The Billionaire's Mistress Complete Series: Alpha Billionaire Romance (10 page)

S
he was looking
at me liked I’d lost my mind.

In that moment, I couldn’t really blame her. It was possible I had.

When I’d left the salon, I’d swung by the bank across the street to attend to a few minor business details. It wasn’t the branch I normally used, but it was closer, so it would suffice. On the walk over, I’d told myself I needed to get over this bizarre obsession I’d developed for Allie Dodds.

I’d even agreed with myself.

Then I’d seen her hurrying across the street just as I came out of the bank.

Looking beautiful and carefree, not worrying that her shoes didn’t match her purse and that her coat didn’t particularly fit any certain
style
. She still looked beautiful, and she commanded attention.

She sure as hell commanded mine.

I wanted to know more about her.

I had no right to know more about her, I knew, but that didn’t stop me from wanting it. It sure didn’t stop me from following her. Sitting down at her table and asking a stupid question. And now I was hoping like hell that she’d say yes.

“I…” She drained half her drink in one gulp, then shook her head. “I’m sorry, I can’t go with you. It would be inappropriate.”

“Why is that?” I frowned at her.

“You're
engaged
.” She glared at me. “Or have you forgotten already? Want me to go get another newspaper so you can remember what your fiancée looks like?”

Engaged
.

As in...somebody had a claim on me. I had a claim on somebody too, but I guessed that was why it felt so foreign. I'd never wanted anyone to claim me, or wanted to claim anyone else. Except now Paisley had one by my own choice.

Uneasy with the path my mind was following, I pushed it all aside and focused on the here and now. On getting Allie to say yes.

When I didn’t respond, Allie reached out and picked up her sandwich. It looked fantastic, and if I wasn’t certain she’d run if I got up, I might have gone and gotten something myself.

“Don’t you think you should be taking your fiancée?” she asked pointedly.

“Paisley already has plans.” I lifted a shoulder.

It was mostly true anyway. Paisley had never particularly cared for this charity, which was odd, considering her father had been the one who’d introduced me to it.

“I could go alone,” I continued, “but I prefer having somebody with me. In the past, I’ve taken other female friends. Paisley and I have an agreement when it comes to certain events. She loves to go to things like
Save the...
” What was the last one? “
Save the East Asian Hybrid Orchid
. Those things bore me stupid so she takes a friend from her social circle.”

“And this…fundraiser you’re attending on Friday? I take it that it’s something that bores her stupid?” Allie nipped off another bite of her sandwich and then set it aside to pick up her spoon.

It took quite a bit not to stare at the sandwich. She hadn’t even eaten half of it. I was starving. It was a Reuben and probably one of the best looking sandwiches I’d seen in ages. Sandwiches like that weren’t exactly the standard fare any place close to where I worked.

“Ah…” Dragging my attention away from the sandwich, then having to drag it away from her mouth as she licked her spoon, I shot her an easy smile. “I wouldn’t say that it bores her stupid. I’m a bit more of a social lout than she is, I’ll be honest. But Paisley has her soft spots – the arts, for one. And I’ve got mine. I’ve got her father to thank for this one, though, really.”

Allie tensed, something unrecognizable going across her eyes. “Is that a fact?”

“Yes. It’s the
TomorrowU Foundation
. Are you familiar with it?”

She looked down as she nudged her tray away, reaching for the napkin and dabbing it across her lips. “Actually, yes.
TomorrowU
provided my brother’s school with new computers.”

“Really?” I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face. I earmarked a certain percentage of my yearly income – and the company’s – for the inner city charity, as well as several others that I’d discovered since I’d been introduced to it. It was one of the few things in my life that I could outright say I took serious pleasure in.

Well, that and sex.

It was the only unselfish thing I could say that I enjoyed. There was something about knowing that I could actually do something to make a difference in the lives of some kids who might not have a chance otherwise that just…well. It mattered. I couldn’t figure any other way to describe it.

