Single Dad's Spring Break: A Billionaire's Second Chance Romance

“He’s an asshole, and I can’t believe you expected me to sit there and let him talk to you that way!”

“You being an asshole too wasn’t going to help anything!” I was near tears from anger and couldn’t believe he’d interfered.

“I’m the asshole? Then I’ll leave you alone too.” Reed’s glare pegged me hard, and without another word, he shook his head and left.

Things were getting too intense too soon.

CHAPTER TEN - REED

I stormed into my room and sat on my bed thumbing through my phone. I had to do something to get my mind off wanting to kill her fucking ex with my bare hands. The asshole reminded me of my father and the way he’d yell at my mom. Being a kid, I’d sat idly by and let him talk to her that way, and I’d lived with the guilt that maybe if I had done something, anything to help my mother, to stand up for her, that she’d still be with me.

A moment later Bella walked into the room. “I think it might be better if I go.”

“Why, because I won’t treat you lik

e shit and let that asshole talk down to you? I’d never treat you that way.”

A sarcastic laugh bubbled up from her and anger flashed in her eyes. “Because you’re such a saint? You manipulated me to get me to sleep with you by threatening to have my best friend arrested!”

I tossed the phone aside and stood up meeting her eyes. “Yeah, I made an asshole move but I told you before you climbed into my bed that it was your choice. Don’t act like I had a gun to your head when you sucked my dick either.”

“You can’t think there’s more to this. I mean, it’s not like you want a relationship and it’s not like I’m ready for one anyway. So, what difference does it make if I stay or go?”

“Because I want you to stay. And don’t tell me what I want.” I walked back to the bed and took my phone. “If you want to leave I’ll call you a cab. You can wait downstairs so you don’t get soaked.”

She glanced back to the window behind me and frowned at the sight of the rain. It had grown even worse since we’d been at the creek.

She raked a hand through her long hair and sighed. “I’ll call Kayla when it stops raining. Until then I’ll be in my room.”

“Do whatever you want sweetheart.” I breezed past her and headed down to the living room bar and poured myself a drink. I shouldn’t let her go; I should do whatever to takes to make her stay, to make her want to be here.

It wasn’t that I wanted a relationship either, though with her, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. I shook my head at the thought of it. No, she was a free spirit with a dream, that was best for both of us.

I threw back the drink and sat near the big front window to watch the rain.

Hours passed, and I’d dozed off on the couch.

A soft voice woke me.

“The weather isn’t letting up anytime soon.”

I opened my eyes and I saw that she had her phone to her ear.

“I understand. I’ll be fine here, no need to worry. You and Rick stay dry. No, he’s asleep on the couch. I was thinking about going back to the hotel.” She paused and turned back to the window. “It’s not like that, Kayla. I just ended things with Gavin; this is supposed to be my time.”

She turned and glanced over her shoulder, and I met her eyes as I sat up and stretched.

“We’ll talk about this later, Kayla. I need to go. He’s awake.”

The light from her phone screen went off, and I realized that the room was too dimly lit. I reached over to turn on a lamp, but she shook her head.

“The power is out. Has been for a few hours now.”

“You’re welcome to stay. I don’t want you out in this weather.”

“Thanks, I wouldn’t want to be out in it. I think your drive is flooded anyway.”

“I’m sure it is, and the road in. It always floods, which means no one can get in or out.” I walked to the bar and poured myself another drink.