Page 7 of Billionaire's Bookworm

And that was enough.

ChapterThree

Emma

I whistledfor the third time, my brows furrowed in concern. Where did that impossible dog run off to now? With a sigh of exasperation, I continued along the high, ivy-draped stone wall that separated my humble abode from the luxurious estate next door.

Eventually, I reached the gate leading to what was arguably the greenest, most exquisite garden in the whole of Seashell Cove. It was currently bathed in moonlight, but if anything, the soft glow only enhanced how beautiful it was.

And there, amidst the vibrant blooms and neat hedgerows, was my target.

My naughty Goldendoodle, Porky.

The rascal was cheerfully gnawing on a flower that radiated an exotic, heady fragrance while plonked smack in the middle of the pristinely manicured lawn. A lawn belonging to none other than billionaire bachelor Wade James.

I hadn’t met him, he was rarely in town, but I’d heard stories aplenty. He was Seashell Cove’s most talked about recluse. I squeezed through the wrought-iron gate, grumbling a litany of threats and promises of a stern talking-to in Porky’s future under my breath.

Stomping toward the scamp in question, I continued my whispered diatribe and directed it at the dog, “You rotten fur ball, if you’ve munched through some rare blossom worth the price of my cottage, I’m gonna wring your hairy neck. We’ll both be living in the doghouse.”

Porky just stared at me, his hind end propped in the air and his feet dug into the grass in the age-old position of a canine about to bolt whilst taking great glee in making his bumbling human give chase. The mangled flower dangled from his mouth, broadcasting his crime to the world.

“Oh, no you don’t, mister!” I hissed. Porky made his move and I stepped in front of him and raised my hand in a stop position, showing him I meant business. I followed it up with a strong, “NO!” Porky reluctantly dropped his butt back to the ground and put his head down to the grass, giving me sappy doodle eyes.

I released a tiny sigh of relief.

“An interesting hour to be trespassing, wouldn’t you agree?” A voice, smooth as silk but laced with sarcasm, drifted from behind me.

I yelped, spinning around so fast I nearly tripped over my own feet. My heart hammered against my ribcage, threatening to break free. Standing there, bathed in the warm, amber glow of terrace lights, was my elusive neighbor.

The backlighting cast his face into shadow, but the aura of annoyance was unmistakable. And here I was, clad in nothing but a threadbare nightshirt and boy shorts, caught like a deer in headlights. Not exactly my finest moment.

“Oh! Hi! I’m so sorry—I live next door, in the cottage, and I was just?—“

“Foraging for a midnight snack in my garden?” he cut me off, descending the steps with a scowl that could freeze fire. Up close, his features sharpened into focus—a strong jaw, lips set in a thin line, eyes that glinted with irritation. “Or maybe you’re after my wallet, and the dog is merely a prop to get my attention.” His gaze swept over me, lingering just long enough to make my cheeks burn. “Well, consider me attentive.”

I blinked, his accusation hanging in the air like a noxious cloud. Taken aback, I stiffened and wrapped one arm around my torso. Using my other hand, I gave the hem of my shorts a surreptitious tug. “I beg your pardon?”

He did a quick, pointed skim of my scanty attire. “That’s why you’re on my property at this hour, right? To proposition me? Granted, most gold diggers try a bit harder to appear inconspicuous, but kudos for being ballsy, I suppose.”

It took a beat for his words and meaning to register. When it did, it stung. My jaw dropped and I spluttered, “Oh my––how dare you! For your information, I only came to retrieve my dog, not—not some billionaire playboy with more money than manners!”

An amused glint appeared in the man’s eyes. “Billionaire playboy, huh? So you’ve done your research. Should I be flattered?”

Wade’s assumptions about me being a gold-digger looking to seduce him left me seeing red. How dare this arrogant ass presume to know anything about me or my motivations?

The arrogant ass in question tilted his lips in a sardonic half-smile and an irrational surge of fury rose in me. Mostly because he was so stupidly attractive and it was clear he was insulting me. Why couldn’t the man disrespecting me and accusing me of being a gold digger look like a troll or something? Or at least a gnome? Wewerestanding in a garden, after all.

Seemed fair to me.

Straightening, I squared my shoulders and crossed my arms. Shooting him a scathing look, the bite in my tone was unmistakable.

“Mister, the only thing preceding you is your ego. I’m not interested in you, your money, or anything else your narcissistic butt’s got to offer. And for the record, you can keep your unsolicited assumptions to yourself. While you’re at it, keep your ridiculous ‘botanicals’ away from my dog!”

I glanced over at Porky, his ears twitching as he watched us both. He still had dirt sprinkled all over his snout and I could only hope whatever he ate a few moments ago wasn’t poisonous.

Wade blinked, mouth twitching. I could tell he wasn’t used to women brushing off his crass advances so forcefully.

Good. Your ego could use some deflating, buddy.

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