Page 118 of The Billionaire's Wake-up-call Girl

“Please don’t go on my account,” Willow says.

“I really have to be at work. There are quiches to make. It was great to meet you, though.” She turns to me. “Thanks for…breakfast,” she says in the tone of air quotes.

“I’ll walk you out,” I say, taking her arm, giving her no choice. I walk her through the foyer to my elevator and hit the button for her.

She turns to me. “It’s a huge honor. Even though I know you’d rather get poked in the eye with a stick. Or have people sitting there flipping you off.”

“I would so prefer it.”

“You’re terrible.”

I touch her collar. My affection feels bigger than my heart. Bigger than me. “Come with me,” I say. “Be my date. Be the one there that flips me off.”

“I can’t, Theo.”

“Because of our fuck buddies thing?”

“Um…yes?”

“Screw it. You’re leaving in two weeks.” I pull her to me, slow and hard, whisper into her ear. “Rules were made to be broken.”

She snorts, as if I’m being ridiculous.

“Come. It’ll be a delicious dinner if nothing else. Henry Locke knows how to put out a damn fine spread.” I kiss her ear. “There will probably be lavish desserts. And then you can sit in the audience and flip me off.” I kiss her neck and draw back, look her in the eye. “Be the one person who’s with me, really, really with me.”

She shakes her head. “Theo.”

“I’ll get thatFunny Facedress back for you.”

“Don’t. You can’t.”

I shrug. “You’re not the boss of me.”

She gives me a sad smile. “It can’t happen.”

“Why not?”

The elevator has arrived, though. I growl and pull her to me. I give her another kiss, just a quick one, and then I turn and walk.

I don’t even look back when the doors squeech shut.

Back in my place, Willow is surveying the sea of kitchen store packing materials. “What happened here?”

“Apparently a man needs an egg pan,” I say. “And an egg pan needs an entourage.”

She’s searching my face. “I’m so sorry I ran her off.”

“She would’ve gone anyway.”

“I like her,” Willow says. “She actually gives you crap.”

“Isn’t that your job?”

“You had her in yourhome. You let her take you shopping. Did you ask her to the Locke banquet?”

“Are you trying to get out of being my date?” I ask.

“Did you ask her?”

---