Something Like Hate: An Enemies-to-Lovers Billionaire Romance

by Harloe Rae

  “That’s kinda our thing, Lannie.” Vannah winks at me.

  “Fine,” I grunt. “Accompany me purely for real estate-related services.”

  “I’d prefer to stay local.” More like remain rooted in place, where it’s safe.

  I scratch at the evening stubble sprouting along my jaw. “You’re really going to piss this commission away?”

  Her lips pinch until the edges are white. “Without hearing any details about these mystery deals, I’m not confident there’s much to gain.”

  “I’ll tell you on the flight.” Putting this entire interaction behind me is top priority. A cold shower is next on the list. Flames are still coursing under my skin and becoming a greater distraction. I’m starting to itch under the confines of my suit. Not that anyone would be able to notice the annoyance prodding at me.

  Vannah crosses her arms, staring me down with a familiar glint. “Is that code for ‘we’ll do whatever the hell you want, no matter what I say’?”

  I tug at my tie, loosening the knot enough to breathe freely. “That’s a good enough translation.”

  She sniffs the air. “Do you smell that?”

  “No.” I don’t bother taking a whiff.

  Her posture doesn’t ease from its stiff hold. “It’s the stench of suspicion.”

  “That sounds like a personal problem.” I offer a shrug. It goes without saying that her concern is warranted. There’s just nothing she can do about it.

  Vannah pokes me in the chest, not assisting with my overheating issue. “You’re planning something sneaky.”

  “I don’t always have a hidden agenda.”

  She scoffs. “Yes, you do.”

  I allow a smirk to greet her insistence, crumbling my recently recovered indifference. She’s just too damn demanding to ignore. “Then I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.”

  The spacious cabin goes silent after the pilot finishes his mandatory update about reaching cruising altitude. Three flight attendants stand from their docking stations and hustle down the wide aisle to fetch the drinks Landon demanded upon takeoff. Other than the crew, it’s just the two of us as passengers. To be fair, there are only ten spots to begin with. I have a feeling nine are often empty. Unless he’s in the habit of bringing company, which I find hard to believe.

  There’s still a zing zipping through me that he has me aboard in the first place. We’re confined in tight quarters with no means to escape beyond emergency procedures. This is another tactic in his expensive arsenal, but he didn’t consider the consequences of trapping me in this situation. I have a solid hour before we land, which gives me more than enough time to interrogate him. It’s not like he can get farther than fifty feet away from me.

  Silly Landon. You’re a stuck duck.

  But the conditions couldn’t be better. I shift on the plush seat that’s cocooning me in a cozy hug. The material is softer than melted butter. There’s no funky odor trapped in the cushions from too many travelers. The recycled air smells too crisp and clean. Every surface sparkles as morning light filters through the small windows. A mimosa appears on the table as if conjured by magic. I don’t know how the lady managed to set down the glass without me noticing. It’s all just so… fancy. I’m not a stranger to witnessing the benefits of money, but this is an entirely separate scale. Being surrounded by such opulent luxury makes my skin prickle. I’m afraid to get the freaking carpet dirty.

  Landon is busy tapping away at his laptop, happily ignoring my presence. His purpose for this trip has yet to be revealed. I’m almost convinced he just wants to contain me by any feasible means. I’ll admit that tingling temptation is urging me to jump on his lap and take a detour to Pleasure Valley. He’d probably be more than willing after our rendezvous yesterday. I’ve never been a self-deprecating kind of girl, though. Sexy and a damn good kisser he might be, but that doesn’t mean I should sleep with him. The pleasure he’s capable of delivering is difficult to deny. Our chemistry might as well be sparking between us, begging for an outlet.

  I twirl my champagne flute, watching bubbles fizz in the orange juice. We haven’t discussed the tonsil hockey incident. Landon seems content to pretend it didn’t happen. Not that I’m overly shocked that he’d prefer to forget the moments his guard fell away and passion flowed freely from him. He’s packing loads of pent-up lust among the baggage I can’t begin to weigh.