“Yeah.” Looking a little disgruntled, she sighed and once more reached for her drink. “So the soon-to-be Mrs. Lindstrom isn’t too keen on an inner-city charity, huh?”

Although her voice was neutral, I heard something there. Even though a part of me had felt the same way when Paisley had expressed her disinterest in the charity, I felt like I needed to defend her. “She has her interests. I have mine. We make it work.”

“Let me guess,” Allie said with a droll smile. “She's more about the pretty things. You said something about a flower, so I guess the others are cute little fuzzy animals, right?”

I couldn't help the smile. “How did you guess?”

“She just looks like the type.” She glanced at me. “Look, I just don’t think it’s appropriate for me to go with you.”

“There’s nothing inappropriate about it. We’re friends.” She gave me a look. “Okay, so I think we could be friends.” I gave her the same pleading look that had gotten me out of trouble a time or two. “Don’t make me go by myself. You have no idea what it’s like going to one of these solo. It’s beyond a nightmare.”

She gave me a skeptical look. “If you’re used to doing these things with some other girl on your arm beside your fiancée, why don't you take one of them? Why me?”

“Because I’d like to take you,” I said honestly. “Especially knowing that your brother’s school has been one of the recipients of the charity. You understand what sort of positive impact it has. Wouldn’t you like to talk to some of the people and let them know?”

“They won’t care what I have to say.” She brushed the idea off.

But I had seen a hint of interest in her eyes. Part of what made me so good at what I did was my ability to read people. While Allie was harder than most, on this, I knew I was on the mark.

“On the contrary, these are exactly the sort of people who want to hear from you. Sure, there are a few blow-hards that don't really give a damn about anyone other than themselves, but the rest really care, and they rarely get to talk to anybody who has benefited from there donations. Or family members,” I added, smiling a little. “I realize it’s your brother and his classmates who have benefitted, but you’ve seen what works and what doesn't. You would be able to share those observations with the people who can make a difference.”

After a moment, she sighed. “You really do know how to push somebody’s buttons, don’t you, Mr. Lindstrom? I take it this is a formal event?”

“Yes, black tie.”

“Aw, damn. And here I was thinking about saying yes, but I don’t own any black ties.” She clicked her tongue and gave me a snarky little smile.

It was adorable enough that I again had to remind myself not to leap over the table and kiss her. No kissing. She was off-limits that way.

Still, I couldn’t keep from laughing. “As I’m the one strong-arming you into this, I’ll handle your wardrobe. I can have a car to pick you up Thursday from your work…if arrangements can be made for your brother?”

“Some Thursdays he has an after school program with…” There was a faint hesitation, very faint, but I wondered what she was covering. “He stays after. Every other Thursday. But you don’t need to buy my dress. I can handle it.”

“I did mention it was formal, right? This is…” I hesitated, not wanting to offend her.

“I have high society Philly princesses sitting in my chair all the time, Mr. Lindstrom.” She looked amused. “I know what I’m getting into.” She brushed her finger across the full lower curve of her mouth.

Man, that mouth…

“Okay, then. It’s a date.” The second I said it, I wanted to yank it back.

“No.” Her eyes cooled. “Not a date. We’re attending a function together. There’s nothing remotely date-like about it.”

“Relax…that’s not how I meant it,” I said easily, although I sure as hell wished I hadn’t said it like that because now I almost wished it was a date. “We’re just friends attending a function that happens to hold interest for both of us.”

“We’re not friends.” She smiled as she repeated the words, but there was something almost sad about her. “We barely know each other. You’re also a rich man engaged to a rich woman. I’m a hairstylist. We come from two very, very different worlds. We have nothing in common.”

“Really? We both come from planet earth.” That sadness in that smile got to me. Wondering where it came from, I touched the hand she had left on the table. “We breathe the same air, see the same sunset. We both eat, drink, laugh. I see kids in the city playing out in the streets with coats so threadbare they can’t keep them warm. I bet you see them too.”

Her lashes flickered. “I guess maybe you see a bit more of the world outside your own than I would have guessed. But that doesn’t mean we have much in common.” Then, before I could say anything else, “I need to go. See you in a few days.”

