The Billionaire's Challenge - Final Google

“We need to talk. I don’t know…”

“Not now,” she said and held up her hand. “It’s been a long day.”

“Fine. You’re tired, but at least let me…”

She bowed her head and he saw her shoulders trembling. His whole body hurt at the realization that she was so close to tears.

“Selena!” he growled and moved across the stone patio to take her into his arms. She stiffened immediately but he didn’t release her, rubbing his hand comfortingly up and down her back. “Talk to me. Tell me what I did wrong. I know that I hurt you, but I honestly don’t know how!”

“I’m not…” she stopped when the sobs overwhelmed her. “I’m not a piece of meat!” She ripped out of his arms, but only because Reid was so stunned by her words. “I’m not a piece of meat that you can just…”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“You and…” she hiccupped, covering her face with her hands. “This morning! You were bragging to your brothers about what a perfect piece of meat I am! I’m not a piece of meat! I’m a human being! I’m a person with feelings and words hurt! You can’t just…”

“I never said that!”

She swung around, her teary eyes glaring up at him. “You did! This morning! After I came out of the pool, you were saying to your brothers what beautiful piece of meat I was!”

He stared at her, his mind trying to figure out what she was saying. He’d never referred to a woman in such a callous manner in his life. His sister would have castrated him and all of his brothers if she’d gotten even a whiff of them treating a woman poorly.

“You said I had a perfect rack!” Her hands moved up to cover the cleavage revealed by the gorgeous dress.

Those words struck a memory and he looked at her, shocked by how she’d interpreted his words. “Selena…I was talking about the ribs,” he explained gently, knowing that he had to be careful. “You do have beautiful breasts, honey. But when the caterer had arrived this morning, they brought a massive amount of pre-cooked ribs. If you’re talking about a conversation I had with my brothers while you were swimming, we were talking about the rack of ribs that the caterer was brushing with more sauce.” He moved closer, watching her stunned eyes carefully. “Honey, you have to believe me when I say that I would never talk about any woman like that. Never!”

Her mouth fell open and he touched her, relieved when she didn’t shrink away from him.

“You’re beautiful, Selena. And yes, you have breasts that make my mouth water, but I’m a leg man. So if there’s anything I admire about you most it is your legs.” Closer still. “I love your legs. They are strong and sexy and when you wear those heels, I can’t even think!”

Still nothing, but he could see that she was thinking.

“The ribs?” she whispered.

Her words came out scratchy and he ached to hold her. So instead of holding back, he pulled her into his arms, tucking her head under his chin as he felt her body tremble against his. “Ribs, honey. Not you.” He smiled. “Although, feeling your breasts against my chest right now is pretty nice.”

A laugh! She actually laughed! She might have smiled during the party, but this was the first time he’d heard her laugh all day long! It sounded…beautiful.

“Maybe you should tell me what happened in your past, Selena. I suspect that those memories are a bit of a landmine. And…” he hesitated, feeling her body stiffen. He pulled away slightly. “I want you in my life forever, Selena. But I don’t want to trigger memories that will hurt you.” He took her hands, gently holding her fingers. “Will you tell me what happened in your past, please? Will you explain?”

Ribs? He’d been talking about the ribs? That actually made sense. Thinking back, Selena remembered the caterers. And yes, the ribs had smelled amazing. Not that she’d had any, being too sick to her stomach about what she’d thought Reid had said about her.

But food? He hadn’t been talking about her and sharing her with his brothers…?