Page 32 of How to Win the Wild Billionaire

Bay looked sad but resolute. “This isn’t about choosing, Digby. What I said was that I can’t be romantically linked with you. Besides, you haven’t been shy about stating your antimarriage, anticommitment stance. Have you changed your mind about that?”

Digby scrubbed his hands over his face. Hell, no. But also, yes. Maybe a little. God, he didn’t know...

Bay folded her arms across her chest, looking fiercely determined. “I’m going to court in two weeks to fight for custody. I can’t take any chances. Iwon’t.”

If Bay were his mother, she’d say to hell with Olivia and take what she needed, what she wanted, putting her needs before her child’s. But she wasn’t Zia, she was Bay and loved her sister’s child as her own. She was prepared to sacrifice anything and everything—including him—to do what was right. Digby felt annoyed, hurt and pissed off but he couldn’t fault her for that.

A part of him even admired her commitment to her niece and to fulfilling her sister’s wishes.

“I need us to go back to being what we were before today. Friends. Colleagues. Client and service provider.”

He couldn’t argue with her; he didn’t have a leg to stand on. And he wouldn’t, he had far more pride than that. And Bay was right, Olivia was all that was important.

Digby stepped back and slapped his hands on his hips. What else could he do but nod? “I get it,” he growled.

Bay stroked his arm from elbow to shoulder. “I really don’t think you do. You might not believe this, but I don’t sleep around. Sleeping with you meant something to me, Digby, and I loved being with you. But the price I might pay if this gets out is too high. And I know that you understand that.”

He wanted to argue with her, to persuade her that everything would be fine, that they could carry on, that no one would discover they were sleeping together. He was selfish enough to do that, ruthless and egotistical enough to put his needs before hers. And Liv’s. He had, after all, learned from the best.

But he couldn’t do that, not to Olivia and not to Bay. Neither of them deserved his selfishness and disrespect, and he wouldn’t be able to live with himself. Olivia was not at fault and he wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize her chances to stay with Bay.

Damn, putting other people first sucked. This was why he stayed single, why he didn’t get involved.

“Once I get custody, we can rethink this,” Bay quietly told him. “I just need two weeks, Dig.”

But Digby knew that so much could happen in two weeks, in less time than that. Businesses could be lost, brothers could die, life could change in an instant. Nothing stayed the same, neither should it.

“I’m sorry our morning ended this way...”

Yeah, they should’ve just kept their mouths shut. Talking never did anyone any good. Bay lifted her shoulder up in a slight shrug and continued. “I’m going to get dressed and get going. Thanks for...” she gestured to the bed and her cheeks turned pink “...that.”

Bay bit her bottom lip, shook her head and started to gather up her clothes. Quickly dressing, she shoved her feet into flip-flops and, after sending him another regretful look and quietly telling him that she’d see him on Monday, walked out of his bedroom, leaving him standing there and feeling like a fool.

Not something he liked, or was used to feeling.

CHAPTER SEVEN

DIGBYSTOODTOthe side of the grave, tears running down his face in a continuous stream. Above him, hard rain pounded on the roof of the white gazebo they’d erected over the grave to keep the matte black casket from floating to the top of the eight-foot pit.

Digby looked around, surprised to see Roisin standing behind him, and behind her Radd and Brin.

If Radd was here, then who was in the coffin?

Digby yelled for them to stop lowering the casket and sprang forward, desperate to see who he was burying.

His fingertips struggled to open the coffin.

His rough voice begged Radd to help him.

But Radd didn’t step forward and he knew he was on his own.

Using all his strength, Digby lifted the heavy lid, sensing that the casket was fighting him, that it wasn’t happy to be opened.

With a final heave, Digby lifted the lid and allowed it to rest on its hinges. Taking a deep breath, still not wanting to look, he forced himself to open his eyes...

She looked peaceful.

The thought was coming from a place far, far away.

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