* * *

S
he’d said yes
. I couldn’t quite contain the odd feeling of excitement as I met my driver out front. Thomas looked at the sandwich bag I held out. I’d lingered and finished the half she hadn’t eaten before ordering another one for myself and one to go for Thomas.

“It’s a Reuben. I had one just a few minutes ago. It was amazing.”

“Thank you,” he said, flashing me a wide smile. “I have to tell you, sir, I love a good Reuben. I don’t get them too often. My wife doesn’t care for them and…” His voice trailed off, and his smile went from appreciative to sheepish in a blink.

I didn’t have to ask why. I slapped him on the shoulder. “Next time we’re both hungry, maybe we’ll head out here. I enjoy them too, and you can imagine I don’t get sandwiches like that uptown.”

“No, sir. I wouldn’t think so.” As I slid into the back of the car, I said, “Head down to the river and find a place to park. You can eat your sandwich, and I’ll take care of some business so you can enjoy it while it’s hot.”

“Sir, that’s not necessary.”

I held up a hand to cut him off. “I can take care of things here just as well as anywhere else. Once you’re done, then we can head up town. This way we can avoid the lunchtime traffic anyway. I hate lunchtime traffic.”

Thomas found a spot near the river, and instead of staying in the car, I got out and walked over to the railing, looking out over the slow moving water.

Allie had said yes. Part of me felt a little strange about how I’d maneuvered her into it. I had never had to do that before. And even as I thought about that, I started to feel a different kind of guilt. This kind came with the realization that I was looking forward to seeing her again, spending time with her.

It’s not a big deal,
I told myself. It’s not like we’re going out on a date. Allie had made that clear. I had made that clear.

But in a way, it
was
like a date. I’d be picking her up. We were going to a formal function. There would be dinner, drinks, dancing. Those three
D
s usually added up to another
D
…date.

Turning away from the river, I shoved my hand through my hair and tried to shrug off the unsettling feeling in my gut. There was nothing to feel guilty about. It wasn’t like I was deceiving her about what we were doing. I wasn’t planning on ending my engagement. I wasn’t planning on sleeping with Allie.

Although...just the thought of it was enough to make my mind conjure up an image and that image had my blood heating. Allie under me, those pale green eyes hot with need. Her body stretched out, her pussy wet and tight around my dick, her wrists pinned in my hand as I drove into her.

I turned and faced the river as my cock began to pulse, and my balls drew tight. That wasn’t going to happen.

I was engaged.

Paisley was pregnant.

Allie was off-limits.

And even if none of the above were true, Allie wasn’t interested. She’d made that more than clear. This wasn’t a date.

This wasn’t…anything really. Nothing remotely romantic about it, and I needed to get that through my head.

We were just attending an event together, and I’d introduce her to people…then probably retreat to the corner and watch her.

I had a feeling she’d charm just about everybody she met.

Not a date.

So why was I so damn excited?

I
had
to go shopping for a dress.

Mom was going to get TJ after he finished up with his group today, and I usually got off early on Thursdays anyway, so I was going to take advantage of it and try to find something.

I did have some money I could spend.

While my father and I hadn’t spoken since I was sixteen, he'd kept in contact. More or less anyway. Every few months, he’d send money – sometimes it was just a hundred dollars – usually cash. At least once a year, he’d send me some ridiculous amount, a check for a few thousand dollars. Once, it had been ten thousand. That had paid for cosmetology school as well as made sure TJ had the shoes he wanted for school that year.

Whatever he sent, if I didn't have a specific need, I put it away, just in case. The genetic condition that had made my mother lose her hearing, that might have caused TJ's hearing loss, could have other physical side effects. I wanted to make sure my family would be taken care of, no matter what happened.

I didn’t just save it, though.

I was, after all, my father’s daughter and Kendrick Hedges had been teaching me how to play with money and the stock market since I was five years-old. I’d made my first trade when I was nine.