  The guy is emotionally stunted. Whether on purpose as a defense mechanism or engrained by his upbringing, pulling genuine feelings from him is proving to be challenging. He’s a vault—and not a cheap knockoff I can find at Fleet Farm. No, this guy is top of the line. All tough steel and impenetrable force. Burglars would run the other way after catching sight of his complicated locking mechanisms.

  I wasn’t lying about a rock being more open to conveying expressions. Hot or cold seem to be Landon’s standard settings, unless provoked with a topic strong enough to slice through his impassive surface. Sucking his face did the trick, but so did bringing up the woman who did him wrong. The obvious choice is to go with the lesser of two evils. I’ll build to that point. Otherwise, the entire flight will be ruined in five minutes.

  “This is how the upper crust travel, huh?”

  Landon’s gaze remains fastened on his computer. “Is the jet to your liking?”

  I snort into my citrus-laced Cristal—yes, the attendant presented the label prior to pouring. “Is that a serious question?”

  “Of course,” he replies.

  “What if I say no? Do you have another private plane we can switch this one out for?”

  His nod is subtle. “I do.”

  I suck in a deep breath, whistling from the effort. “Wow, that’s excessive.”

  “I travel very frequently, Savannah.” For once, his excuse is valid. “Plus, it makes vacations convenient.”

  “Do you even know what that is? I have a hard time believing you take days off work.” I narrow my eyes on his stupidly handsome face.

  He has yet to look at me. “You’d be correct.”

  I’m determined to pester him until he cracks, or at least gives me the courtesy of eye contact. “Where would you go?”

  The strain in his posture is impossible to miss. “It’s perfectly acceptable to sit in silence.”

  And let him off the hook after making a dent? Yeah, right. “Not for me.”

  “Don’t you have a job that requires doing?”

  I sit forward, resting an elbow on my knee. “You bring up a great point. What will I be doing while in your beloved city?”

  The clicking from Landon’s typing is stabbing into my skull. “I expect you’ll find vacant buildings for sale, or finish our current contracts. Maybe you’ll provide me with adequate research on the areas we’re looking to establish new locations.”

  “I could do that from Minneapolis.”

  “This way I won’t have random strangers storming into my office, posing as prostitutes.”

  “Are you still salty about that?”

  He still doesn’t take his eyes off the screen in front of him. “Very.”

  Pressure builds at the base of my neck as I continue slamming into his iron wall. He’s a tough nut. I’ll give him credit for that. My nails make a ticking noise of their own while I dance my fingers against the armrest. A deep furrow appears between Landon’s brows.

  I tilt my head and squint at him. “You need to loosen up.”

  A muscle leaps at the hinge in his jaw. “That’s what I was attempting to do until you interrupted with this incessant chatter.”

  “Well, excuse me for trying to engage you in active conversation.”

  He abandons his work with a grunt. “You’re incorrigible.”

  “It’s entirely your fault for inviting me.” I smile wide while fluttering my lashes. “And I use that term very loosely.”

  Landon relaxes enough to recline in his chair. “What would you like to discuss?”

  “You kissed me,” I blurt.

 
He quirks a brow. “I could say the same to you.”

  “Are we just going to cover that up like an illicit affair?”

  “Is that what you’d prefer?”

  “I haven’t decided.” I’m still caught up in unraveling his plot against me. There’s no chance I believe he’s dropping the asshole act where I’m concerned.

  He trails a hand along his smooth cheek. “Well, I have every intention of savoring a repeat performance when we’re in a more suitable location.”

  I glance around the empty cabin. “It doesn’t get more private than this.”

  Why am I encouraging him?

  A rumble rolls from the back of his throat. “We won’t be stopping with just a kiss, sugar.”

  “You’re so confident I’m interested in that.”

  “Aren’t you?” The ravenous gleam in his gaze almost makes my stomach growl.

  He’s doing a damn good job turning my body against me. Keeping my legs from squirming is a mighty feat. The warmth pooling in my lower belly is horribly inconvenient. My defenses stretch from the sidelines, ready to get in the game.

