Pregnant By The Billionaire. Karen Booth

Jillian is going to want an update and I know you’re busy.”

      “I can show you more the next time you’re here. The restaurant is close to completion and we’re opening a second bar.”

      “Sure. Next time.”

      He was going to have to fight his anticipation of next time. “Let me call a car for you.”

      “You don’t have to do that. I’ll hop in a cab.”

      He was still struggling with the distance she was so determined to keep between them. Sure, this was just business, but they did have a rapport. There was a spark between them—and frankly, it wasn’t that unlike their dynamic at the wedding. Did she have a spark like that with her fiancé? If so, it was no wonder the guy had been smart enough to pop the question. Sawyer was once again asking himself how smart it was to be the guy who won’t keep a woman around. “At least let me walk you outside and hail you a cab.”

      She nodded, her eyes softening. “Okay. But do I have to wear this thing?” She grabbed the yellow construction helmet from the table.

      He took it, their fingers brushing. Touching her was the final blow—he was going to need some alone time after this. “Just stay close to me.”

      Once outside, they stopped at the curb, both of them eyeing the street for a cab.

      “I really do love your plan.” He didn’t want their talk to end. He was already disappointed she was leaving.

      “Call my cell if you need to reach me.” She cleared her throat and looked off in the distance down the street, avoiding eye contact. “You still have my number? From the wedding?”

      He’d wondered when this would come up. “I do.” A moment of choking silence played out.

      “So you chose not to call me,” she said matter-of-factly.

      He didn’t enjoy being the way he was with women, unable to take things beyond the very beginning; he’d merely learned to accept this as one of his shortcomings. “If it makes you feel any better, I don’t call any women.”

      “Ever?”

      “No. Sorry.”

      “Then why ask for her number at all? That’s just classic jerky guy behavior. I would expect better of you.”

      Sawyer wasn’t a big fan of her characterization, but he’d had a few drinks thrown in his face. Kendall wasn’t the only woman with this opinion. “I suppose it is. But it’s not like you called me either.”

      “Call me old-fashioned, but I wait for a man to call.”

      Yeah, Sawyer wasn’t buying that. Kendall was too strong, too independent, too bullheaded. “And call me old-fashioned, but you’re engaged now, so you must be happy I didn’t call you.” That ring on her finger was the real reason she hadn’t called him. And she had no right to get angry with him for something that had worked out in her favor. “Your fiancé is probably happy about it, too.”

      Kendall didn’t say a thing. She didn’t even look at him.

      “Lucky guy.” Sawyer wanted to punch himself for his inability to let this go, but there was this curiosity building up inside him that refused to go away. Call it competitiveness—he had to know what the guy who landed Kendall was like. What made him so special?

      “Hmm?” She cast her sights back at him for only an instant.

      “Your fiancé. He’s a lucky guy.”

      “Unless you’re guessing someone’s phone number, it doesn’t take luck to make a call.”

      Ouch. “There’s a cab coming.” He stepped into the street and raised his hand. She was only a few feet away, not looking at him, her shoulders tense. He’d upset her. Her hair fell across her cheek, and she quickly tucked it back behind her ear. He didn’t want to stare, but it was impossible to tear his vision away—she was too beautiful. Too gorgeous. Too frustrating.

      The taxi stopped. He opened the door and watched as she climbed in, catching a glimpse of her long and shapely leg as her skirt hitched up. He would’ve done anything to climb into the backseat with her and take her to his place—make up for being the guy who hadn’t called. For the first time in a really long time, he was second-guessing his well-honed talent for avoiding romance. He hadn’t always been that guy. Only hurt had made him into that, hurt that could never be undone.

      “Thanks for the tour.” She peered up at him with her deep blue eyes.

      “Thank you for your amazing ideas. I can’t wait to get started. I can’t wait to tell my brother.”

      She smiled, her face lighting up as it should have. She’d done an incredible job. “I’m glad our professional relationship works so well. Since the other never would have.”

      Well then. “Right. Me, too.” Sawyer reluctantly said goodbye and closed the car door, wandering back to the curb, trying to shake the effects of Kendall’s words—all of them. Only work would get him back on track. He dialed Noah’s number.

      “How’d it go with the tour?” his brother asked.

      Sawyer watched as the cab turned and drove out of sight. “I think the woman might be a genius. And that means we’re changing everything. We’re turning the whole thing upside down.”