The Billionaire’s Girlfriend Bet - Leslie North Page 0,24

scoop?”

Blake sighed, pausing before he wrote back. He checked again for Michelle before responding.

“Everything’s on track. Don’t worry your pretty little heads.”

He stuffed his phone back in his pocket then, determined not to elaborate further with them. He didn’t know how to explain what was happening, other than the only thing he wanted was more time with Michelle. Which meant that the bet was, if anything, simply on hold.

Even if he didn’t share what had happened on his birthday, this meeting today would have been the perfect fifth and final opportunity to prove to his friends that he’d won the bet. But he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to end it yet. He still had to figure out the best way to handle this new, unexpected side of things.

He had completely disobeyed his own parameters of the bet and had kinda, sorta, basically started feeling a certain way for Michelle.

He needed to pace himself. That was all. If he gave himself some more time to figure out what this was—whether he was just driven wild with the fantasy of getting her in bed after so much abstention, or maybe this was something much more serious than that—then he’d be able to figure what his next step should be.

Which would be a whole lot easier if he could stop thinking about Michelle constantly.

“There you are!” Michelle’s sweet voice punctuated his thoughts and he turned, finding her coming up the sidewalk, purse slung over her shoulder. He grinned, fighting the urge to sweep her into his arm and coax a heart-stopping kiss from her.

“You ready for the donation of the century?”

The Gray House Foundation was sort of a halfway home for men who were recovering from issues related to addiction and/or mental illness. They provided a safe living space that offered healthy habits and structure while the residents regained their foothold on life, and a gymnasium and weight room had been on their wish list for quite a while. Once Blake had reached out, they’d been more than happy to clear out and organize a space for the donated equipment.

“Of course,” Michelle said. “I’m glad you went with these guys. They’re a great foundation.”

“All on your recommendation,” Blake said with a smile, leading the way around the building where a semitruck was parked by the back of the building. The double doors to the new gymnasium were open, which allowed workers to funnel in and out of the building, unloading the equipment. Blake had arranged for all the replacement equipment to be delivered to the Seagulls weight room today, so there would be no interruption in the training of the baseball team.

Normally, if he was doing something like this, he wouldn’t bring along extra personnel. Hell, he wouldn’t even normally show up himself. But this sort of donation required an additional touch. And once the machines were dropped off, he wanted Michelle to teach the workers at the facility how to use them properly—an idea she’d been thrilled by.

“I’m excited to see the new gym they have for the residents,” Michelle said. “I know they did their best to have spaces where people could do cardio or yoga, but it’s great that they’re finally going to have a fully stocked weight room.”

“Weight training changes lives, here and otherwise,” Blake said.

“Is that why you don’t stick to a regular weight training routine?” Michelle teased, nudging him in the side.

He smirked, sliding his hand over the small of her back and around to the dip in her waist. He gently squeezed once before releasing her. “Hey, now. You got a problem with the way I look or something?”

“Not at all,” Michelle said sweetly, tipping her chin up to look at him. “I thought I made that clear the other night?”

He laughed. “I don’t know. I might need a little more reassurance. Maybe another evening on your couch.”

“I’d be okay with that.”

“Good. And, I forgot to tell you…” He slowed his steps as they neared the semitruck. He jerked his chin toward the equipment being unloaded. “I saved the rowing machine for you. If you want it.”

Her eyes widened. “You want to gift me the rowing machine?”

“Yes, of course. You deserve it. Besides, you said it was your favorite.”

She blinked rapidly, her gaze shifting to the men carrying a bench press down the ramp off the semi. “Blake, that’s…that’s so sweet of you. I really appreciate it. I just—”

“What is it?”

“I don’t think I have anywhere to put it.”

Blake grimaced, nodding as he mulled it