Page 15 of The Billionaire's Obsession

“Well, it’s real. You confirmed it with your own eyes. Maybe now you can stop pestering me to go on these arranged dates. It’s not my style, and as you can see, I met someone on my own.”

“How did you two meet?”

“At a restaurant. She didn’t like the haute cuisine food and ordered a cheeseburger. I thought she was the smartest person in the place and did the same.”

“Clever girl. You can’t beat a good cheeseburger.” Uncle Charlie nodded approvingly. “So, you really like this one?”

I thought of Riley’s dirty laugh and teasing eyes. The way she cut to the heart of a situation, and made me question my values, and the way I was spending my time. For the first time in years, I realized I needed to make a life outside of work before it was too late.

“I really do.”

“What does she do for work?” Charlie asked me, and I imagined telling him about her side gig.

“She’s a sculptor. A damn good one.”

“I’ve never heard of her,” Charlie said. He was pretty active in the art scene, and a collector.

“You will. Right now, she’s under-funded, young, and still trying to get her big break.”

Which I’m going to make sure she gets sooner rather than later.

“Well, we all know it’s not always the talented ones who make it. You’ve got to be lucky as well.”

“Riley has the talent in spades, and she doesn’t need luck.”

“Oh?”

“She has me.”

* * *

Charlie walkedme to the guest suite in the East wing of the old crumbling house that came with the vineyard. It was an investment he’d made twenty years ago and promptly forgot about until he got old enough to want to escape the rat race.

“Well, sleep well. I hope your girl gets a good rest. I’m going to want to spend plenty of time with this one who’s caught your eye, finally.”

“You don’t have to remind me of my bachelor status every single second, you know, you could give it a few moments in between.”

“Where would be the fun in that?” Charlie said and turned down the hall, Joe at his heels. His dark red dressing gown caught the elegant mood lighting as he went. Uncle Charlie was a character. Since he’d taken over the vineyard, he’d taken to dressing like lord of the manor. It suited him. He marched to his own beat, and I had always admired that.

I turned to the huge wooden door that concealed Riley from me, putting my hand to the latch. Riley marched to her own beat, too. She was fearless, unapologetically herself, and I admired that. I admired that a lot. She might be young, but she already knew who she was. That was sexy as hell.

I pushed open the door and went inside. Should I stay somewhere else? Maybe there were plenty of guestrooms available. Still, Uncle Charlie would know. He knew everything that went on in the house, and it would blow our whole ruse.

More than that, I wasn’t walking away from an excuse to share a bed with the woman who had crawled inside my head and become my obsession.

I could smellher light floral perfume as soon as I entered the room. I had no idea if it was a scent she bought, or it was just her.

It’s just her.A voice I rarely listen to spoke in my head.She fits you, suits you. She’s yours.

Pushing aside my inner caveman who wanted to strip off and slide into bed beside Riley and claim her so thoroughly, she wouldn’t leave the bed until she was pregnant, I went to the bathroom to wash up.

I reemerged later in a black t-shirt and loose sleep trousers. Riley was still in her clothes from our impromptu hike, and I wondered briefly if I should wake her up to change, just as I felt her eyes on me. She watched me from the bed and I couldn’t read her emerald gaze.

“I didn’t want to wake you. You seemed so tired,” I told her, hoping she wasn’t about to freak that she’d woken up in bed, with me looming over her in pajamas.

She stretched and winced as she moved her foot. It was soft-wrapped in a support bandage with a small splint down the sides to keep it straight.

“Asleep? I probably passed out in the helicopter because it was so scary.” Her voice was extra throaty. She raised an eyebrow at me. “I take it we’re sharing a bed?”

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