Page 54 of The Kiss that Captured a Billionaire
“Thank you. I like it,” she said.
He frowned, his gaze sweeping over her face. “You bought this… thing?” he asked, waving his hand at it.
She glanced over her shoulder at the van as if it was a beloved pet. “I did. Isn’t she beautiful?”
“Beautiful?” He stared at her like she’d just announced she’d joined a traveling circus. “It looks like it was painted by a kindergarten class high on drugs.”
“I said it looked like the Mystery Machine,” Nikos piped up. “Hi, Rose.”
“Nikos. Still shopping for friends under a rock, I see,” she said with a fake smile before the smile faded and she looked back at him. “She has character, and she’s mine—bought and paid for. No one can write a check and leave mehomelessagain.”
“It’s not what you think,” he muttered.
“Oh? Did I misunderstand when you said you were going to call Mimi and quote ‘tell her if the theatre wants a charitable donation, she’ll have to terminate Rose’s living and working arrangements. Immediately.’ Or, what else did you say, Theo? That it was inevitable? You’re right—it is. It was inevitable that I would be leaving you when I found out what a toad you are.”
“I can explain,” he growled in frustration.
Rose’s eyes flicked to Nikos when he muttered, “I can’t wait to hear this train wreck.”
“Go take a walk, Nikos,” she snapped at the same time as Theo scowled at his friend and said, “You’re not helping!”
Nikos raised his hands and stepped toward the van. “I’ll just go check out Rose’s new home.”
Theo muttered another curse and ran both hands through his hair. “I can’t believe you gave up the chance to stay with me for—for that thing.”
Her eyes glittered. “Thatthingis better than trading my life for billionaire bullshit.”
Theo’s jaw tightened. “Billionaire…? You left without giving me a chance to?—”
“What? Explain? Manipulate me some more?” She took a deliberate step back, as if his very presence was something toxic. “No thanks. I’ve moved on. Greener pastures. Less… Greek tycoon drama.”
“Greener pastures?” He took a step forward. “What does that mean? With whom?”
As if summoned by the universe to answer the question, a tall, broad-shouldered man with shaggy brown hair appeared from the house carrying a box. Robby Evans. Theo recognized him from the blurry traffic cam photo.
Robby strolled over, his dark brown eyes cool, and without breaking stride, slipped the box under one beefy arm while wrapping the other around Rose’s shoulders where he pulled her close. It was casual, but the message in his glare was as subtle as a neon sign:She’s mine.
Theo’s pulse ticked up several notches.
“Who’s your friend?” Robby asked.
Rose’s lips pursed. “Just someone who took a wrong turn. He’s leaving.”
Nikos whistled and muttered under his breath, “This is gonna be good.”
Theo ignored him—and Robby. His focus was on Rose. “We’re not done.”
She tilted her head. “We are now.”
“You’re on private property, Kallistratos. You might want to take your SUV and head back to whatever marble palace you crawled out of. Rose doesn’t want you here,” Robby said, nodding his head towards the driveway.
Theo’s lips curved—not in humor, but in the smile that made grown men reconsider their life choices. “I didn’t come this far to turn around.”
Rose’s scowl deepened. “Then be prepared to be disappointed,” she snapped, twisting and walking away.
Theo balled his fists as Nikos stared with wide, amused eyes. Robby offered a nod filled with smugness. A soft curse escaped Theo as the broad-shouldered man put the box of treats he'd carried out into the van, then rushed after Rose.
She looked at him like he was poison. For a heartbeat, he believed it—before his pride smothered the doubt.
