Page 56 of Billionaire Grump's Baby

I turn and head toward the living room and its frustrating lack of couches. “Oh look, time for me to read that boring business report.” I yank the door open.

“I want to use today’s personal question,” Hazel blurts. “Which means you need to tell me the truth. Why are you so upset about helping me out of my dress and sharing a giant bed.”

I clench the doorknob and grit my teeth. “This is a bad idea, Hazel. Don’t ask me that.”

“I don’t care. I’m asking it anyway.” Her dress rustles as she steps closer to me. “We’re stuck together for the next six months. If I did something to piss you off today, I want to know what it is. And if it’s not me, if it’s something else...well, I want to know that too.”

“Hazel...” It’s half warning and half plea.

“You promised, Luke,” she says, her voice soft. “What’s the real problem?

I whirl to face her. “What’s the problem? The problem is that I spent half the day fantasizing about getting you out of that dress. The problem is that I spent the rest of it wanting to drag you somewhere private and do a hell of a lot more than kiss you.”

Her eyes widen, and her lips part.

“The problem, Hazel,” I say, my voice rough. “Is that I want you so damn bad. And I’m one bad decision away from doing something we’d both regret.”

20

HAZEL

I’m so shocked, I accidentally let go of my dress.

It slides down to my waist, pooling at my hips. Honestly, the bustier gives me far more coverage than a swimsuit top. And the front is solid white silk, so it’s not like Luke can see anything.

But he says, “Damnit Hazel,” and takes half a step toward me, before stopping himself and pressing a fist to his forehead. His breath is ragged in a way that tells me he’s speaking the truth.

Luke Dewinter wants me.

Badly.

My stomach flutters.

I’m not an idiot. I know that when we kiss long enough, it turns him on. But I’d been telling myself that that didn’t necessarily have anything to do withme. It was just a normal reaction given that Luke is a young, healthy man who clearly enjoys kissing women.

Lord knows he’s kissed enough of us.

But the way he’s talking, the way he’slookingat me now...there’s nothing impersonal, generic, or convenient about it.

He wantsme. Specifically.

“I...since when?” I ask, stunned.

Luke snorts. “Really? That’s your response?”

“When we met, you barely even noticed me,” I say. “And when we were older, and you started noticing me, it was only so you could undermine my opinion and say something cynical and judgey.”

Luke looks away, his jaw tight. Finally, he says, “You were 17 when we met. My best friend’s little sister. I would have been a real asshole if I’d noticed how gorgeous you looked in that yellow sundress.”

My stomach flips.He remembers my sundress?

“And after?” I ask. “All those sarcastic comments?”

Luke laughs, cold and dangerous. “Come on, Hazel. You know I’m a selfish, cynical jerk. Don’t try to pretend I’m a better person just because now you know how badly I need to fuck you.”

The blunt, rude words make something inside me shiver.

Luke turns away and scrubs a hand over your face. “Fuck. I shouldn’t have said that. I shouldn’t have said any of this.”

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