Page 35 of Her Billionaire Bargain (Kensington Square)

“You dove into traffic after my little girl. I owe you everything.”

He gazed down at me, eye crinkles in full effect and his expression warm enough for me to feel like I had on a ball gown, not a muddy thrift store find. “You owe me nothing. I was the reason she did that. Me and my making up excuses to see you again before you were ready.”

“I was ready.” As his eyebrow hiked, I hurried to clarify my errant thoughts. “I mean, to talk about your house. More about it. That’s what you meant, right?”

“No.” The corner of his mouth lifted. “But we can pretend if it makes it easier for you.”

“Thanks.” I rubbed my suddenly pounding temple. “I need to get your contract drawn up. You have to sign it before any work can begin, including discussions about what you want.”

“Okay. That’s fine. But I owe you an apology.”

“For what?”

“I might have come on too strong yesterday. If it seemed like I was forcing you or trying to strong-arm you into taking this job—”

“No,” I replied quickly. “Absolutely not. I want to do it. Why would you think that?”

“Just in case.” His gaze lowered to our linked arms as we reached the wrought iron gate to the backyard. A gate that would not be nearly strong enough to secure a dog like Bob if he ever tried hard to escape. “It’s always your choice, Sherbet. I just can be…pushy. I’ll try to keep that in line.”

“I have a voice and my own heart and mind. I’ll speak up if you make me feel—”

Everything.

“If it’s too much,” I added softly.

“Promise?” His gaze dropped to our locked arms again before he reached down to open the latch of the gate for me, as if we were on a date and this wasn’t my own backyard.

“I promise.” I swallowed deeply as Bob barked and ran in circles around my laughing daughter. Her cheeks were rosy with exertion, making her freckles seem even brighter. “Want to come in and hang out for a while? I know this isn’t how you intended for today to go.”

“I’d love to. Besides, I have papers to sign first, right? So, until you have those, we probably should shelve work.”

“Well, we can talk off the books, I just can’t bring in the crew yet.”

“Or we can just…not.” He gave me that winsome grin once again and I was toast. “We can just get to know each other. And I can get to know Berry. And Bob can be Bob. And hey, think Berry would like to go to the pet store with me? He needs kibble. And maybe a few more toys.”

I couldn’t help laughing at the hopeful expression in his eyes. “Sure. We can all go. Assuming we can fit in that shiny rat trap of yours.”

I was so lying. I was a sucker for vintage convertibles. Especially candy-apple red ones.

“Rat trap?” He put a hand over his heart. “You wound me.”

I frowned up at the darker clouds moving across the bright blue sky. “You’ll have to put up the top. Rain is due.”

“Eh, later.” Waving a hand, he stepped into the yard. “Hey Berry, want to go on a field trip with me and Bob?” He shot me a glance. “And your mother?”

She immediately stopped running and widened her eyes. “Really? We can all go?”

“I don’t keep her chained in the basement, I swear,” I muttered as Dex gestured for us to follow him back down the driveway to his car.

“Only when I’m in trouble,” Berry said in a singsong voice while she skipped along after Dex with Bob trailing right behind.

“Funny girl.”

A lump formed in my throat. He was being so nice. Why? What did he want?

You know what he wants. What all men want. Until they don’t. And he’s the key to you bettering your life for you and your child.

All this was for Berry.

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