Page 15 of Kiss Me, Mr. Bridge

“And what? Be single and miserable like you?” Niall’s lips curl into a sneer.

The club nearly snaps in my grip. Blood pounds in my ears, but I try to remain calm as I stare at Niall.

“That’s way out of line,” Zander steps between us, his voice sharp. “You need to apologize to Ronan.”

Fury courses through my veins and I could say so much to him right now. The man who claims to want the best for his daughter is trying to push her back into the arms of a cheating bastard.

But that’s because he’s the same kind of man.“

He doesn’t. I’m happy as I am. It could be worse.” I spin to Niall. “I could be married and miserable like you.”

“I have a very contended marriage,” he lies.

My teeth grind together as I fight to maintain control. “And I’m a billionaire.”Another lie. I’m rich, but I’m no billionaire.

“I’d be happy to be a dollar behind you,” Caleb says.

“You should be proud of Lucia. It’s quite admirable that she chose self respect and not money.” I can’t reveal how much I know about Lucia’s life, but I know enough from my daughter, Amelia.

“More the fool her,” her dad adds.

“I wouldn’t care how much money my daughter’s boyfriends have.” My voice drops low, dangerous. “As far as I’m concerned, a man who can’t keep his dick in his pants doesn’t deserve a second chance.”

“It was just a mistake—” Niall starts.

“Three times isn’t a mistake.” The words rip from my throat. “It’s a pattern.”

Niall’s face reddens. “And what would you know about relationships?”

The question hits like a punch to the gut. Here I am, planning to sleep with his daughter while criticizing another man’s morals. But this is different. Lucia and I have an agreement. No promises. No lies.

She turned me down twice before accepting.

The realization clicks. If she wanted my money, she would’ve jumped at the first offer. Instead, she fought it. Fought me.

“Look,” Zander steps forward. “This conversation is headed nowhere good. Why don’t we skip the back nine and grab a beer instead?”

“Best suggestion I’ve heard all morning.” Caleb’s already packing away his clubs. “And next week, you both need to take some chill pills.”

I exhale slowly, unclenching my fists. “Beer sounds good.”

“Fine.” Niall tosses his club into his bag with more force than necessary. “But I’m done discussing my daughter’s future. It’s nobody’s business.”

“Including yours.” I load my clubs into the buggy. “Lucia’s future is her business, not yours.”

The tension crackles between us as we pile into our respective buggies. Zander catches my eye, giving me a questioning look. I shake my head.

Not now.

We head back to the clubhouse in silence, the morning sun doing nothing to warm the ice in my veins. I need that beer. Need to forget about Lucia’s father and his outdated views on relationships.Her relationships.

I also need to know why I am being so damn defensive of a lady who’s supposed to be nothing more than a business arrangement.

But my mind keeps drifting to Lucia, to the softness of her skin, to how close I came to taste those lips.

At that moment, I wanted her–I can’t risk it again.

I need to get my head straight before I see her again.

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