Page 74 of The Sexy Billionaire

“You were right all those years ago, Gio. I don’t belong in your fishbowl,” she says, picking up her bag and slinging it over her shoulder.

What does that mean?

“Thank you for helping me today, I appreciate it, but I’ve got to get home,” she tells me and starts making her way to the door.

“What about the pizza?”

“Enjoy it,” she says, ignoring me.

“Paige, wait, please, don’t leave like this.”

She stops and whirls around to look at me. “I have to go,” she tells me, those dark eyes wide and glistening with emotion.

“I don’t want you to,” I tell her.

“And that’s the reason why I have to,” she says, shaking her head. “Our lives have imploded, Gio. Whatever this is”—she circles her hands between us—“is … two old friends catching up, nothing more.”

“You and I both know that’s not true,” I tell her honestly.

She gasps as her mouth falls open.

“I can’t erase the feeling of your lips on mine. Now that I’ve had a taste, I want more.”

“No,” she whispers.

“Yes,” I nod, slowly walking toward her. “Fifteen years I’ve been waiting for them to be on mine again.”

“Gio,” she says, standing her ground.

“What? Do you want me to lie, Paige?” I question her.

She bites her bottom lip as she continues to stare at me, the little crease between her brows etching deep. “I can’t,” she whispers.

“Can’t what?”

“Give you more,” she explains, and a single tear falls down her cheek.

I’m an asshole.

What the hell, have you forgotten why she is here today?

“I’m sorry, Paige, I … I wasn’t thinking.”

She sniffles.

“Please don’t cry, baby girl,” I say, reaching out to her; she eyes my outstretched arm suspiciously. I wiggle my fingers and she drops her bag and rushes into them. She wraps her arms tightly around me, a feeling I’ll never stop loving.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbles against my chest.

Leaning back, I make her look up at me. “You never have to apologize to me.”

“I kissed you on the street. I brought up the past.”

“It’s what friends do,” I say, giving her a wide smile, which makes her chuckle. “Plus, tequila likes to help blur things too.”

“Damn tequila.” She grins.

I reach out and push back a lock of her hair, and I get a whiff of her coconut perfume and a sense of déjà vu hits me, bringing me back to a moment just like this one.

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