BACK WITH OUR BILLIONAIRE DADDY

CHAPTER FOUR. ONE NIGHT, NO PROMISES

Elena couldn't remember the last time she had talked to a stranger for this long.

Somehow, pineapple on pizza had turned into bad movies, terrible first dates, places they wanted to visit, and Adrian's strong opinion that nobody actually enjoyed raisins.

"That's ridiculous," Elena said.

"It's the truth."

"I like raisins."

Adrian looked disappointed. "I was beginning to like you."

Elena laughed.

"That's unfortunate."

"There may still be time to recover."

She shook her head, smiling as she lifted her glass.

For a few minutes, she had forgotten why she was there.

Then she noticed the pale mark on her ring finger again.

Her smile faded.

Adrian noticed.

"You don't have to talk about it."

"I know."

He didn't ask anything else.

Elena studied him.

"Why are you being so nice to me?"

"Am I?"

"Most men would have tried something by now."

Adrian leaned back slightly.

"Do you want me to try something?"

The question caught her off guard.

"I didn't say that."

"Then I won't."

There it was again.

No pressure.

No argument.

Just an answer.

Elena looked down at her drink.

"Damien used to tell me I was difficult."

"Your ex-fiancé?"

She nodded.

"He said I had too many rules."

"Because you wanted to wait?"

"Among other things."

Adrian was quiet for a moment.

"Having boundaries doesn't make you difficult."

"You don't know me. I might actually be difficult."

A smile touched his mouth.

"I'm beginning to suspect you are."

Elena laughed.

"Wow."

"You walked into that one."

She nudged his arm lightly.

The contact lasted only a second.

Still, Elena felt it.

So did Adrian.

His eyes dropped briefly to her hand before returning to her face.

Something shifted between them.

Elena felt suddenly aware of how close he was.

She looked away first.

"Tell me something about you."

"What do you want to know?"

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

"No."

"Wife?"

"No."

"Fiancée?"

Adrian smiled. "No."

"Complicated woman waiting somewhere to throw a drink at me?"

"Not that I'm aware of."

"That's reassuring."

"Why?"

Elena paused.

She hadn't meant to say that.

Adrian watched her.

"Elena."

"What?"

"You're staring at me."

"So?"

"So I'm wondering what you're thinking."

She took another sip.

"Maybe you don't want to know."

"I probably do."

Elena's heart beat faster.

This was reckless.

She knew that.

Hours ago, she had been engaged.

Now she was sitting beside a stranger wondering what it would feel like if he kissed her.

Maybe Damien had broken something inside her.

Or maybe she was tired of letting Damien decide what she was allowed to feel.

"Are you trying to take me home?" she asked.

Adrian's expression changed.

"No."

The answer came so quickly that Elena frowned.

"No?"

"You found your fiancé with your sister a few hours ago."

"So?"

"So you're hurt."

"I know that."

"I don't want you waking up tomorrow regretting something you did because of him."

Elena stared at him.

"And if it isn't because of him?"

Adrian held her gaze.

"Then that's different."

Her pulse jumped.

He leaned slightly closer, but still didn't touch her.

"You've been drinking."

"I'm not drunk."

"I know."

"Then stop treating me like I can't make my own decisions."

"I'm not."

"It feels like you are."

Adrian shook his head.

"I'm making sure the decision is actually yours."

Elena went quiet.

Damien had spent three years making her feel guilty for saying no.

Adrian was sitting here giving her every opportunity to say it.

The difference shouldn't have affected her this much.

But it did.

"What if I asked you to stay with me tonight?" she asked.

Adrian's eyes remained on hers.

"I'd ask if you're sure."

"And if I said yes?"

"I'd probably ask again."

Elena smiled slightly.

"Annoying."

"I've been called worse."

She looked at him.

Really looked at him.

She was attracted to him.

That much was undeniable.

But it wasn't only that.

Tonight, Adrian had listened to her.

He hadn't judged her.

Hadn't treated her like some pathetic woman whose fiancé had chosen someone else.

For the first time all night, Elena felt like she was making a choice instead of reacting to somebody else's.

She placed her glass down.

"I'm sure."

Adrian didn't move.

"Elena—"

"I don't want a relationship."

"I didn't offer one."

She almost laughed.

"No phone calls tomorrow."

"Okay."

"No expectations."

"Okay."

"And tonight doesn't have to mean anything."

Something unreadable passed through his grey eyes.

Then Adrian nodded.

"If that's what you want."

"It is."

Elena stood.

Adrian looked up at her.

She held out her hand.

For one terrifying second, she wondered if she had lost her mind.

Then Adrian took it.

His fingers closed gently around hers.

"Last chance," he said quietly.

Elena's heart hammered.

She thought about Damien.

About Serena.

About the ring sitting in that apartment.

Then she looked at the stranger in front of her.

Tonight, she wanted one decision that belonged completely to her.

"Take me with you."

Adrian stood.

And Elena didn't look back.