Page 69 of The Billionaire Player

“Aren’t you?” I asked.

“No!” she practically yelled.

I walked towards her and tried to take her hands in mine. She moved away from me, as if she was repulsed by the idea of me touching her.

“How can you be happy about this? They manipulated us. They used me. What so that you could get laid?” she asked.

“Lexi. I could get laid anytime I wanted,” I said.

“JD,” my father said softly behind me.

“If I wanted to just be with a woman, I could. You aren’t just any woman. You’re amazing, smart, funny, opinionated, stubborn, sexy, and the most incredible woman I’ve ever met.

“My father was right. I was burying myself in my restaurant. I thought that I had to focus all my energy in order to make it a success. I got so obsessed with proving myself that I forgot how to live. I forgot there was more to life than just working, in making a name for myself.

“I didn’t want to have anything to do with you when I first met you. It wasn’t because you had come into my life and wanted to ask me questions, I wasn’t totally ready to answer, but that you woke up something in me I never even knew I had.

“There was a passion for life that I saw in you that I recognized in myself, even if I didn’t realize it. I was drawn to you from the moment we met. I tried to fight it but after a while I realized I couldn’t. More importantly, I shouldn’t.

“You get me. You get my life. Hell, you even get my family. And I get you. I get your life. I want to be in your life. I want to support you and whatever you decide to do. And I can see you doing the same for me.

“I never thought or I never even stopped to consider having someone in my life. It wasn’t something I thought I wanted or even needed. But after spending some time with you, I can see that I do want that. I need that. Only if it’s with you.

“There is no one but you who I want in my life. I want to see everything the future has to offer with you right next to me, and only you. So, yes, I’m happy that my father pushed us together. Because if he hadn’t, I never would have met you. I never would have seen everything that I was missing. I never would have fallen in love with you.

“And I am in love with you. Completely, totally, head over heels. It wasn’t something I was looking for. It was never something I figured would happen to me, but you are it for me. You’re the only woman I can imagine my life with and I just hope that you can forgive my father for overstepping just a little and see what we can have. What we deserve to have.”

“This is insane,” Lexi said.

“Yes. If I ever imagined how I would fall in love, it was never like this. But nothing has been normal or easy when it comes to you. Except falling in love with you. It was so easy; I didn’t even realize I had done it. It was just there, and it has been for so long I have no idea how long. All I know is that I do, I love you, Alexandria Ricci. I hope you’ll give me a chance, that you will give us a chance. My life is so much better with you in it.”

The words came out in a rush. Almost like me realizing how much I loved Lexi, they just came over me. As I spoke, I knew I needed to say more, that I wanted her to know everything that I was feeling and thinking. I had never been one who was good with expressing myself but I found that I could and did when it came to Lexi.

I had kept my eyes on her as I had spoken and I watched her face go from annoyance, to confusion, to wonder, and back to confusion. I wasn’t sure what it all meant or what she was thinking but I had to know.

“We’ll leave you two,” my mother said and tugged on my father’s arm to leave the room.

I hardly saw them leave. I only had eyes for Lexi as I waited to hear what she had to say. Her eyes, her look, even her body language wasn’t telling me anything. I thought I knew her, that I could read her moods and what she was thinking but as she stood in front of me, I had no clue.

The thought both terrified me because I was so scared she would reject me, and excited me because it made me see there was still so much more to know about the woman I loved.

“I’m sorry that was a lot. I had no idea I would say all that until I did. But I’m not sorry I did. I do love you, Lexi. I do want to be with you. I understand if it’s too much to take in. If you’re still upset with my parents and what they did. I can see your side. But you have to see my side too, and theirs. I don’t care how you came into my life, I’m just glad that you’re here and I will do anything and everything that I can to make sure that you stay there,” I said.

“Good. You can start by being quiet for ten seconds,” she said.

“Shutting up,” I said.

I was rewarded with the slightest smile and some of the tension I was feeling left. She stared at me for a few moments and I could see she was trying to decide what she wanted to say. Finally, after what felt like years, she let out a short laugh.

“Your family is insane,” she said.

“Yes, I know. At least I thought I knew, but it’s even worse than I thought. But you have to admit, it’s kind of cool.”

“Are you going to let me talk?” Lexi asked.

“Listening,” I said and stepped back.

“I’ve never seen or even known a family like yours. What kind of father goes and tries and plays matchmaker for his kids? For all of his kids?”

---