Page 208 of Billionaire Temptations

“Impressive. Your father can’t be that old.”

“He’s fifty-five. His philosophy was that he put in his time, built his company, and now it’s up to me to run it while he and his current wife travel the world.”

“Your parents are divorced?”

“Yes. Multiple times over.” He smiled. “My father is on his fifth wife, and my mother is on her fourth husband. I swear they compete with each other to see who can marry the most times before they die.”

“Wow. That’s crazy.”

He held up his glass to me. “Hence the reason I don’t believe in relationships.”

“Touché.” I smiled as I clanked my glass against his.

“I grew up watching my parents' bad relationships with each other and their significant others. Neither one of them has ever been happy.”

“I’m sorry. What about your sister? Is she also anti-relationship?”

“Not as bad as I am. She’s had her share of men, but now she let down her guard and fell in love with a doctor she met at the hospital. They’ve been dating a little over a year.”

“That must have been scary for her.”

“It was, but he treats her like a queen, and she’s happy. I just hope it lasts.”

“You don’t have to be in a relationship to be happy, " I said as I sipped my champagne. “Relationships have a way of taking a happy person and turning them miserable.”

“I fully agree. So, what about your parents?” he asked.

“I never knew my father, and my mother passed away a couple of years ago from cancer.”

“I’m sorry for your loss. Did she ever marry?”

“Oh God, no.” I laughed. “Hence the reason I am the way I am. She didn’t believe in relationships and dated many men over the years. She always told me that companionship is good, but relationships are bad. The minute a guy wanted to become serious, she dumped him. She was very career driven. Her business and I were her life.”

“What did she do?”

“She owned her own insurance company. Before she passed away, she sold it and put the money in an account for me. That’s how I was able to open my own shop.”

“Tell me if I’m being too personal, but what about your father? You said you never knew him. Did she ever talk about him?”

“The only thing she ever told me was that she wasn’t sure who my father was, and it didn’t matter because it was just the two of us, and that’s how it would always be.”

“Do you ever wonder?” he asked.

“I used to, but I haven’t in a long time. What’s the point?”

The corners of his mouth curved upwards as he picked up his glass.

“Here’s to enjoying life the way we want.”

“And staying single and happy.” I held up my glass to his.

After finishing dinner, Jackson paid the bill, and we stepped outside the restaurant. We stood there, facing each other amid the awkward moment phase. He slowly brought his hand up to my face.

“You are an incredibly beautiful woman, and I enjoyed having dinner with you.” He smiled.

“Thank you. I had a great time.”

“Would it be okay if I kissed you goodnight?”

---