Going Down Hard (Billionaire Bad Boys 3)

A few seconds later, he walked back into her office. He hadn’t sufficiently calmed down—inside anyway—but he forced himself to remember it wasn’t her fault.

“Hey. Everything okay?” she asked.

He nodded. “Becky had a few issues she needed me to address, and I need to head back right after my meeting. I’m going to have to cancel dinner.”

Disappointment flashed across her pretty face. “Oh. Okay,” she said. “I understand.”

“Thank you.” He shoved his hands into his pants pockets. “So, I saw your brother leave.”

She nodded, her cheeks an embarrassed red. “I’m sorry about him. He’s rude and unbearable.”

“He’s an asshole,” Derek said bluntly. He didn’t see the point in beating around the bush.

He’d promised not to treat her badly because of her family. He hadn’t sworn to be nice to or about them. And Derek hated that smug bastard as much as he detested her father and what he’d done to Derek’s mother. The fact that Spencer had had no problem reminding Derek of who he was, where he’d come from, and the vast differences between himself and Cassie only reinforced his dislike for the family in general.

He’d put Derek back in the frame of mind he’d been in before he’d promised Cassie he’d do better. Only his growing feelings for Cassie herself kept him from turning on her. He had to admit, it wasn’t easy. That’s how badly the son of a bitch got to him.

He propped a hip on her desk. “I can handle him,” he assured her.

“I know. You just shouldn’t have to.”

“How about a change of subject? I have a fundraiser gala I have to attend this Saturday night, and I was wondering if you’d like to go with me. You’ll get to spend time with my partners and their significant others. You can decide if that’s a plus or a minus,” he said, laughing, because the women in Kade’s and Lucas’s life were nosey and going to be damned curious about Derek and Cassie.

“Yes! Of course.” Cassie’s brown eyes lit up with pleasure. “I’d love to go,” she said.

“Good. Now that you’ve agreed and can’t get out of it, I should warn you there are long speeches, and it could get a little boring.”

She rose to her feet, walked over, and placed her hands on his shoulders. Her warm scent enveloped him, and his cock grew hard. “How could I be bored when I’ll be with you?”

Her reaction made him glad he’d asked. “I figured the night would give you more insight into my charitable contributions for your article.”

She narrowed her gaze. “Umm, is this a date? Or am I going in my official capacity?” she asked, her arms sliding off his shoulders.

He grabbed her wrists and lifted her arms, wrapping them back around his neck where they belonged. “Guess.”

She relaxed, the tension ebbing from her body. “I thought maybe my brother’s behavior had changed your mind about whatever’s going on between us.”

He blew out a long breath. “I’ll admit I had to do some serious talking to myself, but no. It’s going to take more than your pompous jackass of a sibling to run me off.”

A wide smile took hold. “Good to know you’re a man of your word, Mr. West. So what is the event for?” she asked.

“The House of Hope. It’s an organization that ensures no family suffers while a loved one is critically ill.”

He’d been instrumental in its creation. From the time his father passed away, he’d wanted to do something for people in the position they’d been in. Families who couldn’t afford to be with their loved ones because otherwise they couldn’t keep a roof over their heads or food on the table.

Her eyes softened at his description of the organization that meant so much to him. “How so?” she asked. “How do they help?”

“If an adult patient is terminal, the organization steps in and helps pay—rent, utilities, food bills. Whatever is necessary. And they’re currently raising money to build something akin to the Ronald McDonald Houses, or St. Jude’s, where families can stay for free near hospitals.”

“What a wonderful mission,” she murmured, her voice crackling with emotion. “I’m excited to attend and find out more about them. And just think about the all the people who will learn about it once your series of articles are published. People like you, with money, who want to donate to a good cause,” she said, her enthusiasm rising along with his own.

“It’ll give you added dimension, but the more important thing is the potential for raising money,” she said with a bright smile.

It meant something to him that she understood the importance of House of Hope. Something that endeared her to him even more. There was so much they had in common, so much he liked about her, he thought, knowing he was falling and hard.

The problem was, they didn’t live in a bubble, just the two of them. Her family existed, with all their flaws and issues. He’d dodged a bullet today, had been able to cope with her brother, probably because Becky’s phone call had saved him from dealing with him for an extended period of time.

If the bastard had had time to continue, Derek might have ended up throwing the first punch and no doubt landing his ass in jail for assault if he’d even once mentioned Derek’s mother.