should I drop you off, lovey?"

"Hmm, as close as possible to the cool statues and museums, if you don't mind."

"Sounds good," he says as we navigate a traffic circle and reach our destination. "Here you go, Sabrina. On your right is the Equestrian Statue of King Charles the First. And on your left, you'll see all the famous Trafalgar Square monuments."

"Thank you so much, Roger." I hand him some money, making sure to give him a generous tip for his kindness and great conversation during the ride. "I really enjoyed talking with you."

"The pleasure was all mine, Sabrina." He hands me his business card. "Give me a ring if you need another ride."

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