Page 22 of “Not” Engaged to the Grumpy Billionaire

“You have no idea how much I know about you, Liz.”

My heart skips a beat, and for a moment, I don’t know what to say, but I dare to ask, “Like what?”

Without missing a beat, he rattles off three key moments that have happened since I left Ocean Bay.

“You graduated top of your class in accounting, landed an internship at that firm in the city... and didn’t you win some award for your research on financial forecasting?”

I’m stunned. “How do you even know all that?”

He shrugs, looking almost... smug.

“Bryan talks. You’re his sister, and whether you believe it or not, you’ve always been someone worth knowing.”

My chest tightens, and for a second, I forget how to breathe. How could he know so much about me? And why does it feel like those words are something more than casual knowledge?

I quickly recover, forcing a smile.

"So, I'm curious. Again, why aren't you working for your brother? I'm sure he would fit you in any of his companies."

“Well, I didn’t want to work for Bryan because... well, he’s too protective. He’d never let me learn anything if I was working under him. I needed space to figure things out on my own.”

Nate’s gaze softens, and he gives me a look so intense it makes my skin tingle.

“I’d do the same if I were him.”

His voice is low, almost a rumble, and there is something dark in his eyes that sends a shiver down my spine. My mouth goes dry, and I need to look away, my heart hammering in my chest.

I dare to ask, “What do you mean by that?”

But, just as quickly, Nate's expression changes. He looks away and the moment slips away.

“What about those tasks I asked you to complete?”

I blink, thrown off by the sudden shift.

“Oh, right... let me check.” I fumble with my notepad, trying to focus, but my mind is still reeling from the way he looked at me a few moments ago. Whatever that was... it was dangerous.

And part of me isn’t sure if I want it to stop.

Chapter six

Nate

The past week has felt like the longest of my life. Liam finally caught the person who helped my secretary steal from the company. It was her damn boyfriend. It was a mess, but I'm thankful that they hadn’t caused any permanent damage. The money is being recovered, and with Bryan’s help, the board never caught wind of it. It should be a relief, but somehow, I still cannot shake the tension I’ve been carrying for days.

From the kitchen window, I watch Liz and Max out in the backyard, laughing as they play some game I can’t quite figure out. Max is running in circles, Liz chasing him with Boomer weaving between them. They’ve been at it for almost an hour, and I swear I can watch them all day.

Liz moves with such ease, her long hair tied up in a loose ponytail that bounces every time she runs. She’s wearing one of those casual, summery dresses that flutters around her legs as she sprints across the yard. Max squeals as Liz pretends to be a monster or something, her fingers wiggling in the air like claws.

I can’t help the small smile that tugs at my lips. Max is usually a happy kid, but with Liz, it’s different. There’s a lightness in him I haven’t seen in a long time. He laughs more. He smiles more. Heck, he even talks more. And Liz? Well, she’s been the kind of presence I didn’t know we needed. Steady. Warm. Effortlessly fitting into our lives.

My eyes linger on her longer than they should. She’s beautiful no denying that, but it’s more than that. There’s something about the way she looks at Max, the way she laughs, the way she’s so completely unguarded that makes me feel... well, makes me feel things I’m not ready to feel. Not again.

I want to join them. I can picture it, me running around with them, laughing, forgetting about all the crap I’ve been dealing with. But I know if I do, I am risking more than breaking a sweat. I am risking breaking down the walls that I have carefully built around myself for years. And if I let Liz in, even just a little, I’m not sure I’ll be able to close myself off again.

I jump as I hear the soft creak of the kitchen door. Sue walks in, wiping her hands on a dish towel. She gives me a knowing smile, following my gaze out the window.

"Why don’t you join them?" she asks, her voice gentle but pointed.

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