Page 74 of The Rebel Billionaire

"That makes it sound so cloak and dagger," I said. "It wasn't really like that. I just kept doing the job I was already doing, only I gave copies of things to the FBI and I took pictures when no one was looking. That part wasn't even a big deal. I just said I was documenting the progress for my report to Aiden. Hayward is so arrogant it never occurred to him that a mere woman might bring him down. Plus, he's one of those people who doesn't think the law applies to him. Regulations are for everyone else, not Hayward. He never saw itcoming."

"So, thereisa reason he's focused on you," Lucas said. "Did he ever askyouout?"

"Once," I admitted. "Aside from the fact that he's old enough to be my father, ugh. Bruce Hayward is sleazy. The stories I've heard from the women in his company, the few he hires, are not good. Groping, innuendo, and lots of threats if anyone mentions a sexual harassment suit. I turned him down as politely as I could and he never askedagain."

"Aiden let you work with this guy?" Lucas asked, his eyesnarrowed.

I narrowed minerightback.

"Do you want to ask me that again?" I asked, my voice dangerously calm. "And this time, think beforeyoutalk?"

What did he mean,let mework withthatguy?

Lucas let out a grunt and scowled at me. "He should have been looking outforyou."

I pulled my hand from his and crossed my arms over mychest.

"First of all," I said in a cool tone, "my brother has always looked out for me. More than I'd like him to, his firing me case in point. Second of all, there are assholes in every walk of life. I'm going to run into them unless I hide in my house. Aiden didn't like me working with a pig like Bruce Hayward, but it wasmyproject, inmydepartment, and it was too big to pass off to someone else. Don't you run into assholes? Do you turn down every asshole client you meet? Or do you weigh your options and sometimes take the jobanyway?"

I knew I'd made my point when he grunted again and reached out to reclaim my hand. He squeezed my fingers gently beforekissingthem.

Apologyaccepted.

"So," Lucas said, all business again, "he's angry with you for turning him in to the FBI, more so because you're a woman who brought him low,andone who refused his advances. Does that sumitup?"

"Pretty much," I said. "Are you sure this isHayward?"

"Not positive, no. We're keeping our options open. Hayward is the most obvious suspect." With a final squeeze of my fingers, he released my hand and turned off the car. "You readytoeat?"

I was. Like a good girl, I waited for Lucas to round the car and open my door for me. It wasn't so much about being a gentleman, more that he didn't want me exposed in the parking lot unless he was right nexttome.

Either way, I won't deny enjoying the heat of his palm against my lower back as he led me into the pizza place. The scent of garlic, cheese, and spicy sauce assaulted my senses. My mouth flooded withsaliva.

Pizza was on my top five list of favorite foods. Fortunately, Lucas and I shared the same tastes. Pepperoni, Italian sausage, mushrooms, and blackolives.Yum.

He led me to a booth and slid in on the same side, effectively shielding me from the rest of the room. I got annoyed when my older brothers and cousins were too protective, but with Lucas, I liked it. Most ofthetime.

I was glad he'd turned down the money. I didn't want to be a job. I wanted Lucas to be hereforme.

For now, he was. But I was in trouble, falling forhimfast.

Way too fast, and way too far, sliding under, seduced as much by his company, by him just being Lucas, as I was by his body and hispassion.

I couldn't keep him forever. I knew that. And I knew he'd end up breaking myheart.

I didn't care. Tucked into the wooden booth, his strength and his heat pressed against me, I let myself pretend that we were on a normal date. That Lucas was mine. If my heart was going to break, so be it. It wouldn't be thefirsttime.

Being with Lucas was worththepain.

CHAPTERSEVENTEEN

CHARLIE

Lucas stuckby my side for the next three weeks. If you'd asked me, I would have guessed that at a point, it would get annoying. Maybe it did forLucas.

For me, it was like a dream. We worked out a decent system that let him keep an eye on me without hovering. As soon as we finished the woodwork in the living room and prepped it for staining, we set up the card table and chairs in there, giving Lucas a placetowork.

Days passed in easy harmony. We'd eat breakfast, Lucas grumbling about my yogurt and granola, and I'd go to work on stripping paint. Sometimes, Lucas would help me, and sometimes, he'd be on hislaptop.