Page 35 of The Billionaire Boss and the Barista

“I don’t need a hug.” She sniffed, swiping under her eyes with the cuffs of her sweatshirt.

Garrett stepped back, giving her more space, but damned if he didn’t look disappointed. “Just as well. Celeste would have my balls in a sling.”

The mention of the HR woman brought the absurdity of the situation home. What the hell was she doing here? If he was trying to avoid a lawsuit, this was a weird-ass way to go about it.

Emma gnawed on her lower lip. “Why does my high school nemesis want to help me? Do you have a secret white knight fetish?”

His smile was like one of those glowing orbs that sometimes appeared in her vision. Fascinating and distracting, but it didn’t bode well for her well-being.

“I know you don’t want help, especially from someone who knew you when. But I’m here now and I’ve got a debt to repay. In fact, given my recent track record, those debts are multiplying.”

The parking garage incident replayed itself on fast-forward in her mind. “Yeah, I guess you are racking them up.”

Garrett snorted. “So let me pay them off, please. For the sake of my karma.” He gestured to the opulent space around them. “It’s not like it’ll be a sacrifice for me.”

“All right, Mr. Moneybags,” she groused, grateful for the chance to resent him again. “Want to take five to go dive into your vault of gold coins a la Scrooge Mc Duck?”

He cocked his head to the side. “How do you even know about Scrooge McDuck?”

“Memes,” she explained.

Researching them had been her mother’s suggestion, a quick way of discovering what was in the zeitgeist. Emma had spent the first few years after her accident doing a comprehensive if haphazard study of the world.

His head rocked back in understanding. “I see. So can I show you the bedrooms now?”

Did she have a choice?

It’s no different from finding a room online, she told herself. It was probably safer.

Yes, Garrett had barged into her life in the most suspect and intimidating way possible. But he’d done it publicly. Their names were on HR reports together that had all sorts of red flags all over them.

“What are you thinking about?” he askedsuspiciously.

“That if anything happens to me, the police will look at you first.”

He snickered. “That’s true. Also, bonus—tabloid TV would have a field day.”

That was a very good point. Handsome billionaire embroiled in a scandal with an amnesiac would be a juicy story.

“I suppose it’s not in your best interests to murder me and chop me into little pieces.”

His eyes crinkled at the corners. “Believe me, if I had murderous intent for anyone, I’d save it for someone who deserved it. Like a politician.”

Emma nodded sagely as if that was a given.

“All right. I will consider staying if you can answer one question. And I want the truth. No lies. No excuses.”

She put her hands on his forearms, lifting on her tiptoes to look directly into his eyes. She fell several inches short, but he responded appropriately—freezing in place as if dreading what she might say next.

“Where’s my damn cat?”

Chapter Fourteen

GARRETT

Startled and relieved, he laughed. “He’s next door,” he said. “My neighbor and best friend is watching him.”

He held out a hand. “C’mon. I know Rainer is here today. We can pick up Prince now.”

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