Page 24 of The Billionaire's Ride

“Kate, what are you doing here?” he says, but I can hardly register his words because I’m too distracted by the tattoos on his bare chest. His chin and cheeks are scruffier than yesterday, and all I want to do is grab his face and kiss his gorgeous mouth.

My gaze draws down his naked abs and lands on the bulge in his black boxer shorts, and I feel my tongue slide out of my slack-jawed mouth. “Um . . . I . . .” I stutter.

How can I be mad at that? At him when he looks so good? Maybe I should forget the bad press and make the rumors true. Then again, he seems hellbent on punishing me for leaving him alone at Nina Savoy’s party. Men have such fragile egos.

My brow furrows, and I shake away my gawky expression. “I’m not interested in your little games.”

He tilts his head. “Excuse me?”

“I don’t get you. We go through the whole song and dance, and when I finally invite you up, you drive off like you can’t get away fast enough!” My voice booms down the hall.

“Shh. Would you lower your voice?”

“Why, you got some girl back there? Some model?” I yell, hoping if there is someone back there, she hears me. And also praying he’s alone.

He takes my hand and pulls me inside. “No. Mr. Bean across the hall likes to sleep in on Saturday mornings, as do I.”

I look back at the only other door on the other side of the hall. “Mr. Bean’s your neighbor? Like, from the movies?”

“NotthatMr. Bean.”

“Well, maybe I should bang on his door and tell him how you’re dragging my name through the mud for your own pleasure!”

Drew closes the door behind me, and now I’m even more distracted by his nearly naked body. And he even smells good. How is that possible? He clearly just rolled out of bed.

“What are you talking about?” His expression tells me he has no idea what I’m talking about. So I whip out my phone, the one with the newly replaced screen.

“This!”

Drew raises an eyebrow. “It’s a black screen.”

“Dammit,” I say and unlock my phone, revealing the tabloid. He takes the phone from me, and I watch him scan the page. “I’m not one of your throw-away girl arm pieces.”

“I know.” Drew’s soft brown eyes meet my gaze. “I’m sorry. This isn’t some evil master plan. The press just follows me. I don’t even read these anymore. Trust me, Kate, the last thing I want is to hurt you.”

For some reason, against my better judgment, I believe him. And I feel stupid for coming down here and yelling at him. But there’s still one thing I don’t understand. “So why did you leave me hanging on the street yesterday?”

“For that same reason. You’d never be satisfied with a one-night stand. You’re a nice girl. You showed up to my flat at eight-thirty in the morning to defend your honor. This is just a rumor. You don’t want to make it fact. So I’m trying to do the right thing.”

Sure, I don’t color outside the lines much. Or ever. But I’m sick of Drew trying to protect me from him. I can protect myself. “I’m not as nice as you think.”

“Yeah, I noticed with all the yelling,” he says, cracking a half smile.

“Sorry. Things are just really tense.” I shake my shoulders, but I know it will take a lot more than a Swedish massage and a bubble bath to relieve the pressure.

“Don’t be. I’m glad you came over. Even if you did wake me out of a dead sleep.” Drew stretches his arms above his head and lets out a yawn. His muscles flex in the early morning light. Then he rubs his hand over his defined stomach.

“Have you had breakfast yet?” Drew asks, with a look that tells me he’s hungry for more than bangers and mash.

Chapter Eleven

DREW

“Wereyou banking on catching another ride when you got dressed this morning?” I take in Kate’s casual jeans and suede boots. It was one of the first things I noticed when I opened the door this morning. It’s the first time I’ve seen her legs covered. And she’s still sexy as ever.

“No.” She snaps her helmet on like she’s done it a thousand times. I’m a modern man, and I know that no means no. But in this case, I’m convinced the subtext of her no isyes.

I mount my motorbike, and she hops on behind me. Her arms slink slowly around my waist, and a slight tingle vibrates below my navel. Yesterday, I made up my mind. I was going to leave this girl alone. But then she shows up at my doorstep.

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