Page 26 of Baby for My Enemy Billionaire

“Oh, I’ll be fine. Stop fussing.” Katie lets go of my hand and opens the door, which makes a bell jingle. “Come on! I want to explore!”

I feel like I’m about to enter enemy territory. As far as I know, the tenant doesn’t know who I actually am, or if they do, they won’t know what I look like. Even so, going into the store of a place I own is kind of unnerving.

Taking a deep breath, I step into the store and see the woman at the counter. She’s typing something on the computer in front of her, and her forehead creased in a frown with her concentration. Her hair is tied back, and she’s wearing glasses with frames as green as her eyes perched on the edge of her nose. There is something cute about her librarian look.

Wait, how do I know she has green eyes when I can’t see them?

Then she looks up, and I get a better look at her. My heart stops. Oh, God, it was her. Jade. The woman who has been plaguing my thoughts for the last week and driving me insane.

“Hey, Jade!” Katie bounces up to the counter. “I said I’d come and check the store out, didn’t I?”

“Katie!” Jade’s eyes pull away from me, and she beams at my daughter. “How are you? How’s your arm?”

Katie pulls a face and holds up the cast.

“Sore. This thing is heavy as well. But I can move my fingers and grip a pen without it hurting now.”

“That’s something, anyway. I’m glad you’re doing better.” Jade takes off her glasses. “Just be careful. You don’t want to make things worse, do you?”

“That’s what Dad keeps telling me.” Katie turns to me. “How many books am I allowed to buy, Dad? Can I have ten?”

“Whoa, hold on!” I hold up my hands. “Who’s going to be carrying these? And that is still quite a lot.”

“Please, Dad? Please?”

I can feel Jade’s eyes on me, and I really have to stop myself from looking away. I can’t have her see how rattled I am, knowing that she’s watching me. And I’m hoping she doesn’t notice that my pants look a little tighter than they were a moment ago.

Why the hell is she giving me an erection just looking like a damn librarian?

“Get five for now. I’m the one who will be carrying them,” I add as Katie protests. “So I think I have a say in what you can buy.”

“Fine,” Katie huffs and turns away. “I’m going to explore.”

“Take your time, Katie,” Jade calls after her as Katie disappears between the shelves. She gives me a shy smile. “It’s a bit quiet right now. Everyone comes in during the lunch rush, so you’ve caught me twiddling my thumbs.”

“Is it normally busy in here?” I ask, clearing my throat when I start croaking. What the hell is wrong with me?

“Depends on the occasion. If there’s a special event or an occasion on the calendar, I get plenty of people in.” She gestures at a notice on the window. “I also have a special hour, as I call it, on Saturday, where you can buy a bag for five dollars and put in as many books as possible. You can buy whatever can get into the bag for the price of the bag.”

“I see.” I raise my eyebrows. “Does it work?”

“It does. I have to restock quite a bit after a Saturday.” She sighs. “And it helps pay the rent. Being a business owner isn’t that easy, you know.”

It takes me a moment to realize what she’s just said. She’s the owner of this bookstore.Sheismy tenant.

Shit. This is not good. How has she not recognized me? Maybe she doesn’t know? My name is not on the letters sent to the tenants, just my company's. She wouldn’t be able to figure it out by that.

I’d better not give it away. This is the first conversation where we’re not being openly hostile. I don’t want to break Katie’s good mood.

I look around. The place looks much bigger inside than it does outside, which I find impressive. The bookcases are almost up to the ceiling, and everything looks clean and tidy.

“So, are you a limited edition person, or is everything second-hand?” I ask.

“Second hand, for the most part. But if any independent authors want their books in the shops, I’m there to help.”

“You help the indie world as well, do you?”

Jade shrugs.

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