Page 136 of The Playboy Billionaire

There’s a longer pause.

“And you don’t care?” Samuel pauses before adding, “Of course you don’t.” He laughs. “She was afraid to tell you. That you’d think less of her.”

I drop my chin to my chest.

My heart hurts that she couldn’t trust me with this, that she thought I’d think badly of her, but I’m starting to understand. She has spent so much of her life on her own, she can’t seem to see when people are there for her, like Di and Julian, Samuel.

“Never,” I say, and I hear him chuckle.

“I take it you told her that, and she clearly believes you, as she hasn’t turned up on my doorstep—yet.”

I run a hand through my hair, not wanting to tell him how close we’d come.

“It was touch and go,” I admit.

“Ah, but she stayed, that my friend, is major progress.”

“Not quite.”

A strange tingling spreads through my chest.

“What do you mean?”

“She’s moved into Scarlett’s apartment. She hasn’t kicked me out completely, but she needs to clear her head.”

“Shit, that woman is stubborn.”

I smile as Samuel is unaware of how much his words mean.

“She is. But I’m counting my blessings. She’s still talking to me,” I admit.

He laughs. “I think you’re being a little hard on yourself.”

I groan, making him laugh even harder.

“Believe me, Caleb. April does nothing she doesn’t want to do. If she’s chosen to talk to you, even if she’s moved out, then count that as a win.”

“Thank you,” I say.

“You’re good for my friend. If you weren’t, billionaire or not, I’d have kicked your ass by now.”

It’s my turn to chuckle. “I don’t doubt it.”

I like him. He’s straight-talking and has taken care of April.

“So, what do you know about Crawley?” I ask.

There’s a pause. “Not much, only what April told me. One of the girls at the club got a little too involved with his son. Apparently, they were going to elope. The girl disappeared. His son didn’t, so they didn’t elope.”

“He could have paid her off,” I add.

“Maybe, but I also know he was on the girls’bewarelist.”

“Beware list?” It didn’t take a rocket scientist to work out what that list was.

“I think you know what I mean. Crawley and his friends are wealthy, didn’t like to be told no.”

“Didn’t management step in?” I ask, my blood running cold. People in power take advantage of those they see beneath them yet again.

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