The Billionaire's Challenge - Final Google

“You’ll find out,” he told her and gave her another quick kiss before patting her bottom. “Go work out and then we’ll get out of the way and let the experts handle things, okay?”

She smiled, glanced over at the still-scowling Brant, and moved away. “Will do,” she told him, thinking she should probably head into the office to let him do whatever it is that rich men did right before an event like what he’d planned this afternoon.

With another self-conscious glance towards Brant, she turned and headed out to the pool, relieved to be away from his scowling disapproval.

Reid watched her leave and wondered if she would ever open up and tell him why she was so hesitant to embrace what they both felt. She was achingly lovely and yet, every time he pulled her close when someone else was around, he could feel the stiffness in her body. Hell, sometimes she was pulling back, wary of him even when no one else was around!

And yet, the moment he kissed her, she melted in his arms, became a wildly abandoned lover. He knew that she enjoyed being with him, and not just in bed. When they were alone together, she was relaxed and seemed happy to be with him. But he knew that she was holding something back. Something painful.

He had no idea how to help her share what was bothering her. Probably because he’d never felt like this about another woman before. She was…amazing! Smart. Sassy.

Maybe that was what bothered him so much. She didn’t expect a damn thing and yet, he wanted to give her everything. He searched for and found the ring that he’d bought a week ago. It had been in his pocket the whole time. He wanted the ring on her finger! He wanted everyone to know that Selena was his woman! She was completely oblivious to the way other men watched her, lusted for her! They saw her beauty as a prize, something to win and own.

They didn’t see the gentle spirit underneath the killer body or know the warm kindness behind her welcoming smile. Others didn’t know how much fun it was to simply sit on the couch and watch a movie with her, feel her soft curves as they melted against him. She was…amazing!

“You know she’s gone, right?”

Reid blinked, not registering the words. “Huh?”

He turned to face his smirking brother.

“You’ve been staring at the door for the past few minutes as if she’s about to walk back in. She’s gone. In the pool now.”

Reid glanced at the door again, wishing that she would walk back in. He wanted to be out there swimming with her, feeling the water swirl around them and watch the water slide down her impressive…

“Stop it!” Brant growled, punching Reid’s arm. “You’re in love with her. I get it. But stop mooning over her! It’s pathetic.”

Reid glanced at his brother, then threw back his head and laughed. “You’re just jealous,” he jabbed. “I know that you’re mooning over that cute financial analyst. Don’t even try to deny it.”

His brother pressed his lips together, not denying anything. “You’re an ass,” was all he would say.

“And you’re just as love sick as I am so don’t even try it.”

Again, no denial, but Brant’s scowl deepened.

A knock on the door interrupted their brotherly chat and Reid smacked his brother’s shoulder. “She’ll be here at the party, right? It will be the perfect opportunity for you to talk to her outside of the office. Maybe she’ll be a bit more receptive to your dubious charms when she doesn’t have a spreadsheet in front of her.” He walked out of the kitchen, but called back from the hallway as he went to answer the front door. “Even better, Selena is good friends with your little woman. And since I’ll be hanging out next to Selena the whole time, you’ll have a good excuse to corner your raven-haired beauty and find out why she hates you so much.”

Reid was almost to the front door, but he heard his brother grumble, “I don’t need an excuse and she doesn’t hate me.” The grumbling, as well as the implication that his brother was struggling with a woman, was so unprecedented, caused him to laugh harder. Damn, life was good!

Chapter 17

Selena pulled herself out of the pool, feeling incredible! Swimming laps definitely used different muscles than going for a run or taking a spin class, she thought. Her muscles felt good and the coolness of the water kept her from overheating. What excellent exercise! If she’d known how nice it was to swim, she probably would have joined a gym that had a lap pool a long time ago.