Grumpy Romance (Billionaire Dads #1)

by Nia Arthurs

“It seems you all have too much time o...

“I’ll be sure to let your supervisor know that he’s being too easy on you...

“What was that?” Kenya waves an arm at the disappearing ladies. “Are you so bored you’re randomly picking on people now?”

“Did you go to the brunch?” She stops short.

“No.” “And the wedding?” “Why do you care?” Her chin lifts. Her eyes collide with mine. “Do you pity me because my family’s so messed up? Is my pain entertaining to you?”

don’t want to dig into, I clench my jaw. “Think what you will.” She pulls her lips into her mouth. Her nostrils flare.

She looks… exhausted. And I don’t know if it’s the pressure from work or her personal life that’s dragging her down but, suddenly, I want to make all her problems go away.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, moving close to her.

“Nothing. I’m fine. Everything’s great.” When she glances up, her eyes betray her anguish. “If you don’t need anythin...

want her cradled in my lap. I want my hands framing her face as I kiss her until she spills all the secrets, the spikes, the w...

Kenya is making it harder and harder to stay focused on my goal.

My brain instantly conjures Kenya’s face.

No one knows that for sure because Claire isn’t here to defend herself. She’s gone. And I’m the one who killed her.

“Why is it wrong?” Darrel shoots back. “You’re not married anymore.” “Claire is dead.” I flinch. “Exactly. My sister is gone, Alistair. It wasn’t your fault.”

The others fall silent as I slip in beside Kenya. She’s wearing a little black dress that hugs her body like it was made for her curves. The hem sparkles with some kind of gemstone and the top cuts into a deep V. Holy crap. She’s a vision. My desire surges, roaring up with a thirst so uncontrollable that I have no idea how I’ll get through the night sitting so close to her.

The black skirt flounces around her legs. Her curls are loose and free around her face. It’s unfair how stunning she is.

She’s the hottest woman in the room. It’ll be tough for any red-blooded male to ignore someone who looks as good as she does.

“In case you forgot,” I whirl around, my nostrils flaring, “you work for me. Alright?” “In case you forgot,” she stuffs a finger in my chest, “you don’t own me. I don’t care how much money you fling my way, I will not give up control to anyone. Especially not you.”

“Miss Jones, I’ve allowed you to speak your mind because you do great work, but do not push it. Now I suggest you take yourself back inside and enjoy the rest of your night far away from me.” “Or what?”

“Or you can follow me, and we might end up doing something we’ll both regret.”

“Something like what?” She tilts her chin u...

She’s freaking irresistible. Her dress, her heat, her scent—it’s all burning my restraint to a crisp. I can’t think with her looking at me like that. I offer her a tigh...

For a second, it’s only my steps on the sidewalk. And then I hear Kenya’s heels clicking behind me. My lips arch up in a smile.

But I can’t help it. Forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest in the dark, and I have a feeling I’ll find out just how sweet it is tonight.

wrap my arms around myself, trying to stay grounded. Alistair misinterprets the move and shrugs out of his jacket. “I’m fine,” I bite out. He pins it roughly on my shoulders, totally ignoring me. As usual. The jerk.

shove the jacket off me. He stops and pulls it back on. This time, he takes my arms and slides them into the sleeves. His face is set like stone, but his touch is… gentle. Just as gentle as it was when he hugged me outside Sunny’s apartment that night.

“There,” he says quietly. “Take it off again and I won’t be so nice next time.” That’s the Alistair I know. Bossy, rude, arrogant. When he’s tender, when he’s something close to a decent human being, it’s too crazy. It makes it hard to breathe. I glare up at him. “Where are we going?” “I don’t know. I’m just walking.”

“You dared me to follow you,” I whisper, my voice heated. “And you know I like a challenge.” “Will you do anything I dare you to?” His breath is hot against my face. His fingers dig into the back of the bench, not touching me and yet touching me everywhere.

The vodka shots I took must be curdling my better judgement because I really want to see how dangerous this can get. His eyes flit to my mouth. I can hear my breath thickening.

“Did you mean it?” I whisper. His hands slide around my waist. They’re big. Warm. Teasing. “Mean what?”

face but, to his credit, he’s keeping his focus on my eyes. “What you said tonight.” I frown. My second pulse is turning into a roaring, throbbing inferno. Why are there words? It’s screaming. Why are there still clothes on?

“You saved the Baby Box deal. That’s the truth. And… I shouldn’t have yelled at you. Even if you were out of line.”

“Is that a real, live apology, Mr. Alistair?” “I’m only half the bastard you think I am, Miss Jones.” “That’s still too much bastard for me.”

“You have no idea how much trouble that mouth will get you into.” “I guess you’re going to enlighten me?” Our eyes hold and linger.

Need claws its way up my chest. There’s too much fabric in the way. His coat. My dress. My underwear. Too many barriers from my skin to his. He caresses my cheek. “Thank you.” “Finally,”

“Although, now that I’ve gotten to hear those words from you, I need to find something else to work towards—”

his big hands tighten over my waist and tug me forward. It’s a quick, decisive move. One minute, I’m bent over him, the next I’m folding into his body. My palms land flat on the back of the bench as my mouth collides with his. I stiffen in shock. My brain struggles to make sense of the kiss. Then Alistair tilts his head, adjusting the angle. Suddenly, I don’t care about making sense of anything. Screw being rational. Screw worrying about where this leaves us tomorrow. I push into him, allowing my...

When I rake my fingers in, I meet coils like mine. Beautiful and coarse and rough. I’m used to the thickness and resistance. Of all the things to trip me up, Alistair’s hair is the last thing I expected. It slips between my fingers. It’s long enough to clutch. To tug. And I do, delighting when he groans in response.

He rewards me by bending his head and deepening the kiss. I’m not being savored.

I’m being devoured. He tastes my mouth, exploring the inside of my lip and inhaling every airy breath that escapes from me. It’s the hottest kiss I’ve ever had as the starry sky is my witness. And I wonder i...

agonizing. Perfect torture. And I know I’m going to be addicted to kissing him if it keeps on feeling like this. His arms are rock-hard. Chiseled muscles. I can’t feel my legs. A moan slides out of me, pressing hard against his body. He grips the back of my neck tight and I sigh, forgetting everything but how amazing he feels. When he hears me, his kiss changes. The motions, the intensity. Like a switch, it moves from angry to gentle. Full of promises. All kinds of vows he can’t keep.

This man will destroy me and I’ll go quietly to my end, smiling at the privilege.

He leans back slowly. My eyes fall shut because I don’t want to see what’s left of the fire that burned us both. There’s rarely anything beautiful in the ashes. I don’t ...

The heat from the kiss lingers, cascading against the sliver of space left between us. His thumb ...

My mouth opens and my eyes meet his. An energy whips around us when our gazes connect. It’s all anticipation and yearning. A yearni...

This doesn’t feel like an alcohol-fueled make out session. It’s almost like… he’s been thinking about this—about me—for a very long time. But that makes no...

I struggle to catch my breath, panting in short spurts while my body is still liquid heat.

“I—” “Don’t.” He stares at me and touches one of my curls reverently. “You can lie to everyone else, but not to me. And I don’t want to lie to you. Not anymore.” My eyelashes flutter. I can’t say anything.

“I don’t know what this is, but I know it isn’t a mistake. I’m not going to blame it on booze. I’m not going to throw our hormones under the bus. I’m not going to ask you to be friends with benefits or...

“You said we’d cross this line together. Fine. The line is behind us now. It’s too late to walk it back with stupid excuses neither of us will buy.” I shake my head. “We can’t.” “We can’t what.” I gla...