Grumpy Romance (Billionaire Dads #1)

by Nia Arthurs

“You don’t speak in these meetings unless I give you permission to.” “Screw you.” “You care to say that again?” His face is practically on top of mine. My breath hits the air in quick beats, drumming in time to my racing heart. A tick in his jaw draws my eye there. His face is sharp and dangerous. His mouth is a warning. Thick and full. Promising delight and disaster. Should I bite them or kiss them?

lumbered into work this morning looking like a microwaved corpse. I don’t have to imagine how hard this man is working. It’s right there on his gorgeous face. I gave him the headache pills because, if he kicks the bucket, I lose my job. Also… he doesn’t seem to have anyone else taking care of him. But that’s not because I care about him.

“You’re punishing me for getting the deal with Baby Box?” He leans so close that I hold my breath. Lips quirking, he says, “Congratulations, Miss Jones.” My heart flogs my chest. There’s no denying it. Holland Alistair is truly my worst enemy.

“True…” She narrows her eyes. “Yeah, I can see that.” “I wish I’d never met the guy.” “Just take a break and forget about him.” Sunny casually taps her phone screen. “This weekend, I’ll take you to a nice restaurant… oh damn. She didn’t.” I propel myself up. “What is it?” Sunny tries to hide the phone from me, but I snatch it out of her hands. “Kenya, no!” She moves to grab it back.

There’s a picture of my sister with her hand out to the camera. The caption reads ‘I said yes’. Drake is in the background, on his knees. And on Sasha’s finger is a giant diamond ring. The world rocks under my feet. “They’re… getting married?”

Sunny bites down on her lip. My blood runs cold. Memories flash before my eyes. “I’ll learn to cook.” “Don’t bother, baby. I’ll cook for you.” “You spoil me, Drake.” “It’s what I love to do.” “How about this? We’ll have a rule. You cook. I clean.” “Deal. As long as you throw in an apron that sa...

“What the hell is wrong with her? Does she not have a lick of sense? Is she seriously marrying her sister’s ex-boyfriend?” “Sunny.” I swallow hard.

“Tell me what you want me to do. Even if it means I go to jail tonight, we can get her back. She deserves all the horror you can think of.” “I’m tired. Do you mind if I go to bed early?” “What?” Her eyes search mine and then her mouth falls into a frown. “Sure. You don’t have to ask me.”

Anger. Pain. Betrayal. Since finding Drake and my sister together, I’ve run the gamut of those emotions. Dove so deeply into them that I found their roots and inspected those too. But this… I’m numb. Too numb to make sense of it all. Is it jealousy? I don’t think so. The burning sensation that comes when I’m envious is absent.

said yes. Sasha was beaming in the picture. Glowing with love. The smile on Drake’s face was large and warm too. How long have they been together? How is he already proposing? He dragged his feet with me. We were together for so long and all he did was talk about marriage. He never once acted on it. It was just a promise. A carrot dangling on the edge of a stick. I curl into bed and stare at the darkness surrounding me. My phone rings.

“Hello?” “You answered,” Sasha says. My eyes burst open. “I wouldn’t have if I knew it was you.” Silence fills the line. I should hang up, but I keep seeing those words. I said yes.

She’s my family. And she’s getting married to my boyfriend. “Did you see it?” she asks tentatively.

guess you did,” Sasha mumbles. “I was hoping I could talk to you before then, but I didn’t have the courage.” “Don’t expect me to say congratulations.” “I know we’re in a really bad place,” Sasha whimpers, “but I’d love if you’d be my maid of honor.”

The phone slips off my face and leans against the pillow. Did I hear that right? Or is my brain playing tricks on me? “Kenya, you’re my best friend. When I felt like life wasn’t worth living, you gave me the strength to hold on.” She sniffs. “Remember when we’d lie down in the hospital bed, side-by-side? I told you once that I missed seeing the stars. The windows in my room were small and it felt like I was in prison. You brought a projector for me. You brought the stars to my hospital room.”

don’t want to talk right now.” “At least think about it. Please? It won’t be the same without you there.” I hang up before she can hear me crying. I hate every single tear that falls from my eye. Hate it with a passion. The door creaks open and Sunny walks in. The way she moves

“It’s okay to cry, Kenya.” “I’m not crying,” I argue. “You don’t have to be Miss Sunshine all the time. No one expects you to keep all that hurt in. No one.” She pats my hair and soothes me. “It’s okay to cry.”

“She asked me…” I breathe hard, “to be her maid of honor.” Sunny’s arms tighten around me. “That selfish piece of—” “I can’t do it.”

course you can’t. She’s got a serious problem if she thinks you’d ever say yes to that.” “I don’t want to cry anymore.” Sitting up, I use the sleeve of my T-shirt to dry my tears. “It’s pathetic.”

