Reading Online Novel

How to Avoid a Billionaire(19)



When he spoke, she heard amusement in his tone. “Yes, I did. I’m free now and I want to see you.”

She hesitated. “Like I said, Ryder, I’m really pulling in long days right now.”

“If you’re concerned about the blonde, it was business. Nothing more.”

She blinked. How would he know she’d seen the picture? “Your personal life isn’t my business.”

“Isn’t it? Weren’t we exclusive? I demanded it of you. Why wouldn’t I do the same?”

The man confused the hell out of her. She wanted to yell at him and hang up, to cut him off for good, but at the same time she wanted to draw him closer and hold on to him. Common sense said run, but a craving to feel his hands on her body, to hear his voice, to lie under him was too strong to deny. She could enjoy him for the time being, couldn’t she?

“Angel?”

She shut her eyes at the endearment and pressed a flat hand on the desktop. When she spoke, she convinced herself she sounded unaffected. “Friday night. It can’t be any sooner. If that doesn’t work…”

“I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“Make it five, and bring a fruit basket.”

“Why—”

She disconnected the call and turned to her computer screen, heart racing.

Melanie grinned and reached to the backseat to touch the fruit basket. “You bought it.”

“Of course, although I don’t know why. Do you want to take it upstairs?”

She shook her head. “No. Did you buy it or did your secretary get it?”

He seemed surprised at her question. “Does it matter?”

“Which means your secretary did.” She didn’t answer his question as to whether it mattered. “Tonight, we’re going to my parents’ place for dinner.”

She waited for his protest, but when he didn’t say anything, she glanced at him. His unreadable expression gave nothing away. Rather, he buckled up and started the engine. Maybe he intended to make it up to her for disappearing. She didn’t know the rules on dating a billionaire and whether they often pulled the vanishing act. Their girlfriends or mistresses were supposed to fall in line or be replaced. Then she recalled he said he held himself to the same standard he’d given her. Either way, she wouldn’t play the game. He either wanted her or not. If he didn’t, she knew how to move on, and hurting was a part of life.

She buckled up and gave him directions to her parents’ house. When they drew up to the place, Melanie’s stomach tied in knots as it always did when visiting her father.

When Ryder touched her cheek, she started and faced him. “You’re nervous,” he said. “I can see by how high your shoulders are and the set to your mouth. Don’t you get along with them?”

She made an effort to release the tension, but it didn’t budge. “With my mother, yes, but my dad’s a whole other story. We go through rough patches, and we’re kind of just off of one. I haven’t been to the house in a few months, so who knows how he’s going to react to me. I just wish he wasn’t so hard. He’s been here forever, but he still acts like… Never mind. I don’t mean to burden you with this.”

Ryder’s hand dropped from her cheek to her thigh, and he squeezed. Rather than relaxing her, he ignited a flame in her belly, which was not how she should feel in her parents’ driveway. She glanced up at the small house, so unassuming and simple but still nice. Her father didn’t believe in wasting space, so although they could afford more, he’d chosen a compact structure. Her mother had made it cozy and warm, so she had never needed anything else.

Melanie turned back to Ryder. “Don’t point for any reason. Greet him before my mother. They’ll offer—”

“Hey.”

He slanted his mouth over hers, silencing her. Melanie gave in to his kiss and parted her lips. He snaked his tongue inside and swept the interior, drawing a moan from her. When he moved his hand up her thigh toward her pussy, she stopped him, but he shook her hand off and raised his head.

“Let me relax you.”

Her eyes widened. “Like that, here? Are you insane?”

He kissed her again and whispered against her mouth. “Pull your dress up.”

The street around her parents’ house lay in almost total darkness. A motion sensor light would come on when they approached the front door, but where they sat no one would see into the car. That wasn’t the point, and yet she wanted to give in.

“I feel like they’ll know.”

“Will they?” He touched a fingertip to her clit through the dress and her panties. Arrows of delight shot through her.