Going Down Hard (Billionaire Bad Boys 3)

“Cassandra, come talk to me before you go.”

She blew out a deep breath. “Did you know they’re kicking me out of the guesthouse?”

Her mother, dressed in a pair of black wool slacks and a silk blouse, clasped her hands in front of her and nodded. She tucked a strand of her brown, bobbed hair behind her ear. “That’s why I want you to come talk.” She shot Cassie a beseeching look.

Betrayal sat deep in her stomach, but she decided to hear Daniella out. Cassie followed her mother into the kitchen and waited while she made them each a cup of tea, then settled into a seat at the table.

“I know you don’t understand your father,” her mother began.

“No, I understand him. What Spencer wants, Spencer gets. If I didn’t have such strong feelings for Grandpa and the company, I’d be long gone,” Cassie said, ignoring the steaming-hot tea.

“Honey, your father is complicated. Part of the problem is that he’s old-fashioned. His son is a reflection of him, and he’s going to do what he can to make him happy and keep him on the straight and narrow.”

Cassie swallowed hard. “At my expense. Look, it’s not that I don’t understand him protecting Spencer, I do. But handing over the company I’ve put my heart and soul into? Asking me to move out of my home?”

Her mother placed a hand on Cassie’s. “I disagree with what he’s doing, but I want you to know why I think he does it.”

“You just said it’s because Spencer is a reflection of him.”

“Partly. The other part is because he knows you can stand on your own. You’re going to come out on top no matter what. You always succeed at what you do. It’s why I’m so proud of you.”

“Those are your feelings, Mom, not his.”

Her mother squeezed her hand, and a lump formed in Cassie’s throat.

This was how things had always been. Her father would do something or miss an event, and

her mother would make an excuse for the man. Daniella loved him, but Cassie would never understand or forgive how he treated her.

Daniella’s words didn’t take away the sting or the pain, but Cassie was resilient. Her mother was right. She’d pull it together and land on her feet.

* * *

Derek didn’t plan on letting Cassie convince him to do the interview. He did, however, decide to go all out for their dinner. The hard truth was, he wanted to impress her. He needed her to see him as the successful man he’d become, not the wannabe son of the help. And if he could coax her into his bed so he could satisfy his desire for her, that would be a win, too.

He booked a private room in an exclusive restaurant that would normally take months to get a regular reservation. He called her himself to confirm their Friday night date, not wanting to keep it impersonal with Becky being the go-between.

And though he didn’t know Cassie well enough to judge, her voice sounded like she was feeling down. For a brief moment, he wondered if she’d cancel, but she didn’t. So he offered to pick her up, not caring that she lived on Long Island and he’d be going out of his way only to have to drive back into Manhattan. She’d insisted on meeting him at the restaurant.

His father had raised him to be a gentleman, and it didn’t sit right with him not to drive her. But she wouldn’t give in, and so he waited at the front of the restaurant, determined to join her when she arrived.

He caught sight of her getting out of a taxi right on time. He shook his head, still not pleased that he wasn’t in charge, paying for the cab.

His visceral reaction to seeing her again caught him off guard. Her hair was free, flowing over her shoulders, her makeup done up more than the last time, and from the long legs peeking out from beneath her wool coat, she wore a dress that, with his luck, would have him drooling all through dinner. His heart began to pound in his chest, and a fresh wave of desire hit him hard.

Hoping she couldn’t see or notice his body’s response, he stepped into the chilly air and met her on the sidewalk. “You made it,” he said by way of greeting.

She inclined her head and smiled, her gaze traveling over him appreciatively. “I said I would. And now I’m glad I did.”

“Let’s get out of the cold.” He placed a hand at the small of her back and led her toward the restaurant, holding the door open for her to walk inside.

She removed her jacket, revealing a white cashmere dress, the slight dip in the front showing her slender neck, the slight swell of her breasts, and a thin gold chain. No heavy jewelry in sight.

“You look beautiful,” he said, the words out before he could think them through.

Her eyes swung to his. “Thank you,” she said, clearly surprised by the compliment.

They obviously had a long way to go before they were comfortable around each other, but he was working on it. If he thought he’d wanted her before, he was even more certain now. Getting her out of his system would be the healthy thing to do.