Page 51 of A Billionaire Gentleman

As conversation began to flow more naturally, I sat back and let it move on around me. Maybe it would be better for everyone if I left tomorrow and stayed away. Deklin would get over me, and the family would heal without me here.

Jude wanted the best for his family, and that had never included me. I was merely a means to an end, and the longer I was here, the more danger I was in of forgetting it.

By the time the presents had been opened and the cake cut, I was determined to talk to Jude alone. I got my chance when he picked up some dishes and carried them into the kitchen. I grabbed the closest ones to me and followed.

“May I have a minute of your time?” I asked.

“Of course.” Jude’s smile reminded me of Deklin’s, and my courage faltered. “What can I do for you?”

“I have a visit with Dallas tomorrow evening. I need to be back in Vegas that afternoon at the latest to get my place ready.”

“All right. I’ll arrange for the plane to be ready first thing and my driver will take you to the airport whenever you’re ready. Will you be coming back Monday night or Tuesday morning?”

Never.

That was what I needed to say. What I intended to say.

But what came out was, “I’m not sure yet. I’ll need to check in with my parole officer, and it depends on what she says.”

Jude nodded. “I’ll let the pilot know to be on stand-by then.”

He left, and I was still trying to say that I was done. Maybe he knew that, and that’s why he hurried away. Or maybe he just knew that I wasn’t ready for this to be over.

Not wanting anyone to see how annoyed I was at myself, I didn’t go back to the sitting room where everyone had moved after dinner. Instead, I headed for the bathroom across from the library, figuring I could steal a few minutes in there to compose myself.

As I reached the library door, however, the sound of men’s voices stopped me.

“How did you go from being engaged to someone you hadn’t even kissed to sleeping with Grandad’s assistant?” Damon sounded amused.

“You’re the one who said that Aurelia deserved better,” Deklin said. “Are you really giving me shit about breaking up with her?”

“Not at all, Dek. I’m glad you took my advice and decided to live a little before settling down. Sofi seems great. Really different from Aurelia, which is what you need right now. You’re young. Have some fun.”

I turned around and walked away before Deklin answered. I didn’t want to hear him agree with what Damon was saying. I wasn’t mad, not at Damon or Deklin. It wasn’t as if Damon was belittling me or anything like that. He just saw that Deklin and I were casual because there wasn’t anything else to see. He might not have known what his grandfather had done, but he knew I wasn’t the person Deklin would settle down with.

That was fine.

That was how things were meant to be, after all. Get Deklin past Aurelia and then get on with my own life.

None of the truth was enough to ease the ache in my chest, and I knew I needed this to be done sooner rather than later. I was starting to fall for Deklin, and if I waited too long, I’d cross that line and break my own heart.

Thirty

Deklin

The birthday partywent better than I’d thought it would. Dad and Ronall were still pissed, but I couldn’t really blame them. At least now, I knew Aurelia was okay. She was the only one whose feelings really mattered in this. Well, hers and Sofi’s. As long as the two of them weren’t mad at me, I could handle anything else.

Sofi.

She’d haunted my dreams last night, but my bed had been empty. I’d gone back home last night, but not because I’d wanted to. I’d known that if I’d stayed at Grandad’s again, I wouldn’t be able to keep myself out of Sofi’s room.

I wasn’t strong enough to avoid temptation so close, and I knew we needed some space if things between us were going to last. And despite what my brother may have thought, I wanted this to work.

It didn’t make waking up with an erection so hard it hurt any easier, though. Seeing Dad sitting at the table when I came down for breakfast was enough to kill it. I nodded a greeting and went to pour myself some coffee, fully expecting him to start lecturing. Instead, he waited until I sat down to speak, and what he said wasn’t what I’d imagined.

“I expect you in my office first thing to report all of your findings from Las Vegas. If you ride with me, you’ll have a few minutes to settle in your office before the presentation.”

“My what?” I stared at him, my mug of coffee stopped halfway to my mouth.

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