The Broken One (Corisi Billionaires, #1)(21)

Ava woke up. I took her temperature again—no change. Fluids. Light lunch. Then she wanted to play with her dolls, which I took as a good sign.

When my phone rang, I answered without even looking at the caller ID. It was either Erica or Teri. “She still has a fever. Looks like I’ll be working from home again tomorrow.”

“It’s Sebastian Romano.”

“Oh. Sorry.” I smoothed a hand over my wild hair even though he couldn’t see it. “Hello.”

“Are you sick?” Only he could voice that question without a hint of warmth.

“Me? No. Ava woke up with a fever this morning, but it’s nothing.”

“How high?”

“Excuse me?”

“How high is her fever? Have you contacted her doctor?”

His questions weren’t offensive, but his tone was. Arrogant. Demanding. Like I wouldn’t know how to care for my own daughter.

Was this how he spoke to his employees? If so, I couldn’t imagine many of them liked him.

You’re wrong about him, Erica. I don’t need this in my life. “Although I appreciate your concern, I have the situation under control. Was there something you wanted?”

He was silent long enough that I considered ending the call.

“I wanted to thank you for the cookies. They were delicious.” When he finally spoke his voice was deeper, closer to the one that had inspired decadent thoughts of him growling sexy demands into my ear.

Whoosh, my body was humming. I poured myself a glass of cold water and considered pouring it over my head. “You’re welcome.”

“And to apologize. I was in a sour mood and should not have taken it out on you.”

I leaned forward on the counter, rolling the glass across my forehead. I enjoyed audiobooks and spent endless hours listening to male voices—some even reading steamy scenes I hoped Ava never found on my Kindle—without ever feeling as turned on as I was just by listening to him. And he’d barely spoken so far.

What was wrong with me?

“You’re forgiven and you’re welcome,” I said in a husky voice.

There was another pause . . . long enough for my heart to start beating wildly in my chest and for me to begin to believe he was just about to ask me out. No. No. No. Hadn’t I just decided he wasn’t for me?

I held my breath and waited.

If he asked me out . . . what would I say?

I should say no.

I wanted to say yes.

If I kept him separate from Ava, agreeing to a dinner would be harmless.

Right?

If that led to a night of hot sex . . . I could pay a babysitter to stay over . . . and didn’t I deserve a little of what my body was craving . . . at least once this decade?

“Good,” he said simply.

Another pause. Was he hoping I would ask him out? Was he waiting for some kind of sign that I liked him? “It was incredibly nice of you to deliver Wolfie yourself.”

Nothing.

No one could accuse him of talking too much.

Across the room Ava met my gaze with glassy eyes. The bright pink to her cheeks hadn’t been there before. I walked over and touched her arm. It was warm—a lot warmer than it had been. Shit.

“Sebastian? Thanks for calling, but I have to go.”

“What’s wrong?” His tone was intense again.

“Ava’s fever is spiking. I need to check it again, start her on some Motrin, and maybe call the doctor back.”

“Go take her temperature. I’ll wait.”

My mouth rounded in surprise. He sounded serious. I almost brushed him off, but remembered he’d lost a wife and child. Even though he didn’t know us, hearing that Ava was sick might have struck a chord with him. “She’s fine. Trust me, this is not our first fever.”

“I’ll wait.”

“It’ll take me a few minutes.”

“That’s fine.”

Feeling a little ridiculous, I put my phone on the counter and went to retrieve the thermometer. One hundred one. I poured her a cup of water, gave her some Motrin, and settled her into her bed for a nap. I didn’t expect him to still be there when I picked my phone back up. “Sebastian?”

“How is she?”

“It was higher than this morning. One hundred one. Still nothing to panic about. I’ll see if my doctor has an opening today. Right now she’s napping.”

“If her doctor won’t see her, you need to find another doctor.”

Deep breath. His tone is harsh because he’s worried. “She has a wonderful pediatrician. Really, there’s no reason for you to be concerned. After what you’ve been through, it’s natural to be—”

“What I’ve been through?” His tone went ice cold.

I cringed. “All I’m trying to say is that I understand why you’d be worried, but she’s not in any danger.”

“You know about my wife.”

It wasn’t a question.

“Yes. My friend googled you. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have mentioned it.” And this is why I’m single. I’m too honest.

“You read a few articles, and now you think you know me?”

So angry. I felt sorry for him because I knew he hadn’t always been that way. “I don’t know you, but I do know what it’s like to lose someone. It doesn’t excuse bad behavior, though. I’m a good mother. I don’t have to prove myself to you. I don’t require your approval. If you’re looking for someone who will tiptoe around your moods, that’s not me. I’m home today with a sick child. I’ll probably be home with her tomorrow with a very real likelihood of no sleep tonight. So sorry if I’m not up to flirting or sparring with you, but I have more important things on my mind.” I ended the call and tossed my phone on the counter.