Matchmaking the Billionaire (Billionaires & Babies Book 2) Read online

  Haley slid into the driver’s seat and started the SUV. Nick walked toward the house, his palms resting on the back of his head, counting to ten as a way to think of anything other than Haley. The warmth of her in the brief moment she’d wrapped her legs around him. The heat of her kisses, the blatant desire in her eyes every time she looked at him.

  She was fooling no one. Least of all him.

  Haley drove away a moment later, waving a little. Nick didn’t stick around to watch her leave the property. He bounded inside the house and locked the door behind him.

  He needed a cold shower and a date with his hand. And after that, he needed to get this shit under control.

  Nick hadn’t been lying—he didn’t like hearing no. And more than that, he didn’t like this game that had erupted between the two of them. The I-like-you-but-I-can’t game; the one that looked and felt a whole lot like two amazing people missing out on something that could be insanely gratifying.

  But what did he want? To convince her to take a chance on him?

  With Haley, it wouldn’t be a one-night stand. Nowhere close. And truthfully, Nick didn’t want a one-night stand with her. He wanted all the nights and more.

  But what about the bet? What about when she matches you off?

  The frustration of their situation clung to him even as he showered and jacked off. He came fast to the fantasy of fucking Haley against the side of her car, but even that release couldn’t clear away the confusion of where to go from here.

  He wanted to be near Haley. Hang out with her. Invite her over. Go to her house.

  But the more time he spent with her, the more he wanted all the rest with Haley too.

  That was becoming harder and harder to finagle. But not impossible.

  Just before he snapped off the water, the idea came to him. A grin ghosted his face. Haley might not be ready to say yes to him, but he wasn’t ready to give up, either.

  8

  Haley knew this was a trap. She could see it was a trap from a mile away. Nick had approached her on Monday about doing a trial date with her to practice exactly how he’d up his chances of having a successful match from the next round of women.

  But he could only practice on her, he’d said. She frowned into the mirror as she adjusted her black minidress. Of course she’d said yes. Like the weak-willed, sex-starved dummy she was. They’d set the date for Tuesday night, because apparently Nick couldn’t wait, and neither could she. With Amanda staying overnight at Haley’s mom’s house, everything was in place for…whatever was headed her way.

  Which she’d told herself over and over would not be sex.

  Ugh. Who are you kidding? You want that man to fuck you ten ways to Sunday.

  Anticipation shivered through her as she awaited the text that said he’d arrived at her apartment complex. Why did she like Nick so much? Whenever she doubled down on things staying platonic, the romance ballooned five times greater in response. He certainly had no regard for keeping things friends-only…but then again, she didn’t exactly stick to her word.

  No sane woman would turn away from his perfect pucker. And maybe tonight was the first time she became sane.

  Her phone pinged with a new text. It was Nick. It simply said, “Get your cute butt out here.”

  Haley let the grin blossom on her face. This was sorta fun. If only she could remember that it was temporary, and this was a trial run, and Nick would never, could never, be her type.

  She hurried out of the apartment, and the second she caught sight of the sleek, practically glittering, black Porsche Panamera outside, the butterflies erupted in full force in her belly.

  If this was a trial run date, then Nick was pulling out all the stops for a trial run engagement.

  He stepped out of his car as she approached, a shit-eating grin on his face. He enjoyed his toys too much.

  “Look at you, stud,” she teased as he came around to her side of the car. He intercepted her before she reached the passenger side and swept her into his arms.

  “Hey, gorgeous.” His warm hands slid over her hips, rooting her to her spot. All she could do was stare up into those dark eyes of his. Like molten chocolate, churning and desirous.

  “Oh, please,” she said, swatting at his arm, but there was no conviction there. She’d done herself up to the fullest. Eyebrows perfectly drawn, her skin flawless and rosy, contour just right, and the dress…well, she hadn’t worn this dress in eons. She used to choose this very dress when boning was the end game.

  “You look so good I don’t think I can make it out on our date,” he murmured into her ear. “I need to take you right back into your apartment.”

