His Desire (Billionaire Blind Date Book 5) by Jacinda Chance Page B

up to you?” Grant still hadn’t turned around, but rifled around in a drawer.
    “Make it up to me? Are you kidding? Even without considering the gifts, the elegant restaurants . . . you introduced me to Hollis and pretty much single-handedly launched my career. I’m the one who can never repay you. Though as a start, I’ll send back the dresses and jewelry, of course.”
    “No.” Grant finally turned, frowning. “Those were gifts. I wanted you to have them. You keep them.”
    “But the dress for the wedding. It’s so extravagant, and expensive.”
    Grant smiled, but it looked sad. “There will be other weddings. Wear it to one of those. You’ll look stunning.”
    I sighed. “I really don’t mind going to dinner. It feels so one-sided, that you’ve done so much for me.”
    “One-sided? Oh, no. It’s not. You’ve helped me in many ways, Sophie. But especially today.” Grant reached out and tucked hair behind my ear with his fingertip. “It’s not one-sided, I promise.”
    He looked down at me, his jaw moving as if he were about to say something. Then the muscles clenched, and the soft look left his eyes. “You should get dressed, and I’ll call for a driver.”
    I got up and started pulling my clothes on. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. “I can take a cab,” I said, my voice tight.
    “Nonsense.” Grant thumbed his phone. “Have the car brought around front to take Ms. Falcon home.”
    I smoothed down my hair, and wiped my face, and saw the ring shining on my finger. With a deep breath, I slid it off and held it out to Grant.
    “No.” He shook his head, his frown deepening. “Put it back on, it’s all right. Or sell it, if you’d like.”
    “I couldn’t do that. You’ve given me too much already.”
    He waved me off. “What am I going to do with it?”
    “I can’t keep it, Grant. It’s an engagement ring. I wouldn’t feel right.”
    “You should wear it anyway. It looks beautiful on your hand.”
    I exhaled slowly. “Grant, please take it. I . . . it’s gorgeous, but it’s too big, too flashy for me. For a fake engagement to a wealthy man, it’s perfect. But I prefer something simpler anyway. Please.” I finally grabbed his hand and pressed the ring into his palm.
    He stared at it a moment, then closed his fist around it with a nod. “If you wish. The car should be waiting for you. Is there . . . anything else I can do for you, Sophie?”
    Don’t send me away like this? Don’t end it?
    I’m not sure where I got the courage, the boldness to say something that I knew could draw a laugh that would sting far worse than any slap Grant had leveled on my behind. But I stepped up to him, and braced myself for the worst.
    “No, there’s nothing I can think of. As I said, you’ve done so much for me already. I’m grateful. And . . . I wish it didn’t have to end. Not . . . you doing things for me. That came out wrong. I mean, I hope . . . I want to know . . . is this it? Now that there’s no wedding, you won’t call me again? Because, Grant, I really don’t want it to be that way.”
    Grant put his hands on my shoulders, and for a moment, I thought he was going to say that he didn’t either. I let myself have that hope. The longer he looked at me, a look in his eyes I couldn’t quite decipher, the more I thought he was going to say something I longed to hear.
    His eyes went cold, and the Grant I’d spent the morning with disappeared. Businessman Grant stood in front of me. “From the very beginning, I told you I didn’t do romance.” He squeezed my shoulders, pressed a peck of a kiss to my forehead, and turned away. “But it was fun. Goodbye, Sophie.”
    I straightened my spine and walked toward the bedroom door, as disappointed as I was hurt. And then I spun back to him. His eyes were on me already. “Grant, there is something you can do for me. You can answer one question honestly.”
    “I’ve never lied to you.”
    He was proud of his ability to tell the truth without