Page 65 of The Billionaire's Ride

Drew looks taken aback. “Wait. You think Dad’s cold?”

“Of course. We have the same father,” I reply.

“Yeah, but you’re his favorite. Even more than Collin.”

“Only because I was compliant.” Compliance is mandatory for the firstborn.

“Compliant?” Drew asks.

“Yeah, I did everything he expected of me because it was easier than fighting him. I always admired how you never took any of his crap. I wanted to be more like you and not give a damn about what anyone else thinks. Especially now. I keep thinking about what people will say about me when they find out what happened.”

Drew shakes his head as if he’s unscrambling his brain. “Are you serious? I’ve always been jealous of you. Your life seems so perfect.”

Perfect? Oh, man, this kid has no damn clue how much I’ve struggled to make my life perfect, and I still manage to fall short. Today is a perfect example of that. A huge laugh comes tumbling out of my mouth.

“All of London’s elite will know my fiancée cheated on me hours before the wedding. You think my life’s perfect now?” I keep laughing, and laughing, and laughing because it feels a whole lot better than crying.

Finally, Drew gets on board and joins me in a chuckle fit. “I guess not.”

Chapter Thirty-One

KATE

The driver pulls upin front of Drew’s building. I gaze up to the top window, where I know he’s waiting for me.

“If you decide you want to stay a little longer, we’ll just see you when you get back,” Beau says. She’s made several comments like this since yesterday.

“Yeah, we’re leaving in thirty minutes with or without you,” Garret adds, sitting behind me in the dark vehicle, his face lit by his screen.

“I won’t be long.”

“Uh-huh. Here, take this so you’ll be ready in case you need to rush.” Garret hands me a condom. “We don’t need any accidental pregnancies, now do we?”

Beau laughs. “Oh, my God, can you imagine?”

As much as I would love to wrap my naked body around Drew’s one last time, our time is up. “No, thank you.”

“You sure? Better safe than sorry.”

The funny thing is that it was Garret who encouraged me to loosen up and have some fun. And I did. Nothing about the last two weeks has been safe, and the only thing I’m sorry about is getting attached. I decline his offer and head into the building for the last time.

Drew’s door swings open the moment I knock. And there he is, black tee, ripped jeans, and that sexy five o’clock shadow. Damn, I’m going to miss his face—those dangerously dark eyes.

“It’s getting late. I wasn’t sure you’d make it.” Drew invites me in.

“I know. I was hoping we’d have more time, but I got caught up at the store,” I say, and walk into his living room. Everywhere I look harbors a memory—a very fun, kickstart-your-heart memory. Like sharing martinis over Welsh rarebit, singing Billy Joel songs, and the way he pleasured me against the front door. It seems impossible for anything else to come close to what we had here. How is it possible to feel this good with someone I’ve just met?

“How much time do we have?” he asks.

“Not much.” I gaze out the wide windows that peer over the city. And I just know. This is the last time I’ll ever be in his apartment. It’s a damn shame. I turn to face him and offer a small black gift bag with red tissue paper. “I got you something.”

He looks intrigued. “What is it?”

“Just a little something to remember me by.” I smile, hoping he likes it.

He tosses the paper aside and pulls out a black thong with the bow on the back—the one I wore during the photo shoot and that rainy night under the tree. The cutest freaking smile spreads across his face.

“You know, I like these a lot better whenyouwear them.” He twirls the panties around his finger and gives me a look. A look that might instigate me missing my flight.

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