  She giggled, hooking her arms around his neck. “I didn’t put this dress on just to go back inside.”

  He grunted, grabbing the apples of her ass in a firm, quick squeeze. “Okay. Let’s go out, then.”

  Nick stepped back, which allowed a cool gust of air to replace the delicious warmth of him. Her skin prickled, missing him immediately. She shivered as she sat in the low front seat of the Porsche.

  “So where are we going?” Haley asked, smoothing out the satiny black material of her dress. “For our totally fake date on a Friday night.”

  “Well, the first part is a surprise,” Nick said as he looked over his shoulder, backing out of the parking space. “And the second part is a surprise. And the third part is, well, unfortunately, a surprise.”

  She grinned, watching as the familiar surroundings of her complex blurred by from the unfamiliar viewpoint of Nick’s Porsche. Everything seemed new and exciting when he was at her side. She hadn’t experienced that in a long, long time.

  He cut a path through the city that was new to her, heading out of town, until they pulled into a very regular parking lot of what looked like a park area.

  He must have caught a confused look on her face, because as they got out of the car, he said, “Have you been here before?” He pointed with his keys to the building in front of them. She noticed the plaque by the door: Hogue House of Rescue.

  “Definitely not.” She shut the door gently, and then went around to meet him in front of the car. He held out his hand, which she took gingerly.

  “I won’t bite,” he said softly. The two fell into step as they strolled down the stone-laid path toward the front door.

  “Will they let me through the door dressed like this?” she asked, suddenly worried her night-on-the-town attire might not be appreciated by a stoic house of rescue.

  “You’re fine. I booked a private tour.” He paused, his gaze scorching up and down her body. “I hope you never question dressing like this again.”

  As they approached the large, wooden doors, they swung open and a gentle-faced elderly man greeted them. His name was Mr. Yontz, the director of the rescue facility, and their tour guide. Haley watched and listened in awe as they were led from atrium to sanctuary to greenhouse, visiting all the birds and woodland creatures that the organization specialized in rescuing.

  “Most of our work would not be possible without the generous support of Mr. Hunter,” Mr. Yontz said, once they left the specialized cages where eagles were being rehabilitated. “He is our most generous donor.”

  Haley lifted a brow, looking over at Nick. “Oh, this is all you?”

  He smirked. “Come on. Not at all.”

  But Haley couldn’t fight the grin as they continued the tour. For how wealthy Nick was, she loved catching these shades of genuine humility. Not wanting to be recognized. Just supporting a great cause. Nick reached for her hand, bringing the back of it up to his mouth.

  Her heart gave a little squeeze when he did that.

  Not a good sign.

  After the tour finished out in the foyer, where the walls were lined with the names of the generous benefactors of the facility, Haley took some time to search out his plaque. When she couldn’t find it, she turned to him. He had his hands stuffed in his pockets, looking at her sheepishly.

  “What?” he challenged.<
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  “Your name isn’t on here.”

  “I know.” He flashed a grin. “I told them I didn’t want to be on there.”

  She stared at him for a moment. “But you’re so hung up on people knowing how wealthy you are.”

  “No,” he said, pushing open the front door so they could go back to his car. He waited for her to come outside before continuing. “I wanted the women on your app to know.”

  “But—” she began.

  “My money is my primary asset. It’s all I have to attract someone,” he said, scooping her hand inside his again.

  “That’s not true,” she said.

  Nick shrugged. “Feels like it sometimes. And I’m okay with it.”

  “You could at least recognize how hot you are,” she said, elbowing him. “I mean, that snagged me day one.”

  He stopped walking suddenly, pinning her with a secret look. “What was that?”

  She replayed her words in her head, realizing she’d outed herself. One more chink missing in her purported armor against Nick. “I mean, you’re hot. It’s no secret. I’m not blind.”

  A curious smile played at his lips. “When was day one?”

  The second I laid eyes on you. “Uh, a while ago?”

