Page 30 of A Geek Girl's Guide to Kissing a Video Gamer
Xavier could’ve been standing in the middle of an Aerosmith concert and not heard a note of it. Why was she saying all those things about him? Did she mean it, or did she know she was on camera?
“At least he isn’t a cowardly thief.” Sadie’s lips pinched together. “Just admit you stole my company. That you tricked me into signing it over.” She leaned back, folding her arms over her chest. “For once, be a man with enough of a backbone to tell the truth—or is that too much to expect? You’re all show and nothing else.”
Her gaze raked from the top of Buck’s head to his feet. “That’s why you had to steal my company.” She smirked. “All that smooth talk, and you still couldn’t land the deal that could save the company. You. Needed.Me.”
Buck closed the rest of the distance and pushed Sadie back against the wall. “You shut your mouth. You were the easiest job I’ve ever had. More clueless than all the other women combined.”
The move didn’t seem to faze Sadie, but all Xavier could picture was the love of his life getting hurt. From there, he was on autopilot, and he couldn’t move fast enough.
Yeah, it was hard to trust again, but he knew Sadie. She was sweet, kind-hearted, and funny. There was no question in his mind that he knew her. She was the woman he wanted, and he loved her. If she did break his heart, well, at least he’d risked it…and she was worth the risk.
Chapter 21
Sadie was so angry she could barely control the rage building in her chest. Buck was a complete loser. He’d taken her dignity, confidence, and money. Yeah, she was thirty pounds overweight, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t beautiful or worthy to be loved.
Being stuck in a room with this slimy jerk had only cemented those thoughts. Why would she care what a man like him thought about her? Why had she let him take so much from her? Well, she was taking it back and keeping it this time.
She knew she was getting under his skin, too, and it was an amazing feeling to take the power back from him. “Why? It’s true, isn’t it? I mean, that’s exactly what he told me at dinner that night. Shame you missed that meeting.”
He leaned in further. “You really need to stop talking before I’m forced to do something you won’t like,” he said, nearly growling.
“Like what, Buck? Or should I say Dillon? If you hurt me, you might just miss your boat.” Her lips twisted in a snarl. She poked him hard in the chest with her finger. “You are a sleaze and a half, and I can’t believe I ever cared what you thought about me or anything else. You’re lower than dirt.”
Taking her finger in his hand, Buck bent it back enough to make her yelp. “Got anything else to say? Nothing you do can keep me from that boat.”
She wasn’t backing down, but she wasn’t stupid enough to let him break her finger. “I’m going to enjoy driving your Maserati. Actually, maybe I’ll give it to Jamison Banks as a thank you for signing…with me.” In the next move, Sadie balled her free hand into a fist and sucker-punched him in the face, giving her a chance to dart away.
Holding his nose, Buck whipped around and advanced on her. “You think you’re so smart, but you aren’t. Neither is that twit, Cinnamon. By the time the day is over, I’ll be rid of you and her and on my way to better things.”
“Oh really? What about your part ownership of Empire?”
The man’s lips turned up in a sick smile. “Oh, I’m sure you’ll be able to manage.”
Sadie tilted her head. “Or don’t you mean the loan sharks that you’ve sent after me? The ones I managed to find and have a conversation with? The ones who know I’m flat broke and you’re about to come into a major fortune…as soon as you meet your new target at the docks?”
Just as Buck went to lunge for Sadie, the door swung open. Hendrix and Thaddeus stormed in, grabbing him by the arms. “Real men don’t hit women,” Thaddeus said as Buck fought to get free.
A second later, Xavier charged into the room and wrapped his arms around her. “Are you okay?” He leaned back to examine her face.
“I’m fine. My finger hurts a little, but nothing major.” She turned out the collar of her shirt and took off a pin, handing it to Thaddeus as they pulled Buck from the room. “They recorded my talk with Buck.”
Xavier’s eyebrows knitted together. “Isn’t that a bit of overkill?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You mean you didn’t know you were being filmed and broadcast?”
Her eyes widened. That would mean…he’d heard her say she crushed on him. Well, if the cat was already halfway out of the bag, she just needed to set the poor thing free.
“Xavier, I had such a huge crush on you when I was competing, and these last few days, spending time with you… This is going to sound so far out there, but I’ve fallen in love with you.” She pulled free and turned to get her portfolio still leaning against the wall.
He spun her around, took her face in his hands, and kissed her. “Then I guess I’m pretty far out there too.”
She blinked. “What? But…”
“When the private investigator dug into Buck…” His shoulders rounded as he dropped his hands from her face. “I had her look into you too, but I just couldn’t open the document. I don’t care what it says. I’ve fallen in love with you. You’re so talented and funny. You can kick my rear end playing the game I designed. You’re the most awesome person I’ve ever met.”
He loved her? “Really?”
