Page 35 of Falling for Mr. Grump, the Big City Billionaire

...Probably.

I groan again. It's going to be a long night.

Chapter nine

TROY

The incessant buzzing of my phone jolts me awake. I groan, fumbling for it on the nightstand. The clock reads 6:00. Who the hell is calling at this ungodly hour?

I squint at the screen. Mona. Of course.

"What?" I growl into the phone, not bothering with pleasantries.

"Good morning to you too, sunshine," my sister's voice drips with sarcasm. "Glad to see Seaside Cove hasn't softened you."

I sit up, running a hand through my hair. "What do you want, Mona?"

"An update, dear brother. The board is getting antsy. They want to know when we can expect to close this deal."

I feel a knot forming in my stomach. The deal. Right. The whole reason I'm here in this quaint little town that's starting to feel less like a prison and more like...

No. I can't think like that.

"I'm working on it," I say, trying to inject some confidence into my voice. "These things take time."

She sighs. "Time is money, Troy. You know that better than anyone. We need this deal closed, and we need it closed yesterday."

I pinch the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on. "I know, I know. Just... give me a little more time."

"Fine. One week, Troy. That's all you get. Your time there is coming to an end. After that, we're sending in the lawyers."

The call ends before I can respond. I flop back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. One week. One week to either crush this town's dreams or...

Or what? Throw away everything I've worked for? Disappoint my family? Ruin our company's expansion plans?

I groan, covering my face with my hands. When did everything get so complicated?

The image of Skye's smile flashes through my mind, and I feel that now-familiar warmth in my chest. Skye. The biggest complication of all.

That night's almost-kiss plays on repeat in my head. The way she looked in the moonlight, the softness in her eyes, the electricity between us. Oh, how I wanted to kiss her. I still do.

But I can't. I'm here to buy out her beloved town, for crying out loud. If she knew the truth...

A knock on my door interrupts my brooding. I frown, checking the time again. 6:30 AM. Who could it be?

I drag myself out of bed, not bothering to put on a shirt, before opening the door.

And there she is. Skye. Looking unfairly beautiful in the early morning light, her dark curls a wild halo around her face.

Her eyes widen as they take in my bare chest, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "Oh! I... uh... sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."

I lean against the doorframe, suddenly very aware of my state of undress. "It's fine. I was up. What's going on?"

Skye tears her eyes away from my chest, clearing her throat. "Right. Um, I was wondering if you wanted to grab breakfast? I know this great little place down by the beach. Best waffles you've ever had, I promise."

I blink, surprised. Is she asking me out? On a breakfast date?

The responsible part of my brain screams at me to say no. To remember why I'm here, to keep my distance. But my traitorous mouth has other ideas.

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