Page 69 of Phillip

Phillip’s molars clamped tighter, and his pulse thumped in his temples. “Ashley and her mother are nothing alike, and that’s a good thing in my book.”

Sean lifted his shoulders. “In her own weird way, Agatha is doing what she thinks is best for Ashley.” Sean tucked his hands into the pockets of his pressed khaki pants. “But I’m not what’s best for Ashley.”

“No shit.”

Sean snorted. “I guess you can see that pretty clearly, but it took her looking at you when I was being a jackass to see there was something there.” Again Sean cleared his throat, his discomfort becoming clearer with every word. “My point is this. I was out of line, doing Agatha’s bidding, with the incentive of a connection with the Cartwrights.”

“You don’t need a merger of families to succeed,” Phillip managed between sealed teeth.

Sean shook his head. “Spoken like a true billionaire who wants for nothing.”

“You have no idea about me.”

“I don’t know how much of a difference a few hundred million versus a billion makes.” Sean paced the length of the small makeshift office and stopped in front of a row of promotional gift bags. Fliers were stacked in each, and he pulled the heavy glossy paper out. It was an informational sheet on Phillip’s nonprofit. The top of the promo featured a group of kids at his camp, huddled together for the camera. The text underneath explained how they’d all lost their families. Sean read the front, then flipped the paper and put it back into the bag. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I don’t know you.”

The door opened. Ashley and Mary Beth bounced in. Their energetic conversation choked silent.

“Ashley, I’m glad you’re here,” Sean said, walking from the gift bags.

Color drained from her face, and before Phillip could reassure her that all would be okay, Sean continued. “I owe you an apology.”

Phillip stopped abruptly. Mary Beth’s eyes rounded, but Ashley’s shocked expression fell prey to her impeccable manners. Her color snapped back as she simultaneously accepted the apology and explained that it wasn’t needed.

Mary Beth beckoned for Phillip as she backed toward the door. “I think that we need to check on the—”

Ashley caught Mary Beth by the arm, preventing her escape. Even if she had left, Phillip had no intention of going anywhere.

Sean took a step closer to Ashley. “I should have let you know that I planned to come to King Harbor to meet with your mother, but it didn’t occur to me. I was in a business frame of mind.”

“She called you?” Ashley asked him quietly.

He nodded. “She did.”

Her fingers flexed into Mary Beth’s arm, and Phillip contained a protective urge to end the conversation.

“What did she say?” she asked.

“Not much.”

Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say. Ashley marched forward, morphing from uncertain to pissed. “Tell me what she said.”

Phillip stepped between Ashley and Sean. “Easy. Take a breath.”

“She deserves to know,” Sean said.

Phillip was never sure about anything to do with her mother.

“He might be right, Phillip,” Mary Beth said.

He hadn’t put this to a vote, damn it. But he was outnumbered and wearily stepped an inch back, still hovering close in case Ashley forgot those manners her mother had drilled into her and decided to slug Sean. Someone had to be close enough to ice his girl’s hand.

Sean offered a flat, thin-lipped expression. “I wasn’t looking for romance when we met. I was in business mode, and I wanted a wife.”

Ashley’s lips parted as she sucked in a small gasp.

“And I knew that you didn’t want that role before you ended things. But I’m a man, and you’re gorgeous—”

“Watch yourself,” Phillip interrupted.

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