Page 3 of Her Billionaire Boss
“I know.But it makes me feel guilty.”She wiped her eyes on the back of her hand again, and for the first time, I noticed her clothes.She couldn’t dab away her tears with her sleeve, because there weren’t any sleeves on her shirt; the tiniest little spaghetti straps held up the thin cotton camisole.Goosebumps textured her thighs below the legs of her microscopic shorts.
It was possibly the first time in my life that I wanted to put more clothes on a beautiful woman.“Are you cold?”
“Why is your air conditioning on full blast?”she snapped.
“Because I knew there would be a blazing hottie in here later.”I gave her a ribbing nudge with my elbow.
She laughed through her tears.“Oh my god, that’s awful.You’re awful.I don’t know why I came back here.”
“Because you’re madly in love with me.And I know that scares you to death.But I’m not going anywhere.”I took her hand and brought it to my lips.“And I hope you’re not, either.”
“I’m not,” she said, sniffling.“I promise.”
“Good.”I slapped my palms on my knees and grabbed my cane to help me push myself up.“Come with me.”
“Okay,” she said warily.
We walked to the elevator in silence.I didn’t want to make her feel worse than she already did, but I also felt like a few moments of uncertainty and discomfort were a small price to pay for taking off like she had.We rode up to my bedroom.As we passed our closets, I remarked, “Your clothes missed you.”
That got a laugh out of her, and God, did I ever love to make her laugh.I couldn’t help myself.“Maybe you should put some more on, so you don’t freeze to death.”
“I don’t think you’re bringing me to your bedroom to make me put more clothes on.”She batted her eyes at me and for a moment it felt like she’d never left me in emotional limbo.
But she had, damn it.
“Actually, I’m bringing you up here for a two-part apology.”I led the way into the bedroom and headed straight for the tablet on my bedside table.
“You’re not the one who should be apologizing,” she said, lingering near the door.
“I’m not apologizing.You are.”I opened the cover of the tablet’s case and pulled the stylus free.“I came up with this last night.It’s a contract.”
“A contract?”Her brow wrinkled and she headed over to me, peering over my arm at the screen.“Like, a sexy BDSM contract?”
“No.Like an if-you-want-me-to-trust-you-again-you’ll-sign-this contract.”I scrolled to the top of the document.“I drew this up.It’s running through legitimate document signing software.You’ll read it, initial every page, sign the bottom, and put your email address in so you can receive a copy.”
“Are you…” She took the tablet from me.“Oh my god, you’re not kidding.”
“No, I am not.”
She read aloud, “‘…referred to as the participant,’ Matt, what the hell is this?”
“It’s a contract, outlining the terms of me continuing a relationship with you.”I was pretty proud of myself for figuring it out.
“‘The participant agrees that she will receive psychological treatment from a licensed therapist, frequency to be determined by the aforementioned therapist.’This is truly bizarre.”She flicked her finger across the screen.“‘The participant agrees that she won’t hide complicated feelings from her boyfriend?’”
“Initial at the bottom of the page,” I instructed.
She looked up from the screen.“This gets specific.I mean, there’s stuff in here about what flavor of Skittles I’m supposed to buy you.”
“That was a trick, to make sure you read the whole thing.I don’t like Skittles.”I tapped the underside of the tablet.“There’s nothing in here that you haven’t already promised to me.You’re going to get therapy, you’re not going to run off at a moment’s notice, you agree to talk to me—”
“I don’t think this is legally enforceable.”She arched a doubtful brow.
“Does it have to be?”I folded my arms over my chest and nodded at the tablet.“I signed some pretty hefty paperwork for you, didn’t I?”
The corner of her mouth quirked, and she shook her head fondly.“You’re right.I don’t plan to ‘be weird about spending her boyfriend’s money,’ anyway.”She looked up as she scribbled the stylus across the screen.“Thirty billion?”
“Or more.”
