Page 59 of Don't Fall for the Billionaire
“I know you, Charlotte. I’ve known you since the day we were born. You have that look.”
“What look?”
“The falling head over heels, oh shit, what’s happening, look. Your face just turned the exact shade of that cabernet over at the next table.” She smirked.
I rolled my eyes. The waitress walked over, set our salads down, and the first thing I did was violently stab a cherry tomato with my fork.
“It’s complicated. Half the time, he’s impossible, moody, and controlling.”
“And the other half?” Melissa asked.
I looked down while stabbing my fork into my salad. “The other half? I see glimpses of someone different. I see someone who’s broken because of his parents and childhood. He’s stepped up lately in the fatherhood department, though. He’s been home more at night, and he’s let his guard down around me. Those are the moments that undo me. Because I know that’s a side of him he rarely lets anyone see. He took us to the farm to pick apples and pumpkins. We had such a great time.” I pulled my phone from my purse and brought up the photos I took.
“God, is that man sexy or what?” She smiled.
“He is.” I grinned, biting my bottom lip.
“Great selfie of the three of you. You’re glowing in that picture.”
“That’s because of the season. I always glow when autumn comes around. You know that.”
“Sweetheart, I’m sorry, but this looks like a lot of falling to me.”
I closed my eyes for a moment, opened them, and stared at my cousin. “Fine. Maybe I am falling for him. Who the hell am I kidding, Melissa? I already fell, and I fell hard. God help me.”
“I knew this was going to happen. You can’t change him, Charlotte. You have to realize that. Men like Ashton Cross don’t change. They are who they are because of their status. I don’t want you to get hurt. I think the best thing you can do is hurry up, get that business loan, open your pie shop, and get the hell out of there.”
“I’m already invested in Eloise. I know I haven’t worked for Ashton that long, but that little sweetness of a girl already has my heart.”
“Which is crazy to me since you never mentioned kids before. I’d like to meet Eloise.”
“You will.” I smiled. “I promise, soon.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Charlotte
After lunch, I headed back to the townhouse.
“Hi, Sylvia.”
“Hi, Charlotte. Did you have a nice day?”
“I did. Where’s Eloise?”
“She’s up in her room playing her DS.”
“How was she today?”
“She’s good. I’ve taken her temperature every hour, and it’s still normal. She said she’s feeling better.”
“Good.” I grinned. I grabbed the folder from the school and took it upstairs.
“Hey, you.” I walked into her room.
“You’re back.” She hugged me. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too. Sylvia told me you’re feeling a lot better.”
