The Billionaire’s Girlfriend Bet - Leslie North Page 0,46

true if she didn’t even want him to meet her family or wake up in the same house as her daughter?

To Blake, all signs seemed to point to a rapid demise of their romance, pending immediately.

He just had to figure out if he wanted to wait for her to be the one to walk away first.

16

Michelle felt like she was moments away from collapsing.

The anxiety didn’t make sense. Except maybe it made too much sense. She hadn’t seen Blake since running into him en route to her final job interview on Monday, which meant that not only was she dying to see him—to touch him, to get lost in that sexy grin—she also had news for him. She’d gotten the job. They could be open about their relationship without any hint of scandal or impropriety.

If that was what he wanted.

She was certain that it was what she wanted, but she was less and less confident in Blake’s feelings. It hadn’t helped that she’d seen so little of him for the past two weeks as the final preparations for the nightclub sucked up all his time.

But now his club was opening today.

Well, not exactly. It was a soft opening. This had been the date of the long-awaited grand opening…except Blake hadn’t been able to throw enough money at the problem to make it go his way. No matter how much the idea of throwing money at a problem reminded her of her ex, she still worked to separate Blake from the idea that he could be anything like her ex.

Blake is not manipulative. Blake is not a liar.

She drew a deep breath as she applied a bright shade of red lipstick—the type of color that seemed perfect for celebrating the soft opening of a nightclub.

Because you love Blake.

Michelle examined her appearance critically, wondering what Blake’s response would be. She wanted to wow him, not least because she knew he’d been a little hurt when she’d dodged his invitation for them to get dinner and then arrive at the soft opening together. Michelle had been needed elsewhere that afternoon—at the orientation session for her new job—and she hadn’t known how long it would take. She’d said she’d meet him there, giving him an ETA on the late side, just in case. But things had wrapped up a bit earlier than she’d expected and now, fully dressed and with Mollie’s babysitter already there, watching cartoons with Mollie in the living room, she could head out right away, surprise Blake by arriving early.

She wanted to show that she was there for him, that she supported his dreams and plans. While nightclubs were far from her usual scene, she was willing to step out of her comfort zone for him. She was willing to do quite a lot for him. She just hoped it would be enough, that they could get their relationship back into gear tonight, and move past the awkwardness she’d been feeling since his birthday party.

She headed down to the living room, twirling around to show off her outfit to her appreciative audience.

“So pretty, Mommy! You’re like a princess. Are you and Mr. Blake gonna go dance in a big room like in Beauty and the Beast?” Mollie asked, hopping up and down.

“Maybe not quite like that,” Michelle said with a laugh. “But yes, there will be dancing.” After kissing Mollie and telling her to be good for Jenna, Michelle gathered her purse and her wrap and headed out the door.

Michelle’s belly was a tight knot as she got into the car. She checked herself in the rearview mirror no less than a hundred times at stop signs and stoplights, trying to find the reassurance and confidence she’d apparently misplaced at some point.

It felt like so much was hinging on tonight. She wanted to believe that the withdrawal she’d felt from Blake had just been because he’d been busy with the club, as he’d said. Now that that obstacle was no longer in the way…what did that mean for them? Would their relationship pick back up, stronger than ever? Or…

No. She wasn’t going to let herself wander down the rabbit hole of worst-case scenarios. This was going to be a good night, a celebratory night. The first night of the next stage of her relationship with Blake. Everything was going to be fine.

Seeing the big, modern-styled warehouse prompted a warm wave of emotion as she recalled the night that Blake had brought her here for their special solo dinner on the dance