Page 68 of Her Billionaire Bargain (Kensington Square)

Awkward silence descended until the unmistakable click of Bob’s claws sounded on the hardwood. He appeared with his jowls dripping with water, indicating why he’d taken his sweet time coming to the door. He stopped briefly for Dex to bend down to give him the requisite hug hello before beelining to Berry and leaning up on his chubby legs for her to embrace him.

Then they took off running down the hall, Berry toting his ice cream treat as if it was a priceless probably melted jewel.

“I’ll just go get started on my work—”

“Shelby, wait. I don’t know what just happened with Kate, but I guarantee whatever you’re thinking isn’t accurate.” He scraped a hand through his messily gorgeous windblown hair and blew out a breath. “And I have a feeling I’ll have to find a new dog-sitter too, which sucks.”

“Oh, what I’m thinking isn’t accurate.” I held my briefcase tighter just in case I was tempted to use it as a projectile. “Did you or did you not tell me you did not sleep with her?”

“I haven’t.”

“Then why was she looking so damn crushed?”

A shifty expression came into his eyes. “I never dissuaded her as much as I probably should have.”

“I just bet.” I threw back my shoulders. “On second thought, maybe Berry and I should go home. She can see Bob some other time.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Nothing happened with us. Nor did I ever indicate it might. She’s a damn kid, Shelby. So what if I let her harbor some harmless crush? I never intended to act on it.”

“You just liked her fawning over you and letting her think she might have a chance with you. Got it.” I brushed past him to walk down the hall. “I’m going up to the terrace.”

“At least you’re not stomping off.”

“Stomping off is still on the docket. I just want Berry to have some fun first. She had a hard night.”

He pivoted to stare me down. “Yes, I know, because I was leading you on so you spent the night with me and left her on her own, right? Is that next on my list of transgressions, though you made it pretty clear I was your entertainment last night, not the other way around.”

Because that assessment was dangerously close to accurate even if I hadn’t used those exact words, I clamped down on my tongue and headed upstairs so I could cool off.

I did not stomp. Much.

He didn’t follow me. Nor did he take off his shirt when he joined Berry and Bob in the backyard. His laughter rang out often but he didn’t so much as glance my way for the next couple of hours while I tried to concentrate on work.

Long enough that the sun dipped lower in the sky. Plenty of time for regret to set in.

I’d made assumptions and not trusted his word, although he’d never given me reason not to. The popular scuttlebutt had made me suspicious—and of course my own past. But that wasn’t an excuse to treat him so shoddily when he’d been pretty damn awesome to both me and my daughter.

And when I was undertaking one of the biggest jobs of my career with him as soon as he signed those papers.

Ifhe signed them, now that I’d run my damn mouth yet again.

Best guess? I was going to remain single forever. And my self-righteous indignation was going to feel mighty cold when I was alone in bed.

Finally, I got up the nerve to pack away my mostly undone paperwork to join them in the backyard. I went outside to hear Dex talking to Berry while they kicked around a soccer ball, mostly for Bob’s benefit. He just took many rests in between, usually to watch the koi in the pond.

I really wanted to expand the water feature back there near the fish. I was picturing a waterfall and river rocks and maybe even a pergola type area with seating for guests and possibly a fire pit as well. I’d have to get his thoughts there.

Assuming he was still speaking to me.

“I used to get bad nightmares.” Dex’s tone was conversational, as if he was talking about the weather. “They would stay with me all through the next day. Do you want to talk about yours?”

“No. Hey, Bob, come get the ball!” She gave it a hard kick and Bob watched, head on his paws, tongue lolling.

“You sure?”

“It’s no big deal. I just saw my dad on TV. And it just got stuck in my head, I guess.” She put her hands on her hips as she faced Dex. “What were your nightmares about?”

“Failing tests, usually. Flunking out of school. My brother getting better grades than me. That was my reality though.” Dex still hadn’t spotted me standing in the shadows just outside the back door, and he sat on the ground to mop his sweaty brow with the hem of his shirt. He’d changed into shorts and an old baseball jersey, and he looked casually sexy in a way I couldn’t ignore.

---