  “Come on, Renault.” He tugged her hands so she fell into him. He squeezed her hips, then wrapped his arms around her waist. “Fess up. We’ve been eyeing each other for a lot longer than we thought.”

  She crumbled against his heat, and a moment later he swept her up into his arms, bride-over-the-threshold style. She giggled, hooking her arms around his neck.

  “Okay, okay. Fine. I’ve thought you were hot since the day I started working for you.”

  “Mm hmm. And what else?”

  “Uhhh,” she began, kicking her feet as they approached the car, “I think you’re funny?”

  “Something else.”

  She giggled as he lowered her next to the passenger side door. She clutched his biceps, even though she was on solid ground. The feel of him in her grip was more reassuring, more stable, than even the ground. “Uh…”

  “Fine. I’ll go first.” He leaned in close, his breath coming out hot on her ear. “I’ve wanted to fuck you since the second you walked into my office. I’ve had every dirty fantasy about you that you could imagine.” His hand traced the curves of her waist, sending a surge of moisture into her panties. “And I’ll go home right now if you can’t say the same about me.”

  All she could do was stare at him, shocked and horny as hell. Dammit, he’d hit the nail on the head.

  “Go on,” he urged, when she’d been quiet for too long. He ran his thumb over her jawline. “Tell me I’m right.”

  “Oh, god,” she finally whimpered, burying her face in his chest. There was no use repressing it. No use denying it. She wanted this man more than she could lie about anymore. “You’re right. I wish you weren’t, but you are.”

  The satisfied grin on his face stretched nearly ear to ear. He nodded slowly. Victoriously. “Yep. There it is, Renault. The truth.” He squeezed her ass and then wet his bottom lip. “What do you say we go straight to my house?”

  9

  The drive back to Nick’s house felt like the longest in history. Anticipation shivered between them; if they could have made out while driving, Haley was sure they would have. When they pulled into Nick’s cul-de-sac, her hand was on the door waiting for the car to stop.

  It was time. And they had to hurry, before her ironclad morals kicked in again and reminded her that this was wrong.

  As soon as they entered the house, Nick had her pressed up against the front door. His lips found hers, urgent and passionate. As they kissed, he slid his suit coat off, letting it tumble to the ground behind him.

  “I bet that’s expensive,” she murmured through the kiss, seeing it crumpled behind him. “You should hang that up. Otherwise—”

  He shushed her. “Don’t you mom me.”

  She giggled through another kiss. “Fine.” He cupped the sides of her face, his rough palms sending a heat wave through her. She moaned through a kiss, and then he picked her up, tossing her over his shoulder.

  She shrieked with laughter, kicking her feet as he trudged up the stairs. “Where are you taking me?”

  “Someplace more comfortable.”

  She hummed. “Someplace like your bedroom?”

  “Better.”

  “Now this I can’t wait to see.”

  “I don’t know if I’ll let you down though.” Nick’s hand slid up the back of her thigh, followed by a sharp thwack on her ass. “I like this view a lot.”

  “I wouldn’t mind staying here. It’s nice not to walk in those heels sometimes.” She laughed as he swung around a corner, his steps falling heavily on the wood floors. “Think of me like a pet parrot.”

  “Please. I could never have sex with my pet parrot,” he said, taking another handful of her ass. At the end of the hallway, he opened a door, which led to a narrow, winding staircase. She gasped.

  “Is this the secret staircase?”

  “It is.” He clomped up the stairs. The scent of pine reached her, and her entire body tingled with anticipation.

  “Tell me you have a sex den up here.”

  Nick’s laugh reverberated through her. As he crested the top of the stairs, he set her down gently and then flipped on the light. She steadied herself with his bicep and looked around. It was essentially…an attic. But one that had been converted into an ultra-comfy lounge space, lit with golden hues. Thick rugs covered the floor, and sheets were draped from corners, creating cozy nooks. Low sofas hugged the walls, and a sound system was backed up into the corner. Nick took her hand, leading her toward the far wall.