  “Tell me about the girl.” If only the quake would leave my voice.

  His scoff is heaping with disappointment. “She’s no one, Savannah. You can stop prying.”

  A man like Landon Winters doesn’t obliterate his collective calm unless there’s a valid explanation. “I’m not buying that.”

  “And I’m not talking about her.” His shrug is lazy, but an underlying strain trembles at the edges.

  “Oh, my. Does the fierce Lannie have emotions after all?”

  “Nice try,” he spits. Then he drags a palm down his tie, inhaling a long breath. “I’ll feed your morbid curiosity, since you’re so determined to believe this is a weakness that can be used against me. After this, we’re done discussing her. Period. Do I make myself clear?”

  I roll my eyes at his dramatics. “Yeah, yeah. Get on with the sordid tale.”

  Landon glares out the window at the endless blue spanning far and wide. “Yvonne and I went to the same college—University of Chicago, before you bother asking. At the time, being young and careless, I dated whoever the hell I wanted. It was mostly to defy my father. Yvonne was my flavor of the week, which expanded into a month. I blame it on her being convenient and easily accessible. Her beauty held my interest well enough too. Then I made the mistake of bringing her to my parents’ house.”

  He goes quiet for a moment, seeming lost in thought. His exhale is forced and thick. “To this day, I’m still not sure why I did that. It wasn’t customary for me to bring anyone home. Long story short, I found her fucking my father in his study.”

  I spew mimosa all over my lap. “This better be a sick joke.”

  “Even my need to outwit you isn’t that twisted. It’s a reoccurring disturbance that I would burn from memory if I could.”

  “Really? No.” I rest a hand over my forehead. “Just no.”

  “You heard me. I won’t repeat myself.” The boom in his tone demands that I listen.

  His words revolve in a slow spin around my muddled brain. That really took an unexpected turn. I mop up the liquid from my shirt while trying not to gag over the visual he provided. “Wasn’t your dad old?”

  “Age is just a number, similar to the amount in a person’s bank account. The latter makes other people do very stupid things to acquire their attention.” If his father weren’t already dead, I’m sure Landon’s glare would cause some serious damage.

  “Wow, that’s gross.” The orange juice in my stomach turns sour.

  “It’s expected in my world.” His flat tone is disturbing, making me shiver.

  Jesus, no wonder the guy is bitter. But that doesn’t excuse him for being a jackass. I will not feel pity for this prick. “Well, that explains a lot.”

  Landon scrubs over his mouth, masking a sneer. “With the most basic definition. I already hated my father, but that solidified the decision to become better than him in all ways he cared about.”

  “Your company.”

  He nods. “That’s the main source.”

  “There’s more?”

  “The list in its entirety would appall you, sugar. He had eligible women lined up for me to marry. I refused quite vehemently, and not just based on the fact that he sampled the goods before passing them off.”

  Another round of bile attempts to leap up my throat. I can’t imagine being raised in such a malicious environment. His dad makes mine look like a saint. Maybe I’ve been too hard on my pops. “He sounds awful. What about your mother? They were married, right?”

  “In the most superficial sense. My parents didn’t have a conventional marriage, remember? She looked the other way to keep the peace.”

  It occurs to me we’ve never talked about his family, not that there’s much reason to. “Are you close with her?”

  “Not really. I’ll call every now and then to say hello. She’s busy with her newfound freedom from my father. Last I heard, the most recent fling was stealing her away to a Spanish villa off the coast for a month.”

  A whistle streams from my pinching lips. “That’s ritzy.”

  “She deserves to be spoiled by someone actually interested in her, rather than for what she adds to his reputation.”

  Another retch squeezes my throat. “I couldn’t agree more. Does she regret marrying him?”

  “How could she not? There’s not much she can do to rewind time. All she can do is live for the now.”

  “That’s very introspective of you,” I muse.

  “Don’t sound so surprised.”

  “As if you can fault me.”

