Page 38 of Flirting with My Billionaire Enemy

“I was going to propose to her. I’d already picked out the ring.”

A voice rings out from across the pool area. “And let’s just say he dodged that bullet.”

I look over to see Mom hobbling over on crutches. I get out of the hot tub immediately and grab a towel, rushing to her side. “Mom, what are you doing, moving around like that?”

“I got bored. There’s nothing good to watch on tv, and my phone needs to charge. What else was I supposed to do?”

“Read a book?” I suggest.

“This is much more interesting. What are you two doing out here in the hot tub, anyway? This doesn’t look like much of a work meeting.”

It looks like we’ve been busted. At least she didn’t come in a few minutes ago. It could have been a lot worse. But still, it’s not great that Mom’s seeing us together like this. Beyond the fact that it looks unprofessional, I don’t need Mom getting any ideas about matching us up. She’ll never let me live this down, and it’ll be all I hear about for who knows how long.

“We actually just kind of bumped into each other in here,” I say. Technically, it’s the truth. We hadn’t planned to go in the hot tub together. But being this close to Ariana has been too much to bear.

“That would explain why I couldn’t find either one of you.”

I lead her over to one of our cushioned patio chairs and drag over another chair and a couple of throw pillows to prop her leg up with. “There,” I say when she’s all situated. “How’s that?”

“I’m fine.” She waves me away. “Now tell me. When are the two of you getting together, after all?”

I nearly choke. “Mom, we can’t get together. It wouldn’t be professional.” I keep my voice low because I don’t want to hurt Ariana’s feelings. She’s still sitting in the hot tub with her back to us, scrolling through her phone. But then she gets up and towels off.

“I’m going to head to my room. You guys have a good night,” she says.

We wave goodbye to her and then return to our conversation.

“I don’t see anything wrong with it. Look at Weston and Callie. It all worked out for them.”

“They got lucky. Who’s to say we’d be lucky like that?” But who am I kidding? I’m getting involved with Ariana, whether I like it or not. My heart has already decided that for me.

“You’re telling her about picking out a ring for that low-class ex-girlfriend of yours, and you’re saying you have to keep things professional? Haven’t you already crossed that line?”

She has a point. Not that I’m going to tell her that and add fuel to her fire.

“Even if we weren’t coworkers, Ariana wouldn’t want to be with me. She’s made that perfectly clear.”

“Why ever not?” Mom says it like she thinks Ariana is out of her mind from not already falling head over heels for me.

“She thinks I’m a player.”

“Well, honey, that’s just because you were trying to sort your feelings out. There’s nothing wrong with taking some time to date around a bunch.”

“That’s not how you and Dad made it sound at the time. As I recall, you sent me over to Dubai to reform.”

“We needed you to handle our office over there.”

But we both know the truth. I was in so much pain and wasn’t making the best choices. I’m not proud of everything I’ve done in my past. I wasn’t perfect by any stretch. I’m still not. But I’m not a heartless jerk either. I was so loyal to my ex. I never even flirted with anyone while I was with her all four years of college.

That’s what Ariana doesn’t see about me. She’s painted me as this scoundrel in her mind, but that’s not who I am at the core.

And I don’t know how to prove that to her.

* * *

Ariana and I get started early the next morning. After working for a couple of hours, I glance at the coffee maker and say, “Do you want to go into town and grab a cup of coffee and some muffins or something?”

“Sure.” She grabs her purse. “Want to drive over there together? We can take my car.”

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