The Duchess Contest: A Jet City Billionaire Serial Romance (The Billionaire Duke Series Book 2) by Robinson Gina

Author:Robinson, Gina [Robinson, Gina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Three Jays Press, LLC
Published: 2016-03-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

Haley

Riggins looked suddenly serious. He had that bad-news look on his face. I lost my appetite, but managed to keep my fork from trembling in my hand. "Yes?"

He seemed to hesitate. "It's been a fantastic day. It's flown by. When I'm with you—"

He set his fork down with a bite of salad still on it. "I didn't want to ruin the mood by talking business. But all day I felt like I've been keeping something from you."

I set my fork down now, too.

He took my hand. "You know, of course, that I took Rose out last night." He paused. "She knows about the will. Most of it she's guessed at. But she knows more than she should."

"What?" I went cold. I shouldn't have been surprised, but somehow I was. "How?"

He explained her methods. "She's made me an offer—if I choose her, she'll give me everything required for her share of the Dead Duke's mother's money. Then, if I want, or she and I want, she'll walk away amicably."

"Why didn't you tell me?" My voice shook. My mouth was dry.

He looked at me helplessly. "I was selfish. I wanted an unspoiled day with you. I wanted a repeat of our night of dancing together."

"Did you accept?" The words popped out. I was afraid of the answer.

He shook his head.

"But you're thinking about it?" I blinked, trying not to panic.

"I have to think about it."

"Because it's a business deal?" I took a deep breath to calm myself.

"Because it's an important decision with consequences for all of us." He took squeezed my hand. "Your fingers are cold."

My entire soul was ice.

"What do you want me to do? Do you want me to make the same offer? Match her terms? Beat them? I've already agreed to keep silent and help you find a way out. And abide by the terms if your out fails."

He shook his head. "No. Haley, please. Understand." He blew out a breath. "I'm giving you an out. If you want it. That's what today was partly about. I wanted you to get to know me better before I brought it up."

"You gave me a dream day." My heart raced. "Is that really you?"

"It's really me on a date." His expression was serious. "I wanted you to see the house and the boat. Where I went to school. To hear my dumb college stories. See how I live now. So you can decide if you still want to be a part of that. My lifestyle has its pros and cons."

I knew that only too well. I could already feel myself fading into the background. Riggins would always be the more popular face between the two of us. I didn't have the personality to become a real housewife. People would always want to know more about him than me.

And I was already being called a gold digger by some in the press. They didn't know our story. And I couldn't tell them the truth. It was a no-win scenario.

"You know her claims aren't verified?" I said.

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