Page 26 of Billion-Dollar Dating Game

There were two other dresses hanging from the door that he presumed led to the bathroom. One was midnight blue, the other was short and a bold red. His mouth dried. He wanted to see her in both. Yeah, he’d suddenly turned into some warlord who wanted his woman to try them on and twirl before him. He’d sit on that too-small sofa, legs sprawled apart, hard as a rock, and watch her like some totally erotic movie montage moment. That wasdefinitelythe premiere he’d prefer tonight.

‘We should go.’ She snapped her clutch purse. ‘My apartment isn’t really big enough for us both.’

He forced a smile. ‘You don’t want to move somewhere a little bigger?’

‘It’s close to work.’

Which was seemingly her one and only priority. His irritation resurged. ‘And that’s all that matters?’

Why did she still work there like a loyal little angel full of optimism and misplaced hope? Because she liked the people she worked with. That had been the main thing he’d learned from Bernie. Her loyalty to them—the way she went the extra mile. Didn’t say no. Still a pleaser then—to those she felt she owed or something. Irritation rippled. She shouldn’t spend her life repaying debts no one else bothered with. Why waste her time when it was clearly crumbling? She was good. She knew her numbers. Surely she could recognise that it was too late to turn that massive ship around. The iceberg was imminent and Helberg was going to sink.

‘It’s close to some good restaurants too,’ she said.

‘Oh?’ He watched her sceptically. She wouldn’t go to any. He bet she started early at the office and stayed late and probably lived on snacks and cereal.

‘Yes, I have a good relationship with the Thai restaurant one block over. They deliver.’

Deliver. Right.

She tilted her chin at him. ‘It’s close to the park too.’

Yeah, he’d noticed the worn shoes at the front door. ‘You still run?’

She nodded, colour rising in her cheeks. The room went silent. She was remembering that morning. Same as him. He couldn’t ask her about it. Couldn’t think about it.

‘Every day.’ She cleared her throat. ‘And a group run on Saturdays.’

‘Such a strict schedule,’ he teased weakly. ‘No such thing as spontaneity in your life—’

‘That was last week.’

And never to be repeated. Yeah, he got it. He forced himself to look away from her again. It was a petite apartment for a petite person and perfectly set up just for her. Everything was neat and just so. Her bed was on a mezzanine level with the lowest of ceilings so he’d hit his head if he were up there and on top—

He tore his gaze away, not letting himself finish that thought. ‘You’re right, we really should go.’

Unfortunately the drive didn’t take all that long.

‘Right...’ Skylar drew in a steadying breath as they approached the theatre. ‘You need me to smile? Look adoringly at you?’

Her speech had quickened, risen. She was nervous. He hadn’t seen her at parties in all these years. He got that she hadn’t gone out when she was young because of her father, but why hadn’t she since she’d left home? Why still so very alone and seemingly isolated aside from work friends—at least one of whom was almost three times her age?

He didn’t want her ‘performing’ to any script of his. Didn’t want to have any control over what she did...though of course he’d made her come here tonight with him, hadn’t he?

‘You never have to smile,’ he said shortly. ‘Not if you don’t want to. Look as moody as you like. I’m not asking you to fake anything for me. Tonight we’re merely companions.’

But that wasn’t entirely true. They were enemies. With chemistry.

The red carpet walk wasn’t long but it was crowded. In the photo pen ahead the photographers were calling loudly to the film stars.

‘What do you think of the hero?’ He jerked his chin towards the buff guy posing with quite a stunning selection of angular jaw expressions.

‘Gonna ditch me for him if you get the chance?’ He was half curious as to whether the blond Adonis type was for her.

She rose on tiptoe to study the actor for a moment and Zane actually felt a stab of—

‘Maybe...’ She turned and lifted her face to his, batting her lashes coyly.

‘Don’t believe you,’ he whispered in her ear. ‘He’s not arrogant enough for you.’

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