I wasn’t making millions because I wasn't investing high numbers. I was cautious in both the amount I invested and the trades I made. I wasn't trying for some get rich quick thing or anything like that. I kept most of what I made in a savings account that kept consistent interest, but I always set aside a percentage to use for investments.

How much I had and how much I could afford to spend fluctuated, but I'd been doing well these past few weeks, especially after my day trip to New York to return Jal’s ring. So I’d go shopping. It had been a long time since I'd splurged on anything for myself.

The bottom line? I could afford to buy a nice dress...even if I would probably only wear it once.

Then again, I thought, maybe that was what I needed, to find other places and opportunities I could wear a nice dress to.

As I wrapped up my shift, Tao came strolling in, right on time. We’d been planning on hitting a few places together and then grabbing some dinner. I hadn’t yet explained just why we were going shopping or just what I was looking for, and I was secretly dreading it.

He was going to smack me down to earth, and I knew it.

Maybe that was why I’d asked him along.

I
needed
to be smacked down to earth because I had to be fucking crazy to have agreed to do this.

“I’ll be done in just a few minutes.” Giving him a quick smile, I headed back to the employee’s lounge and stowed my tunic, swapping it out for a blouse and some nicer flats that I’d brought with me. We weren’t going to be heading into the local Dillard’s or Macy’s for what I needed. As it was, we'd both be lucky not to get kicked out for not looking the part.

When I came out, before I could say anything to Tao, Alistair came rushing over. “Allie, there’s a man out front waiting for you. He says that Mr. Lindstrom sent him?”

My face went hot.

“What?”

Tao gave me a quick, surprised look.

The memory came back fast.

Jal’s laugh. The way he smiled. Then his casual offer...
I’ll handle your wardrobe. I can have a car to pick you up Thursday from your work.

My face flushed even hotter. I’d told him I could handle buying my own dress. Apparently, he hadn’t gotten the message.

“I’ll handle it, Alistair. Tao, come on.”

Hitching my purse up onto my shoulder, I headed outside.

Tao, ever curious, stayed close at my side, and at the sight of the car and driver, he gave a low, appreciative whistle. It could have been because of the car or
the driver. Probably both. I would never hear the end of this, no matter how it played out.

“Damn, Allie. You’re moving up in the world. That's a Bentley.”

I could have jabbed him with a sharp stick just then – or smacked him on the head with one. I knew what kind of car it was.

Ignoring him, I focused on the man in the slick uniform. He approached me and gave me a polite nod. “Would you be Allie Dodds?”

“I would.” I reached up, casually wrapping my fingers around the strap of my purse so I wouldn’t fidget. “And you are?”

“Thomas, Miss Dodds. Mr. Lindstrom sent me. I’m to take you to Boyds. We’re going to find you a dress to the charity function this weekend.” He gave Tao a nod, so polite, so friendly. Sometimes, a client would come in with their assistants or drivers, and butter wouldn’t melt in their mouths, but this guy was as friendly as he could be. Well, professionally speaking.

“You’re here because Mr. Lindstrom sent you,” I said slowly, ignoring the last part of his sentence.

“Yes.” He checked the sharp timepiece on his wrist. “I believe we had an appointment for when you finished working for the day. Are you finished for the day?”

“No. I mean, I am finished, but no…we didn’t have an appointment.” Frowning, I stared at the car.

“What’s going on, Al?” Tao asked, resting his chin on my shoulder as he smiled at the guy.

“Nothing, Tao.” I nudged him back, but it didn’t do much good. He just moved in closer and slung an arm around my neck.

“Mr. Lindstrom, huh? Come on, Allie. You shouldn’t keep him waiting.”

“Quite.” Thomas gave Tao another polite nod and gestured to the car. “Miss, if you would…?”

“No.” Jabbing Tao in the stomach, I sidestepped. “Look…um, Thomas. I told Jal –
Mr. Lindstrom
– that I’d take care of this.”

