MR BILLIONAIRE'S CONTRACT WOMAN

a's

he look he'd given me, that unshakable smirk, the way he'd watched me like he could read every thought in my head

? Part of me wante

y confidence and a billionaire's charm that could probably get him anything he wanted.

ling myself out of bed. I could almost

he cafe in 30. I need det

ch of Liam's eyebrow. But maybe spilling the story would make it lose s

ie to arrive. The air was thick with the scent of fresh coffee and pastries, comforting an

eat across from me. She grinned, leaning in

of your night? Because last I saw, you were locked in some ver

wanted a conversation." I sh

rsation? From a man who looked like

heat up. "Sophi

way he was looking at you was...intens

p with," I muttered, stirring my coffee. "Billionaire, arrogant,

"Your type just happens to be the on

be my type is going t

smile. "Trouble might be

t that encounter that had woken up a part of me I'd been ignoring-a par

ing with a book and tea when my phone buzzed with a

el

mm

le. Rich, smooth, and en

thrown of

casual, as if we were old frien

How did he get my number? Why was he call

some honest comp

"Is that what you do, Mr. Kingston? Just call up

ement in his voice. "But something

I said, my voice sh

ied smoothly. "

of every reason why I shouldn't engage with someone like him. He was rich, powerful, and likely had motive

e voice in my head screaming *bad

rough the phone. "I'd expect nothing

hang up. But instead, I took a steadying breat

, far too easily. "U

, leaving me staring at my phone, hal

m's

said

woman who could be charmed or won over with a few well-placed compliments. No, she wa

ked a ch

away from my work, but this was different. Emma wasn't some passing fling or on

rules, and I had no intention

dn't deny it-the thrill of knowing she'd agreed to see me felt like a win

ow how much I

a's

at I should just text him and cancel. But each time I tried to type the message, I hesitated. Some

ale restaurant, waiting for a man I barely k

ad, and I saw more than one woman glance his way, admiration clear on their faces.

a smile that was equal pa

ied, trying to

s gaze steady, focus

lifting my glass to him. "But this

inking his glass against mine. "Just curi

glass, "you're awfully confident for so

"Maybe. But I know enough to know

eplied, meeting his gaze, "I'

oubt that," h

n, but the silence that followed only made my pulse race faster. This wasn't just small talk ov

eyes never leaving mine. "Why does a woma

t his gaze, refusing to flinch. "Because I

ike me at all," he replied, hi

as in trouble. Because Liam Kingston wasn

an determi