Page 112 of Rival to the Billionaire

I shrug, giving him a cocky smirk. "Wild guess."

I laugh to myself, wondering just how well the seemingly forward, laidback Lena and the uptight Alton would get along. It'd be like a match made in heaven, only with an explosion of fireworks following it.

And speaking of fireworks…

I hesitate before asking the one question that's responsible for me coming over here to Alton.

"By the way, Alton…I don't know if you know, but…is Ryder coming?"

The question catches him off guard, but he recovers quickly.

"He's got an appointment. Something about a meeting with a tech company in the morning."

"Oh," I whisper. "I see. Well, it's just going to be me and Carmina here for a while, then."

Shelby frowns at this. "Does that mean we have to stay here, too, Daddy?"

Alton's eyes twinkle, but he keeps his voice casual as he looks at her. "No, Sweetie. We're going home."

Her little head tilts. "So, we don't have to…cure cancer like the other people here?"

"No, sweetie, we do not. Not tonight, at least. We just had to come here and look pretty for a little." He gazes up, his attention catching on something. "And speaking of 'looking pretty'…" He points over my shoulder.

And there he is.

Ryder.

He's looking as gorgeous as ever. In a tuxedo that makes his ocean-blue eyes look even more intense than usual. And wearing a smile that makes my belly flutter slightly.

A smile that is directed straight at me.

"There he is, Jen. Your man."

I turn around to face him and just stare.

"Come on, Sweetie," he says, smiling at his daughter. "You and Uncle Ryder have had enough time to hang out lately. It's time to put you to bed."

The little brunette leaves my side to run into the arms of her father. I sigh, waving bye to Alton and Shelby and watching Ryder do the same with the little girl.

I watch him walk towards me; eyes fixed on mine until he's standing in front of me. His smile is still that wicked one and my heart melts at the sight of it.

"You're late," I say.

"You're absolutely fucking gorgeous."

I smile, moving in closer. "You're forgiven."

"I'm not done yet. I've got a lot to be forgiven for."

"In that case," I say, "we'd better get started on it right now, before we get interrupted."

Without missing a beat, Ryder grabs my hand and pulls me towards the dance floor. I go without stopping to think, without looking over my shoulder. I just follow him and that wicked, incredible smile.

The whole place is a whirl of stepping feet and swirling colors, but I don't care. My eyes stay on the man in front of me. The man I've missed more than I thought I could miss anyone.

I look up at him, my heart beating in my chest as a rhythmic, Spanish guitar-led song plays. And I wait for him to say something. Anything.

He doesn't. He just keeps staring at me with those crystal-blue eyes, holding my hand tightly and swaying slowly to the music, his other hand locked on the small of my back.

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