Page 25 of The Billionaire's Naughty List

This morning he texted, telling my dad he’d met someone.

“He says he’s glad to hear it, and I quote, ‘can’t wait to meet her.’”

I reach for the rolling pin, needing to keep my hands busy. “Well, that’s gonna be a fun conversation.”

He squeezes me. “It’ll be fine.”

His phone chimes again and we both still. I feel his exhale against my shoulder blades, then a chuckle. “You’re not going to believe this, but?—”

There’s a pause that stretches on for five years.

“What?” I prod.

“He says he met someone, too.”

My jaw drops and I spin, snatching the phone from his hand, reading my father’s message. “I tried to get him to find someone, but he always brushed off my concerns saying it wasn’t the time. So now’s the time?”

Elliot laughs again, wrapping me in his arms.

“Is he bringing her?”

“Ask him.”

I type out a message and hit send. Only then does it hit me that I’m writing to my dad on Elliot’s phone, while standing in Elliot’s arms. Maybe to some people that wouldn’t be a big thing, but this is what I longed for. These Hallmark moments.

And of course, the more X-rated moments.

Which reminds me, I’m supposed to be prepping for my live. Elliot wants to watch. It’s hard to read him sometimes and while I wholeheartedly believe him when he says wants to see it for himself, there’s got to be a difference between seeing and imagining, right?

“What’s wrong?”

“Hmm?” I glance up.

“That look. What are you thinking about?”

I stare up into those gorgeous green/gray eyes, my stomach flopping and flipping.

What if he hates that my followers talk to me? They can be racy. Hell, they can be downright crude. Most of the time, the other guys nip that in the bud, because they know I’ll only tolerate so much.

Elliot’s phone buzzes between my hands. A text from my father appears in a bubble across the top of the screen. He reaches for the phone, wrapping his hand around mine and wordlessly aiming the screen at his face. It unlocks with a soft clicking sound.

It’s not lost on me that last year he was on a list of the top-ten most generous billionaires and he’s just handing over his phone like it’s no big deal. There are probably senator’s phone numbers in here.

I mentally shake the awe and trepidation away and read my dad’s text.

Colt: Thought about it. But I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Especially at Christmas.

I read the text to Elliot.

“What does that even mean?” My brows are sky high as my brain spins in circles like a top, trying to figure out who my dad’s mystery woman is.

If he’s talking like that, he must really like her. They must be serious. I mean, I get that Elliot and I are serious and that it was super fast. But that—this wasn’t the plan. This just happened. A happy accident, as Bob Ross would say.

“Beats me. Should I ask?”

“I mean, if he’s getting on a plane tonight…”

He takes the phone from me and steps away. I appreciate the space, even as I miss his touch. I need to focus. Who am I kidding?

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