Page 31 of Her Big Fat Hunky Billionaire Boss

Kat stopped and unlocked the passenger door. She turned to him. “Uh, thanks for letting me show you my town.”

“Yes. It was stimulating.” He cringed as he slid into the car. Stimulating? Why did he say that? His brain wasn’t working right.

Kat started up the car and turned on the heat at full blast. Good. Maybe she wouldn’t try to talk to him as she drove him to his hotel. Unfortunately, after three blocks she turned the fan down and looked at him. “About that kiss…”

“Let’s just pretend that didn’t happen.” The words rushed out of him like women trying to get to a shoe sale. “We’re both adults. We didn’t mean anything by it. Let’s move on.”

Kat narrowed her eyes at him but didn’t say anything else. She pulled up to his hotel and stopped the car. For a moment, she just sat there, the car idling, her stare making him feel like a creep. Finally, she said, “Good night, Damian.”

He nodded and got out of her car. She sped away like a she-demon. He watched her taillights disappear down the street. He let out a breath that hovered in the cold air. At least that was over.

As he walked to his room his cell phone vibrated. He pulled it out and looked at the screen. His mother. Probably shouldn’t put her off anymore. He answered the call. “Hello, Mother.”

“Are you through ignoring me?”

He sighed. She was right. That’s what he’d been doing. Guilt surged through him as he took out his key card and unlocked his door. “Sorry, I’ve been busy.”

“When are you coming home?”

“I’m not sure. Why?” He refrained from asking who else she had planned on setting him up with. He held the phone to his ear with his shoulder as he slid off his coat and hung it in the closet.

She paused, and Damian sat on the bed and slipped off his shoes. He grew nervous with her silence. “Mother, what is it?”

“It’s nothing really. There’s this event coming up. I’d like you to help plan it.”

An event? How odd. “Call Charlie. You always have her plan your events.”

“No, it’s not like that. I’d really love your help with this. Where are you?”

“Pleasant Hollow, Wisconsin.”

His mother sucked in a breath. Damian gripped the phone and stood. “Mother? What is it?”

“Why are you there?” Her voice was almost a whisper.

“Business. What’s wrong?” He stilled, waiting for her to answer.

“I just…I need you to come home. Now.”

“Obviously something’s upset you. Tell me.”

He listened to his mother’s fidgeting on the other line. She exhaled. “Damian. Please. Whatever it is you’re doing, just let it go. Come home.”

Damian’s mind spun. “What do you know about this newspaper?”

“Nothing.”

She was lying to him. He pressed his fingers to his temple, massaging it. What was going on? Why wouldn’t she just tell him? “What’s upsetting you? And what’s so important about this newspaper? I’m not leaving until I find out.”

His mother sat silent for a moment. “This whole thing is upsetting me.”

“Why?”

“I can’t talk about it.”

Damian tried not to fling the phone across the room. “Then I’m staying until I find out.”

“Nothing I say will make you come home?”

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