Page 255 of Billionaire Temptations

“What man? Did he hurt you?” he asked in a stern voice.

I looked down and shook my head, and I was again in the safety of his arms.

“Calm down, Emily, and tell me what happened.”

I swallowed hard and took in a deep breath.

“This man and his wife came into the shop about a month ago. They were visiting from Seattle. He kept staring at me the whole time they were there, and when his wife was in the fitting room, he walked over and asked me if I knew Karen Wade. I told him she was my mother, and he said he knew her and I had her smile. He came back to the shop just a little bit ago and told me that I might be his daughter.”

“What? But your mother always told you that she didn’t know who your father was.”

“That’s what I told him before I threw him out of my shop.”

Jackson led me over to his office's plush black leather couch and sat me down.

“He said that he didn’t blame my mother for never mentioning him and that he had to live with the decision he made for the past twenty-seven years. He also said that she was the love of his life.”

“Do you believe him?” he asked.

“I don’t know. I kept playing the conversation over and over in my head on the way here.”

“Obviously, he has a reason to believe he could be your father. A man wouldn’t just go up to someone and say shit like that. Why did you throw him out?”

“Because I was in shock! It isn’t every day some stranger comes to you and claims to be your parent. What do I do?” I laid my head on his chest as he put his arm around me.

“Do you want my honest opinion? Or do you want me to tell you what you want to hear?”

“Does it matter?”

“No.” He kissed my head. “I think you owe it to him and yourself to hear him out. Like I said, there’s a reason he believes it. I know you’re in shock, and when the shock wears off, you’ll be able to process all of this better.”

What he said made sense. There had to be a reason why he would believe I could be his daughter. My mother never mentioned a man named Gregory, and now I was beginning to question why.

“Thanks, Jackson.” A small smile crossed my lips as I lifted my head from his chest.

His thumbs gently wiped away the tears from under my eyes.

“You’re welcome. You’re hot when you cry. Did you know that?” He smiled.

“I didn’t but thank you.” I lightly laughed. “I should get back to the shop.”

“What time are you going to be home tonight?” he asked as I got up from the couch.

“Probably around six thirty.”

“Good. I’m coming over as soon as I leave here.”

“It’s not our scheduled night.”

He shrugged. “Then we’ll make it one. I’ll bring Chinese, and we can sit back, relax, and talk.”

“No sex?” I arched my brow at him.

“Now, now, Miss Wade. Is no sex ever an option when we’re together?”

“Just making sure.” I smiled as I kissed his lips and then walked out the door.

I had never run into the arms of a man when I was upset. But he was the first person I needed, and I was happy that I ran to him. He made me feel safe, and I knew he’d make me feel better just by talking to him.

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