The Billionaire's Deal: The Complete Story: An Alpha Billionaire Romance by Crystal Kaswell Page B

sleep with him tonight.
    No way in hell.
    There's a knock on the door. A waiter steps inside and takes our drink order. Lizzy sticks with her usual Diet Coke. She doesn't even make a snide remark about how she could order a cocktail if she really wanted.
    I relax into my seat. Like this is a normal dinner.
    Blake turns his attention to Lizzy. "Kat tells me you're a programmer."
    "Nothing of your caliber, but, yes," she says.
    "What languages?" Blake asks.
    "Woah, we're not talking work at dinner," Declan says.
    Lizzy blushes. "Java and Python mostly. I'm learning C++."
    Blake leans to pick something up. He unzips a bag, pulls out a laptop, and brandishes it like it's an amazing piece of art. "You want to see any of the Sterling Tech code?"
    Her eyes go wide. "Uh, yeah. I mean, if you're sure that's okay."
    "We'll call it a family secret."
    She nearly jumps out of her chair and kneels next to the laptop. "The chat bot has always been my favorite thing."
    "Kat told me you're interested in A.I."
    She nods. Her attention is rapt as Blake boots up the computer and navigates through a bunch of security. I know the code is on the screen from Lizzy's loud sigh. She's in heaven.
    I look to Declan for consolation. "Are you a programmer, too?"
    "Software engineer and CEO."
    Blake clears his throat. "His first two start-ups went bankrupt."
    "Technicalities." Declan smiles. "This one is doing well."
    Lizzy is still in her own world, staring at the screen with every ounce of her attention. I shift in my seat, trying to get comfortable. I wouldn't have guessed that I'd be the one out of place. The no education, no future girl in a room full of people with skills.
    Blake offers his hand. I squeeze it tightly, and the knot in my stomach dissipates. There is something soothing about him.
    I have to get used to being outclassed.
    The waiter arrives with our drinks. I take a long, long sip of my gin and tonic. This is going to be a long night.
    ***
    Programming talk slows to a minimum. Blake offers Lizzy an internship for next summer. Declan matches the offer. It takes everything I have not to throw my drink on the floor and scream no way in hell is my sister working with a flirting player, but I manage to keep my mouth shut. The guy is nice. Flirting isn't a crime.
    And it doesn't stop. Lizzy and Declan take turns sharing stories that make fun of Blake and me, respectively. I focus on my drink and my food. The point of this dinner is to get Lizzy on board. That's all that matters.
    After dinner, I make an excuse to leave. Lizzy's attitude shifts once we're alone. No more high from coding secrets—just as likely it's from Diet Coke.
    She looks at me with concern. "I can see why you like him." She takes a slow breath. "But you have to be careful. He'll rip your heart out like it's nothing."
    I nod like it's news. Like I'm not painfully aware that Blake will tear me to pieces and toss me aside.

Chapter Ten
    Blake's apartment is empty. The sun is still bright enough to illuminate the den. It's even more grey like this. Sleek, yes. Masculine, yes. Homey, no way in hell.
    It doesn't even look like someone lives here. Everything is perfectly clean and organized. No stray coffee cups on the table. No spoons in the sink. Not a pillow out of place on the couch. Well, not a pillow on the couch at all.
    I fish my new sketchpad out of my purse. It's a small thing, only big enough for little doodles. I take a seat and draw the view. The light falls over the park softly. From here, I can see clear across the park, all the way to the East Side. All the way up to Harlem and down to, well, Downtown.
    In my drawing, the buildings across the park start as rectangles. I add detail—the shadows, the windows, the satellite dishes on the roofs—until they start to resemble themselves.
    The door opens. Damn, Blake, breaking my concentration again.
    "You got here early," he says.
    I glance at my phone. Sure enough, it's 5:00 on the dot. No traffic on Saturday, I