Those Three Words: A Single Dad, Billionaire Boss Romance(28)

I keep scrolling. There’s another picture of him exiting a restaurant with a leggy blonde on his arm this time. Both women look manufactured, like they’re perfectly designed fembots meant to make the rest of us average women feel awful about ourselves.

“Do people actually look like this?” I say to myself as I zoom in on the photo. I toss the phone to the side, deciding it’s enough torture for the night.

But truthfully, it’s the reminder I needed that this isn’t a fairy tale where the sexy, rich billionaire falls head over heels for the average help. This is reality and I’m just a convenient fantasy for a man who is probably still mourning the loss of his wife. I’m sure if I disappeared tomorrow, he’d probably never think twice about me again.





10





GRAHAM





I drag my thumb across the gold embossed lettering of the invitation in my hand, flipping it over for the sixth time. It’s for an upcoming charity event this weekend that I still have yet to RSVP to.

Normally I’m not this indecisive on things like this, but this one is different. It’s for a charity that raises funds for underprivileged and inner-city schools, to enhance and develop their music and fine arts programs.

My issue is I want to invite Margot. Not only would she be an amazing asset at an event like this, educating fellow billionaires on the importance of these kinds of programs, but I also think she might enjoy it. And I’d be lying if I wouldn’t admit that the thought of having Margot on my arm all night has my heart in overdrive.

I can’t get the look of her face from the other night out of my head. I also can’t get the feel of her soft skin where I touched her slender neck off my fingertips.

That fucking neck.

It’s an obsession at this point. It was one of the first things I noticed about her. It’s so slender and delicate, I feel like I could wrap my fingers around it completely with barely any effort.

I’ve had so many fantasies of clutching her tightly while I bury myself inside her. Of dragging my tongue over her tempting skin. Of pressing my lips to that little dip where her throat meets her collarbone.

I reach down and adjust myself. Just the mere thought of her name floating around my head gets me hard.

I wish I had the balls to kiss her. The way her full, pouty lips beg me to taste them is driving me absolutely insane, but I told myself I wouldn’t. It feels too intimate, too—

“Mr. Hayes.” The voice of my assistant interrupts my daydream.

“Yes, Olivia?”

“Your eleven o’clock is here.”

“Thank you. Send him in.”

I sit up and straighten my tie, tossing the invitation to the side.

It’s nearly seven p.m. by the time I make it home. I’m overly exhausted and it’s only Monday.

I peer in the kitchen to see Miss Perry fixing herself a plate for dinner.

“Fiona.” I say her name and she jumps, but her scowl is instantly replaced by a grin so big she looks like the Cheshire cat.

“Oh, Graham, you startled me.” I cringe at the way she says my name. She never calls me Graham and actually, I never call her Fiona—no idea why I did just now.

“Apologies, Miss Perry,” I say, hoping it establishes some formality again. “I have to fly to New York on Thursday morning. I’ll be back Friday but just wanted to give you a heads-up.”

She places her plate on the counter and opens her mouth to speak, but I just give her a nod and then turn and exit the kitchen. I’m really not in the mood for whatever she’s wanting to complain to me about or her attempts to get me to talk.

I make my way upstairs, the sound of soft giggles coming from Eleanor’s room. I stop outside the door, my hand poised to knock, but I listen for a brief moment as I hear her and Margot playing. It instantly sends a warm feeling to my chest followed by a bout of panic.

Lusting after Miss Silver are feelings I can deal with, feelings I can manage. But feeling this—whatever this is—is something I’m not ready to face.

I knock softly before opening the door.

“Daddy!” Eleanor shouts as she scrambles to her feet and charges at me. I reach out my arms as she hurls herself into them and hoist her up in the air where she wraps her tiny body around me.

“Hello, sweetheart.” I plant a kiss on her forehead.

“We are playing with my ponies,” she says.

“I can see that.” There must be at least fifteen different horses and ponies scattered about, all with different types of colored manes and some even with diamonds on their hooves.

“We watched My Little Pony today so naturally, she had to introduce me to all of hers.” Margot stands, adjusting her shorts that have ridden very far up her thighs.

I have to tell myself to avert my eyes and not make her uncomfortable but it’s damn near impossible.

“I wanted to let you both know that I unfortunately have to attend a meeting in New York on Thursday so I’ll be gone, but only for a day.”

“Can we come?” Eleanor says. “Pleeeeease, Daddyyyyy.” She wraps her arms around me even tighter as she begs.

“Not this time, sweetie, but someday I promise we’ll go there when you’re a little older and it won’t be when I’m working so we’ll get to spend the entire trip doing everything you want to do. Deal?”