The Broken One (Corisi Billionaires, #1)(14)

“No,” he said with such authority I stopped. “No reward necessary.” He looked down at Ava, who was hugging Wolfie happily again, then back up at me. “Good night.”

“Wait,” Erica said. “Are you married?”

I gasped and shot a look at my friend. Stop.

She shrugged, shamelessly delighted. She was constantly trying to find a man for me, but we didn’t have the same taste. Her husband was a mechanic. Hardworking. Jean-wearing, barbecue-making kind of guy. My type was . . . Okay, on the surface, this guy was my taste, but it was painfully apparent that I was not his.

Kevin came running up with the replica of Wolfie I’d brought home. “Look what I found! Ava, you have two Wolfies.”

Ava spun, accepted the second wolf, and held them up to compare them, then pulled them both to her chest for a hug. “Mommy, Wolfie wasn’t lost; he went looking for a girlfriend. I’ll call you Wolfina.” She smiled up at Sebastian. “We’re going to have puppies. Wolf puppies.”

He almost smiled. “Cute.” He stepped back. He looked like he was about to turn and leave when Kevin and Tyler burst by him, nearly knocking him off his feet.

“Mom, Tyler took my doll,” Charlotte yelled as she also sped past Sebastian.

“That’s my cue to go as well,” Erica said, chasing after them. She stopped just behind Sebastian long enough to shoot me a double thumbs-up, then disappeared down the stairs.

Ava lost interest in Sebastian and brought the two stuffed animals to the rug where she’d been playing. He watched the children go, then turned back to me. The heat to his look sent my heart racing. My hand tightened on the doorknob.

I couldn’t invite him in.

I wasn’t about to try out my rusty flirting skills on someone like him.

So I did what any woman would do when she found herself with a gorgeous man at her door who didn’t look like he knew if he was coming or going. I just stared at him.

He looked back as if lost in his thoughts.

When the silence dragged on to an awkward length, I said, “Thank you again for bringing Wolfie back. Where did you find him?”

My question seemed to shake him back to the present. “He was on the side of the road near an empty lot.”

“You have no idea how much his return means to us. We’re so grateful.” When he frowned, I joked, “Don’t worry. I’m not going to hug you again.”

A flush spread up the man’s neck. “Whether I’m married or not doesn’t matter. There’s nothing here I want.”

It was my turn to flush. Thanks, Erica, for making him think I’m desperate enough for a man that he has to clarify that. “Okay. Good talk. Thanks again.”

I closed the door in his face and leaned against it.

Asshole.





CHAPTER SEVEN



* * *



SEBASTIAN

I’m an asshole.

I stood on the porch of the woman I’d insulted for doing nothing more than thanking me for returning something to her child, reasonably certain that wasn’t how my mother had imagined that going.

It wasn’t how I’d thought of it either.

Ditch and run. That had been my plan.

No conversation. No real engagement.

Nothing stupid coming out of my mouth.

My hand hovered over the doorbell. I should apologize. And say what?

You’re a beautiful woman with an adorable child and a house full of laughter. I almost had that. Neighbors dropping in. Children underfoot. That was how I once pictured my life.

I don’t want that anymore.

I turned away and walked down the steps to my car. My driver opened the door for me. I slid in without exchanging a word with him.

When he was behind the wheel, I barked, “Take me back to my apartment.”

“Yes, sir.”

The painfully long ride gave me far too much time to think. I did my best not to. I craved the oblivion I’d allowed myself the day before, but that was a once-a-year indulgence.

My phone rang. I welcomed the distraction. “Hey, Dad.”

“Your mother wants to know how it went when you delivered the stuffed animal, but she doesn’t want to ask you in case it didn’t go well. She’s asked me about a hundred times how I think it went. Please, give me something I can tell her.”

The corner of my mouth curled in a hint of a smile as I pictured my mother hounding my father until he broke down and sneaked off to call me. “I dropped it off. They were very happy to have it back. That’s all there is to know.”

“Your mother said the woman is not only beautiful but also intelligent. She has her own accounting business. All your mother had to hear was that her little girl was adopted. You know she has a soft spot for anyone who can love someone else’s child as their own. It says a lot about that woman’s character too. You could use someone like that in your life.”

“I am not short on female companionship.”

“I’ve seen the women you date. I’m talking about one you could bring to dinner. Someone you could settle down with.”

“I have zero desire to ever marry again.”

My father was quiet for a moment. “Do you want company? I could sleep in your guest room.”

“I’m fine, Dad.”