  “I kinda feel like I’m back in college,” Haley whispered, craning her neck to look around.

  “Good.” Nick sent her a dashing smile over his shoulder. “This is my chill space. Where I forget about my workload and responsibilities and just…disconnect.” He stopped in the middle of a large, plush black rug and wrapped his arms around her. They started a slow sway, and she immediately got lost in his gaze. His eyes held unknown depths…and she could stare forever.

  “This is nice. Thanks for showing me.”

  “There’s one more thing.” A sly smirk spread across his face. “I’ll show you later, though. It’ll be like dessert.”

  Haley laughed, but it faded quickly once Nick dipped down and caught her lips in another kiss. A moan escaped her, something low and guttural that surprised even her. She barely noticed the buzz of her dress’s zipper traveling down her back. He slid his hands further down, over the exposed skin of her thighs, guiding her backward toward one of the couches.

  “I can’t wait any longer,” he whispered. “Haley, I need you.”

  The rawness in his voice undid her. She dug her fingers into the ridge of his shoulders, every cell of her body vibrating with yes. Regardless of whether it was a good idea, whether it could work…they needed this one night. Tonight.

  Nick guided her back onto the couch, and suddenly his lips were at her ankles as he slid her heels off. Then his lips skipped a trail up her legs, pushing at the hem of her dress until it was bunched around her waist, exposing her skimpy black panties. He growled, pressing a finger beneath the fabric, just teasing her, not venturing toward where it really counted.

  “I can’t believe this is happening,” she breathed, watching him with wide eyes as he pulled the straps of her dress down her arms and exposed her bra and belly. His lips pressed a warm path from her navel to the valley between her breasts. He paused, dragging his lips over the satiny cups.

  “Me neither,” he said, his hands coming to rest over her ribcage. “But I’ve imagined doing this so many times, I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner.”

  His confessional sent another surge of warmth through her. She ran her fingers through his hair. “My fantasies never got that far, because I didn’t think for a second you’d be into someone like me.�
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  He scoffed. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. Are you nuts?”

  She grinned as his kisses explored the width of her collarbone, then back down to the swell of her breasts. “I do remember you said you liked ‘hot.’ But you also said you were into blondes.”

  “That was just to throw you off my trail,” he said, fingers dancing at her panty line. “But now my cover’s blown, and there’s no going back.” He tugged at the fabric, sending a heated look her way.

  “Hold it, mister,” she said, stilling his hands. “You need to take some clothes off here.”

  He grunted, but quickly came to his feet to comply. He unbuttoned his shirt and tore it off, revealing a sexy, smooth chest with defined abs and just a sprinkling of chest hair. Her smile spread further once he got to work on his pants.

  “Here we go,” she teased. “Take it off, Hunter.”

  He cocked a grin, pushing his pants down. “Have patience, Renault.” His cock tented his briefs, creating a delectable bulge. She licked her lips involuntarily, her legs splaying open. Without thinking, her hand wandered between her legs. He arched a brow.

  “Sexy,” he said, coming down to join her on the low couch. His warm belly touched hers, making pleasure coil low and tight. God, she would come so fast with him. She was already so close, and he’d barely done anything.

  “Not as sexy as you,” she said, hooking her ankles behind him. He groaned, pressing his groin to hers, the heat between their legs sparking into an inferno. “I hope this doesn’t make work weird. Once you see how fast I come.”

  A laugh escaped him, but it quickly turned into a grunt. “Trust me. That won’t make it weird.” He rocked against her. “Only if I couldn’t make you come.”

  She bit her bottom lip, arching against him. “Well at least it’s a priority.”

  “More than a priority.” He kissed her collarbone again, then slid down until his lips met the lacy edge of her panties. “It’s officially scheduled.”

  She giggled, but it faded quickly once he pushed aside the fabric of her underwear and pressed his lips to her pussy. All thoughts dissolved as his tongue met the tight nub of her clit, poking and prodding and massaging. She fisted his hair, her body going rigid as she relished the pleasure.