Page 89 of Billionaire Temptations

“Fine so far. You didn’t tell me that Alex Parker wastheAlex Parker.”

“To be honest, I didn’t think about it. Does it matter?”

“No. But his house is like a mansion.”

“Yeah. It’s pretty cool, isn’t it? Hey, are you okay being there? I mean, back in California?”

Oh, now he asks.

“No. Not really, and to be honest, I’m really pissed at you for making me come back here.”

“You need to put the past behind you, Em. I know it’s hard, but you have to move on with your life.”

“I have moved on, Adam! I just chose not to move on here. This conversation goes the same way every time. I have to go.”

I was getting tired, so I cleaned up and headed to my bedroom. After changing into my pajamas, I opened the French doors to let the breeze blow into the room. Climbing into bed, I pulled the sheet over me and stared out into the night, listening to the waves as they crashed against the shore.

I had always beenan early riser. As far as I was concerned, there wasn’t one minute of the day to be wasted. Climbing out of bed, I slipped into my crème-colored, short silk robe and stepped outside on the patio off my room, breathing in the fresh morning air and looking out into the ocean. A smile crossed my face when I saw two dolphins in the water.

I went into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. I jumped when my phone started to ring. Who the hell would be calling me this early? Oh. It was Billy.Shit. I answered it and put it on speaker as I took the eggs from the refrigerator.

“Hello.”

“Where the hell are you, Em? I went to your place last night, and you were gone. I tried calling your phone, but it went straight to voicemail.”

“I’m in California and turned my phone off last night.”

“California! What the hell are you doing there, and why didn’t you tell me you were going?”

“I had to come here for my brother and forgot to mention it.”

“Baby, please don’t lie to me. I’m sorry for the other night. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“You didn’t upset me, and I’m not lying.”

I cracked the eggs in the pan, put a piece of bread in the toaster, and began to slice up some avocados.

“Baby, when are you coming home? We need to sit down and have a serious talk.”

Alex walked into the kitchen, looked at my phone, and then at me.

“I’m not coming back to Texas, Billy.”

“What the fuck do you mean you’re not coming back to Texas?!” he yelled.

“Do you not understand English?”

I saw Alex smirk.

“It’s over between us, Billy. I’m over Texas. I told you to begin with that I probably wasn’t staying very long.”

“But, Em, what about us? We had plans, damn it!”

“You had plans, Billy. Plans that you were making without talking to me first. You were assuming a whole lot of things.”

“So, you’re just going to walk away from our relationship? Do you have any idea how bad I’m hurting right now, baby?”

“For God's sake, stop calling me ‘baby,’ and I’m sorry if I hurt you. I’m moving on, Billy, and I suggest you do the same.”

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