Page 22 of One Hot Deal

"My suitcases are in the hall.The bellman brought them up for me."

"I'll take care of that," Derek says."Just be a minute."

He rushes to open the door, then picks up all four of Pippa's large suitcases and carries them inside.As he kicks the door shut, he asks, "Where should I put these?"

I wave toward the stairs."In the other bedroom."

He marches up the stairs while still holding all four suitcases.

Pippa's eyes go wide again."Wow.He can carry all of that stuff."

A sensuous tingle sweeps over my skin, but I manage not to sound like a breathless schoolgirl when I speak."Yes, he's very strong.But you and I need to have a serious conversation, Pippa."

Her shoulders sag."Yeah, I figured I'm in trouble."

I clasp her shoulder and urge her to walk into the living room.We both sit down on the sofa."Why did you run away from the school?"

"Because I don't like being so far from you.I know it's only four hours away, but I'd rather be here."

What can I say to that?She sounds forlorn.I never discussed with her whether she wanted to go away, but instead declared that she would.Why did I do that?I had convinced myself that it would be best for her if she went away and didn't need to know that I now have bodyguards.Pippa would wonder why, and it might frighten her.To spare her the anxiety, I banished her.

I suddenly realize I need to notify the school that Pippa is here with me.Doing that only takes a few minutes and a good amount of apologizing.When the head mistress asks when Pippa will return to school, I think of only one reasonable response."We haven't decided yet, but Pippa will spend the week with me."

That statement makes Pippa smile so brightly that I get a pang in my chest.

Derek jogs back down the stairs.

Tonight, in my flat with Derek and Pippa, I suddenly realize all my excuses are bollocks.But I don't dare consider the real reasons for what I did to Pippa.

"I'm starved," the girl says, while holding a hand over her belly."Could we have bangers and mash for dinner?"

Derek smirks.

And I wince.

Chapter Nine

Derek

I shouldn't think it's funny that Diana seems embarrassed because Pippa just suggested eating bangers and mash.But the billionaire businesswoman rarely lets anyone see how she feels, and I like that one kid could do that to her.Of course, she might actually be reeling because we'd been thirty seconds away from fucking on the sofa when her niece walked into the flat.

Diana has family?She never mentioned that.Why would she?I'm just her bodyguard and baby donor.

For now.

Diana jumps up and hurries over to the kitchen island, though she seems to have no idea why she did that.So she turns around and leans against the island.

Pippa hurries over there and sidles up to Diana while clasping her hands, raising them in a pleading gesture."Please, Diana, please.We never had bangers and mash at school.The food was bloody awful there."

"Don't use foul language.You are a child."

The girl rolls her eyes."I'm fourteen.Besides, the B-word isn't really foul language.You say it all the time."

A laugh barks out of me before I get the chance to squelch it."Diana curses all the time?Not when I'm around.She always behaves like a perfect lady."

Pippa swings her attention to me, then to Diana, then back to me."Does she really act that way?She must like you a lot.Are you her boyfriend?"

Diana makes a sound that's almost a growl."No, he is not.Go to your room, Pippa, and change out of that ruddy uniform."

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