Bidding on the Billionaire
Page 20
Once when they were kids, he’d pushed her buttons until she’d become so angry she’d sworn never to speak to him again. She’d discovered later that he’d had an argument with his father. She couldn’t remember what about, but Caden had been the one to point out he’d likely taken his bad mood out on her. Rather than asking for what he needed—support, kindness—he pushed away the people he held closest to him. Sebastian was used to the people he loved leaving him. First his mother, then his father.
Ever since, she’d always forgiven him, because she knew, deep down, Caden had been right. Sebastian wasn’t this man. This was his coping mechanism. Besides, he was family. Did he really think she wouldn’t see through him now?
Yes, that’s exactly what happened here. He attempted to evade grief, and he’d lashed out at the first person within reach. Oh, for sure he needed someone, but not in the way he’d stated. She’d call Caden later. Being a Monday morning, he and Hannah were no doubt sitting down to breakfast. They were barely a year into their marriage, still newlyweds, and she hated disturbing them. Not to mention that Hannah was six months into her first pregnancy. They’d get enough interruptions when the baby came. For now, Sebastian would have to make do with her, because no way would she leave him alone. Clearly, he’d gone down a dark road.
Decision made, she turned to the counter behind her, picked up her purse and pulled out her cell phone. Then she dialed her assistant. “Hi, Paula. It’s Christina. Would you clear my schedule for today, please? We’ve had a family emergency, and I’m going to need to take the day off. Give my apologies, will you, please?”
“Of course, Miss McKenzie. Is everything all right?”
“I’m afraid we’ve had a death in the family. I’m needed at home.”
“Oh, no. I’m so sorry, ma’am. My condolences to you and your family. I’ll make sure you won’t be disturbed.”
“Thank you, Paula.”
She hung up her phone and returned it to her to purse. Then she toed off her heels and carried them to the edge of the hallway, where she wouldn’t trip over them. On her return to the kitchen, she came up short. Sebastian stood in the kitchen entrance, blocking her path, arms crossed and a firm scowl puckering his brow. “What are you doing?”
She hiked her chin a notch and held her ground. “Taking care of you.”
The grooves between his brows deepened, and his jaw tightened. “I’m not a child, Tina.”
Ignoring his clear attempt to push her off, she pivoted and moved around him, heading around the center island toward the fridge. Thankfully, Lupe kept it well stocked. What Sebastian needed was a friend and a full stomach. In her experience, men were simple creatures. She’d learned by growing up with Caden and her father that the way to tame a riled male usually began with a good meal, so she’d start by making Sebastian breakfast.
She pulled open the refrigerator door and peered inside, ignoring the gaze burning a hole into the back of her head. “It’s Chris, if you don’t mind, or Christina if you prefer. I’m not ten years old anymore, either, and I know darn well you’re aware of that, because you just had your hands all over the proof. I’m staying. You can grump all you want, but don’t bother attempting to bully me. I’m not one of your employees or one of those weak-kneed groupies you date. In case you’ve forgotten, I graduated from M.I.T. at the top of my class. That means I’m smart, and I’m used to men like you who think they can push me around. You’re stuck with me for the day, Sebastian. So deal with it.”
About the Author
JM Stewart is a coffee and chocolate addict who lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, two sons, and two very spoiled dogs. She’s a hopeless romantic who believes everybody should have their happily-ever-after and has been devouring romance novels for as long as she can remember. Writing them has become her obsession.
Learn more at:
AuthorJMStewart.com
Facebook.com/AuthorJMStewart
Twitter: @JMStewartWriter
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Contents
Cover
Title Page
Welcome
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
A Preview of WINNING THE BILLIONAIRE
About the Author
Newsletters
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2016 by JM Stewart
Excerpt from Winning the Billionaire copyright © 2016 by JM Stewart
Cover design by Elizabeth Turner
Cover copyright © 2016 by Hachette Book Group, Inc.
All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher constitutes unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at permissions@hbgusa.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
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First ebook and print on demand edition: March 2016
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ISBN 978-1-4555-9217-3 (ebook edition)
ISBN 978-1-4555-9218-0 (print on demand edition)
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