Page 61 of The Billionaire's Rival (Bad Boy Billionaires)

“Have you stalked me?”

“If I hadn’t, Miles, Carter and Worth would have.”

I shook my head. “I should have known that.”

“If it makes you feel better, it was initially because you were a competitor.”

“You didn’t do it when I joined the tennis club?”

Ford’s cheeks turned a beautiful shade of pink. “Maybe a little.”

“Who is your grandfather?”

“Retired Senator Jonathan Wainwright.”

How the hell had I not connectedthat?

“Believe me when I say the security at their house is top of the line, and these men don’t want the kind of trouble they could get for going after us there. They were trying to keep a low profile until they made the mistake of pissing off Miles.”

“What are you going to tell your grandparents about our visit?”

“I’m not going to call you my boyfriend if that’s what you’re worried about. I’d hate for word to get out and ruin your reputation with any ladies you have your eye on.”

“I don’t…that’s not….” How did Ford always manage to make me feel so off balance?

“I’m going to tell them the truth, or at least part of it. We’re being targeted because of a case, and it’s safer for us to leave the city.”

“And they’ll be fine with that?”

“In front of you, yes. I’ll get grilled in private, but they would never express displeasure around a guest.”

I was not ready to meet Senator and Mrs. Wainwright. I was barely able to comprehend what I was feeling for Ford. When he took me to their estate, I would have to face just how out of my league he was.

22

FORD

Ilet my head rest back against the car seat as one of Carter’s most reliable guards drove me to Eudora’s house, despite it being close enough to easily walk. I took a deep breath which felt like the first one I’d had since Jay had called to say there were men watching his Gran’s room.

Whenever I was with Jay, I felt like he took up most of the air in the room. I couldn’t breathe right or think clearly. Was Miles right to be worried about me? Was I crazy to think Jay was feeling more than just the thrill of having power over me?

Eudora and Ben were going to interrogate me. I could easily have avoided that by saying it wasn’t safe for me to be there, but I couldn’t spend the whole evening home alone with Jay. My heart was in danger. Even knowing our relationship was doomed from the start, I couldn’t help falling for him, and now…now I needed Eudora and Ben’s insight, not just Miles’s aggressive protection or Carter’s sensible planning. I needed to talk to people who actually let their emotions show.

I wanted reassurance that I wasn’t crazy to take Jay to meet my grandparents. If Eudora thought I was, she wouldn’t hesitate to tell me.

“I didn’t think we’d be seeing you tonight you,” Eudora said when she let me in.

I assumed Ben had filled her in on some of what was going on. “You know how much I hate to miss these gatherings.”

“I do, but I also know how much you like to avoid discussing your personal life.”

I sniffed. “There’s no reason to discuss my personal life. This is a knitting circle. We’re here to further our craft in each other’s company.”

“Such beautiful bullshit from your mouth. You will be staying afterwards, and you will be telling me everything.”

“Not quite everything.”

“So, you finally managed to seduce the gorgeous man?”

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