Billionaire’s Quarry: A Billionaire, Bad Boy, Romance (An Alpha Billionaire Romance Boxed Set) by Michelle Love

lying!
    “You’re right, that’s not what I do at lunch on Thursdays,” I say as I chew on my lip and try to come up with something quick.
    “I knew it!” he says with a triumphant shout. His free hand does a fist pump into the air and I find myself laughing.
    “Really, Jude?”
    He nods. “Tell me the real reason.”
    “The real reason is pretty embarrassing to me. Do you really have to know?” I ask, stalling for time to come up with something that sounds viable.
    I suppose the word, embarrassing, hit him and I watch him change from the have to know man, to a man who must value his privacy some too. “No, you don’t have to tell me if it will embarrass you. I’m sorry. Sometimes I push too hard. I’m used to getting my way. Now, I realize I’m being pretty bratty. It’s a thing I hate to see in others and here I am being the same way.”
    “Wow,” I mumble. Then I lean forward and touch his lips with mine for only a moment. “That was something to see, Jude. Thank you for understanding.”
    With a nod, he turns back and repositions himself in the driver’s seat and takes off again. “So, can I call you tonight then? Or are you tired of me?”
    “I’m not tired of you,” I say as I reach over and take his hand. “And yes, please call me around nine tonight. If you want to, that is. No pressure.”
    He frowns and glances at me then back at the road. “Not like the pressure I’ve been putting on you, huh?”
    I’m not sure what to say to that. The man has been putting on the pressure. So I try to ease the tension he has going on in his body with a laugh. “Jude, your pressure is something I never thought would happen today. The fact you’d argue with me just to spend more time with me is a thing I find almost endearing. No one has ever fought for more time with me.”
    He squeezes my hand as he says, “I’m not like most men. I’m a hunter deep down. When I spot what I want, I always get it. And I want you, Mercy. I want to get to know you and see where that leads.”
    A chill runs through me with his words. He’s a hunter. He’s looking at me like prey, I guess. I don’t know if I like that.
    My silence has him glancing at me again as he asks, “Did what I say put you off?”
    I shake my head but it did a little. I can’t be stalked. Things have to be safe in my little world with the kids. I can’t have some man set on making me his.
    I have to do something to get him not to like me so much. I’m not sure what, though. There are so many things men hate for women to do.
    Whine, by clingy, be lazy, and I don’t think I can do any of those things!
    Pulling into the Denny’s parking lot, I see my car is still there, safe and sound. He parks next to it then pulls my hand to his lips. “Let me let you out.”
    I nod and he lets my hand go and gets out then comes around to my side of the car. Taking my hand, he pulls me up and then he has me wrapped in his arms. His eyes search mine for the longest time.
    I see so much in his dark eyes with the bright yellow Denny’s sign reflecting in them. I wish I could spend more time with him right now. I wish I didn’t have the responsibilities I have. Or the guilt for leaving the kids with someone else while I mess around.
    Then I feel awful for thinking that and I sigh and lean my head on his shoulder. He doesn’t say a word. He only holds me and rocks back and forth a little. His lips touch the top of my head and I find myself wanting to tell him everything.
    Only I can’t yet. It’s too soon.
    He knows I have a secret. I can feel it in the way he’s holding me. He’s trying to let me know it will all be alright. But it won’t. Not anytime soon, it won’t. My life isn’t really all mine.
    My life is part of two others. Two, very important people to me. Two little people who have no one else, nor do I for that matter.
    He starts moving with me, dancing me backward toward my car. I put my hand on his shoulder as he hums a slow tune and takes