  Landon shows no outward reaction to dispute or agree with my judgment. “Does that satisfy your craving for my demise?”

  I do my best not to wince. Feeling guilty for prying is ridiculous when it comes to him. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry for bringing that woman—Yvonne—up.”

  “No, you’re not.” His focus flicks to mine, steely and cold.

  A gulp threatens to choke me. I can count the instances where I’ve been at a loss for words on one hand. This situation is one of them. With a muffled groan, I allow my gaze to stray off his blank features.

  “An island.” His random statement fills the void that had settled between us.

  “Huh?”

  A heavy sigh deflates his posture. “If I were to take a vacation, it would be a tropical beach surrounded by nothing but water.”

  I tilt my chin down to hide the grin his answer brings. “That sounds nice. Private, I assume?”

  “Of course.” He snorts, confirming that his arrogance has been restored. Not that it’s feasible for him to be truly vulnerable.

  A snarky comeback waits on my tongue. I bite the surly barb off at the tip. “Maybe you’ll decide a getaway is in order and make it a priority.”

  “I don’t like saying never.”

  “Unless you’re talking to me.”

  Landon is silent for a beat, his eyes searing me with a rare sincerity that I’m reluctant to describe. “I’m finding that harder to do as of late.”

  I sip from my drink, if for nothing more than a distraction. He’s handing me a bargaining chip. That alone should be cause for giddiness to flood my system. Foolish though it might be, I find myself content to store that tidbit in a safe place. The atmosphere has shifted between us, and that adjustment—subtle or not—is too raw against my flesh. In this moment, I don’t want to compete with him.

  A smile that’s soft at the corners greets his signature scowl. “Maybe we can be civil to each other after all.”

  I keep my gaze locked on Vannah as she showers me with undivided attention. Being the sole recipient of her affections can do powerful things to a man’s ego. One coy grin is the equivalent of several solid pumps. I’m basking in the glory, and all it took was revealing a filthy stain in my past that’s better left forgotten.

  Telling her about Yvonne was a calculated risk. I wish that scene wa
s fabricated—or at least exaggerated. My father was a cheating piece of shit, plain and simple. Admitting to how his indiscretions have impacted me is almost worse than hearing him lecture me about our legacy. What a crock. Lingering smoke singes under my skin after rehashing the events from that day. Even in death, that bastard haunts me.

  I’m lowering my shields in hopes that Vannah relinquishes hers as well. The likelihood of her trying to manipulate me is high, but the odds that I’ll fall for any foul play are zilch. She can believe this confession has left me exposed and sensitive. There’s no harm in letting her control the board for a while. Savannah Simons is a very real example of putting in the effort to reap the largest rewards.

  The goal in all this is blurring. Forcing our proximity could prove to backfire worse than my previous attacks. She manages to weasel ahead regardless of my attempts. At this point, I’m enjoying her company and choosing not to overanalyze that. She’ll be gone soon enough and my predictable—albeit comforting—routine will return. Complications are only temporary.

  Vannah settles deeper into her seat with a hum. Bearing witness to her sweet side is a luxury even I can’t afford to waste. She’s warm and soft, mine for the molding. I can steer this discussion in the direction of my choosing if her gentle mannerisms are any indication.

  I reach for my coffee, sipping at the mug. “Comfortable?”

  “Oh, yes. Probably too much. Look at all this legroom.” She kicks her feet for emphasis. “You’ve ruined me for future travel. Economy flights will never be the same.”

  “I suppose you could use my crew for any trips. That would require you to rely on me, though.”

  She rolls her eyes. “Not gonna happen. I’ll take my chances in coach.”

  “Your loss.”

  Her gaze roams along the empty seats across from us. “It certainly is.”

  It’s difficult not to chuckle at her obvious yearning. “I won’t hold you to a final decision.”

  Vannah’s gaze drifts back to me. When she peeks up from under her long lashes, fiery tendrils wreak havoc below my belt. “Careful, or I might mistake you for taking a shine to me.”