My Bad Boy's Secret: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance by Nicole Price Page B

that woman’s apartment. I didn’t know exactly which number it was, but as soon as I saw a few pairs of kid’s shoes by the front door, I knew that was the one. No one else had little kids with them in this place. This was a cheap and rough part of town. I prepared myself for being cussed out and the door slamming in my face.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 5 – Rose
     
    The doorbell rang. I peeked through the spyhole and almost threw up. It was him.
     
    He looked…different. His tattoos were covered, since he actually made an effort to dress nicely. In his hands were wine and chocolate. What the hell?
     
    I opened the door just a crack and glared at the douchebag trying to look apologetic. It wasn’t working.
     
    “What do you want?” I asked, putting on my best tough-lady voice.
     
    He stuttered before saying anything.
     
    “Uh, I, uh, here…these are for you. Like a housewarming gift,” he murmured and shoved the gifts to me. I reached out and took them hesitantly.
     
    We stood and stared at each other for a while. He cleaned up quite well; brown hair almost the color black spiked up on his formidable head, while whiskers and a scraggly but well-matching beard lined the bottom of his face. Even standing still, he gave off some sort of don’t-screw-with-me aura. It made me feel wobbly in my legs, and my heart picked up its pace. It was like being back in middle school, and seeing one of my crushes glance at me for a few seconds.
     
    “I just came to say that,” he started and paused for a second, “sorry. For everything that just happened. Me ruining your car. I was an asshole. I just moved in, and I’ve got a lot going on in my life. I should’ve known better.”
     
    This was a surprise. He gave the impression of having an uncontrollable ego when we first met, but now he actually just apologized .
     
    At first, I felt like laughing in his face, screaming that I didn’t accept any damn apology from a thug like him, and pushing him out. Hell, I thought about putting his picture on Facebook and warning everybody to avoid this bastard.
     
    And yet I decided to try and forgive him. In an ugly and unfamiliar community, I wanted to have as few enemies as possible. I was impressed that he made the effort to say sorry and make it up to me.
     
    “Why don’t you come in?” I offered to him. He did, and put the bottle and box down on a table. Now he looked even more awkward.
     
    “We didn’t even get each other’s names that day. I’m Rose. Rose Whitney. I just moved here with my family. What’s your name?” I asked.
     
    He held out a hand to shake. “Name’s, uh, Robert Jackson. And I just got here too. I’m alone here. So you got a husband?” His voice shook a bit as he talked.
     
    “I’m divorced,” I replied. “It’s just me and my kids. Two girls.”
     
    “Oh, sorry to hear that.”
     
    I smiled just a little. “Don’t be. He was a dick.”
     
    Robert laughed out of the blue. “Sounds like you don’t miss him. So where are you from? What are you doing in Atlanta?”
     
    “I got a job as a lawyer here. What about you? What do you do?” The smile on Robert’s face faded.
     
    “I’m actually between jobs right now. But, I’ve done all sorts of jobs.”
     
    “Such as…”
     
    “Personal trainer, truck driver, delivery guy, lot of freelance work.” Robert looked like he didn’t want to talk anymore about it.
     
    He then pulled out an envelope and gave it to me. “This is money. To, you know, get your car fixed. And I’m sorry. Again. Just please don’t tell no one about me. I’d like to keep this between us.”
     
    There was an honesty in his voice that I hadn’t ever heard from him. I felt touched.
     
    “Thank you,” I replied. “How about we enjoy the gifts you brought?”
     
    We sat together on the couch and ate some of the chocolates, and I poured us two glasses of champagne. I was amazed at how happy I felt around him.