I glance away, my heart bleeding all over the floor. Sasha is family. Even if I want to, I’ve never said ‘no’ to her before. And I’m not sure I can start now.

“No way.” I put my hand over hers and turn the pancake over. “This is the most beautiful pancake in the world. Know why?” “Why?” “Because my beautiful little girl made it.”

Baby Box wants to do a deal with Belle’s Beauty. I want to tell them no. Not because of the terms. Not because of the money. Not because I’ll need to negotiate Belle out of the story feature. But because Walsh was staring at Kenya Jones like he wanted to peel her clothes off layer-by-layer. The pervert.

In the distance, I see a woman with dark brown skin and frizzy curls sprinting through the lobby.

My heart jumps in anticipation. Before I’ve thought it through, I shoot my arm out, blocking the elevator from closing completely.

“Thank you. Thank you.” Miss Jones shuffles toward the elevator and then stops abruptly when she sees me.

her hip cocking to the side. I assess her body and a thrill hums through my veins. She’s in pants today and they’re just as sexy as her tight maxi skirts. The blouse is an extravagant number with ruffles and pleats at the neck. It must be new. I’ve never seen her wear anything like that before. She’s going to distract me all day looking like that. I dismiss those thoughts and force my gaze forward. One last stop before our floor. More employees leave the elevator. I nod to most of them.

Her backside brushes the front of my trousers.

Flames dance up my spine. Damn. She’s softer than I imagined.

Her scent fills my nose. I take a big whiff because, apparently, I’m a lunatic when it comes to this woman. The scent trips my wires and makes me...

decadent mixture of soft, feminine fragrances—wild apples, cinnamon, rose. She gl...

“You have lint on your clothes.” “I do?” “From now on, you need to take better care of your appearance.”

just bought this outfit. How does it have lint already?”

try not to breathe because I don’t know what I’ll do if I inhale any more of that scent. She tilts her head. “Well?” “Your perfume,” I bark.

that new too?” “My perfume?” She sniffs her wrist. “How did you know it was new?”

“Flying cockroach,” she hisses under her breath.

My cheeks break into a smile. I don’t bother hiding the chuckle.

My heart burns. I’m not worried about Belle’s Beauty getting into hot water with the online trolls. We can bounce back. But Kenya…

glance over her short frame. She’s small. Fragile, even if she acts like she’s ten-feet tall. What if one of the customers get physical? What if she gets hurt? “I can do it, boss,” she says, her jaw tightening. “I know I can.”

eyes dart to my watch. Twenty-five minutes have passed. I motion for Ezekiel. He charges over. “I haven’t gotten any word from Miss Jones yet.” “Have you called her?” “The line rings, but it doesn’t pick up.” “What about Bernard?” Ezekiel shakes his head.

“What do you want to do?” “Call a cab. I’m heading over there myself.” He nods.

“Are you okay?” “Why are you asking that?” Twin wrinkles form between her eyebrows. “You weren’t answering your phone,” I bite out. “I thought something happened.”

My phone is…” She glances around. “Somewhere. I left it with my purse.” “You’re not hurt, right?” “No.” She looks at me suspiciously.

think she’s one of the best things that ever happened to the company,” Ezekiel says. I’d take it further. I think Kenya Jones is one of the best things that ever happened to me.

Ahhhhh

It’s Alistair. He’s wearing a black coat over a white shirt and a pair of grey, fitted trousers. His stride is so powerful that his coat glides with an invisible wind. My heart starts breakdancing. I’m too tired to pretend that Grump-Vader isn’t the most attractive man I’ve ever seen. In my mermaid reenactment, would Alistair be the evil sea sorcerer or the handsome prince? The store manager stops in her tracks, her eyes glued to Alistair. “Is that…” “Yeah,” I croak.

roll my eyes and take a sip of the coffee. It burns my tongue. Even worse, it’s not coffee. “Ah.” I cry out. Before I can blink, Alistair is beside me. “What’s wrong?” “This is tea.” I scrunch my nose and accept the handkerchief he offers. “That’s disgusting.”

“What’s wrong with tea?” “It tastes like old dishwater.” Ezekiel snorts. My eyes dart to him. “I’m serious. I want coffee.” “You’re not getting coffee,” Alistair

is better for your voice.” He points to the cup like a true tea snob. “It’s green t...

“It’s dishwater.” I stick out my tongue and try to get the distasteful substance off. Alistair glower...

“You can get in, Kenya.” “Is this… were you waiting for me?” He nods. My eyes bug. Why is Alistair taking me home? Does he want to yell at me in the privacy of his own vehicle?

“Miss Jones.” Alistair’s hard voice careens out of the car. It lands on me like a missile. “Get in.”

“Fine.” I shrug. “Don’t tell me.” “Stop talking. It’s better for your voice.” “You telling me not to talk makes me want to talk more.” “It’s good advice.” “It’s your advice.”