Page 63 of Billion-Dollar Dating Game

‘Don’t you dare mess with my daughter!’

‘Don’t you dare...’

The strict old man had repeated that phrase toSkylarover and over that day. And she hadn’t, had she? She’d not dared deviate again from the path her father had set out for her. The narrow path of academic excellence, loyalty to the benefactor that was Helberg.

He got it. He really did. He’d wanted to protect his mother for years, suppressing the anger inside him because he couldn’t be honest with her. He hadn’t been able to tell her he didn’t want to go to that damned school. Hadn’t been able to tell her he was hurting. How badly he hurt for years with that injury—because he’d not wanted to make her feel worse. Because he’d not wanted to cause her more trouble.

As an adult he’d rationalised it all. He’d known his mother had been exhausted, working hard at two jobs—that she’d thought that scholarship would be best for him because she’d believed she couldn’t meet his needs. But she’d not asked him if it were what he wanted. Equally, he’d not said.

And he’d been so alone for so long. Because he’d gone the opposite way to Skylar—he’d gone for hedonism. Using temporary pleasure to wash away the pain but keeping it short, meaningless, keeping himself safe. Anything more took too mucheffort.

Only it didn’t take any effort with Skylar. So easily he could laugh with her. And he’d told her truths he’d barely been able to face himself. He could tease her and play sexy little games that he loved. Only with her.

Because it washer. He’d had such a crush on her back then. He’d wanted her so much. But he was completely in love with her now. Not that he’d told her. No. He’d turned his back on her. Because she scared the hell out of him.

He wasn’t good enough, right? And hearing that again?Losingher? He couldn’t tolerate that. Which was why he was here now, indulging in a futile attempt to wash away a hangover of epic proportions.

Maybe she had wanted to speak up for him that morning all those years ago, but she’d been too shocked, too scared. Hell, it had only been a moment—they’d hardly spoken. He’d been blown away by the intensity—maybe she had too. And she’d have been terrified of her father.

Zane had turned his back and walked—had to—stung by them both.

But Skylar had been stuck. Had to stay for so much more of the same. And she’d become such a people pleaser. She put everyone else first.Everyone. Her father. Her colleagues. A whole damn company. She’d not stopped to consider what it wasshereally wanted...she’d just stayed on that damn treadmill that she’d been set on because she thought she had to.

And she’d tried to please him too, hadn’t she? Was it only because he’d plucked at her too-soft heartstrings in Bermuda—telling her about the accident?

No, it had been for so much longer than that. She’d barely known him at the beginning of the bet business because he kept all his cards close. But she’d known enough about him to be aware that he liked games. That he didn’t want arelationship. So she’d, what, made a play that she thought he could tolerate?

But after Bermuda, when he’d ended their deal, she’d asked if they could keep seeing each other anyway. Then at the bar last night she’d suggested he needed people in his life. But she’d not expressly suggested herself. Had that been because she’d been afraid of asking outright—afraid of his rejection? Did she want something more with him?

Hope soared. Becausehewas the only man she’d ever let touch her. She’d lethimin. Actions, not words, right? And it wasn’t solely about ‘education.’

But while she’d played with him, while she’d been confident enough to take something of what she wanted, she’d still puthiswishes ahead of her own.

She’d asked him if he was okay. She’d wanted him to say what he really felt...but he hadn’t shared that part of himself with her. He’d not told her his truth. Because he still believed that he wasn’t what she wanted, that he wasn’t best for her. He’d assumed it was all only about Helberg for her. What if he’d been wrong about that?

Had she done exactly what he did? Had she hid her hurt—not admitted her feelings—not said what she really felt, or whatshereally wanted...?

And by staying silent, Zane hadn’t let her make her own informed choice about their future. He’d made it for her by pushing her away. In all that assumption, he’d pushed her into the same place she’d been with her father.

Silenced.

He’d been selfish. And controlling. And yeah, a complete coward.

He growled, letting the icy water stream over his face.

Enoughof that already!

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

THEDANCINGPHASElasted about forty minutes. She didn’t want to dance with anyone but him. Didn’t want to dance without him at all. Her feet hurt, her heart bled, her eyes watered. Infuriated, she went home and threw herself into work. That phase lasted about five minutes.

She didn’t want to work like this any more. And, she accepted, she didn’thaveto.

She didn’t get out of bed the next day. She slept. She thought. And yes, she cried. In her weakest moments she looked online. Zane’s tally on that stupid website hadn’t increased. It had stopped at two and there were no more pictures of him dining or dancing with another woman last night. But it was only a matter of time though, right?

Because it was over between them. He wasn’t going to wake up and realise he was in love with her...the way she was in love with him.

Yeah, she could admit that now—to herself at least. And she’d sort of told him last night, in a tragically weird way, trying to convince him he needed someone in his life.

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