Now the guy really looked confused. Just as Tao opened his mouth again, I caught his arm. “Be quiet.” His incessant questions and the driver’s persistent patience
were threatening to do me in. Giving the man a bright smile, I held up my index finger. “Can you just give us one minute?”

Without waiting for an answer, I dragged Tao a few feet away.

“Would you stop? You’re driving me nuts, and I have to think.” Hands on my hips, I glared at him.

“You want to tell me what’s going on?” The playfulness fell from his voice, and he stared past me toward the man in the suit, standing by the car, almost at attention with his shoulder back and straight, feet together. “What’s up? Is this something about your dad?”

“No.” I glared at him. He knew my backstory, was the only person besides my mother who knew it all. I didn't even know if Tyson knew as much as Tao. But we didn't talk about it.

“Then what’s up?” He crossed his arms over his chest and stared me down.

Realizing that he wasn’t going to back off until I explained, I gave him a hurried rundown of what happened and threatened his life if he said anything about my connection to Paisley. My stomach clenched when he slid a look back to the Bentley, then let his eyes linger on Thomas, who did a damn good impersonation of a statue.

“Honey, you know this is a bad idea, right?”

“It’s about the charity,” I said, brushing the idea that it could be anything else aside.

“I can believe that it is...in a way.” Tao rested a hand on my shoulder, making it clear that he could already see how much bullshit was in that simple statement. “It’s a great charity. They do a lot of good things at the college too. But it’s not just about that. Is it?”

I started to deny it, and then after a second just gave up. “No. It’s not. I just want…”

Tao pulled me in for a quick hug. “I know what it’s about. It’s me, remember honey?”

“I know.” Sniffling a little, I hugged him back, then eased away.

“You’re going to do this no matter what, aren’t you?”

With my head tucked against his chest, I nodded.

I was screwed either way.

* * *

“
N
o
,” I said again as Thomas gave me a pleading look.

True to his word, Thomas had taken me to the sort of place that threw girls like me out on their ass before they got two feet inside. Paisley would've felt right at home here, I was sure, which was yet another reason why I didn't. She and I had never moved in the same circles, and all this was doing was reminding me of how different we were.

As usual, Tao played peacemaker. “Look, I know you want to make sure Cinderella looks beautiful for the ball…” He winked at me before looking back over at Thomas. “But she can still be beautiful – and fit in – without shopping in a place like this.”

“Mr. Lindstrom– ” Thomas protested.

“Isn’t the one wearing the damn dress,” I interrupted.

“Allie…” Tao gave me a
shut-up and let me handle this
look. “Thomas, I'm sure your boss wants Allie to be as comfortable as possible, even when shopping for a dress, am I right?”

Thomas was on the fence, I could tell.

Tao pushed him over, leaning in with a conspiratorial wink. “I know just the place. Do you by chance know that song…” He hummed a few notes of a catchy new pop tune and then sang a few lines.

“Know the song?” Thomas rolled his eyes while I tried to figure out where Tao was going with this. “My seven-year-old sings it morning, noon and night.”

“Oh, man.” Tao shook his head. “Not my style, but I gotta tell you, that platinum blonde princess is a fashion queen…and I know her designer.”

My jaw dropped as I swung my head around and gaped at him. He'd never mentioned anything of the sort to me. Though I supposed I shouldn't have been surprised. Tao was never one to name drop just for the hell of it.

Thomas looked intrigued.

“Yep.” Tao buffed his nails on his shirt. “It’s a friend of mine. Tarja. She designed the girl’s last two dresses and after last night’s award show, she’s booked up for the next eighteen months, and looking to move to the Fashion District in New York. But she’s still here in Philly right now, and I know she won’t mind if we come in and take a look around her shop.” Tao gave us both a pleased smile. “A design from Tarja will be every bit as good as anything you’d find in Boyds, darling.”

Back in the car, I did a search on her name, and Tao, as always, was right. Tarja looked like she was on her way to fashion stardom.

Tao was busy too, texting back and forth, staring at my feet, my hair, my boobs critically.

What?” I asked, irritated after he'd leaned over to give my chest another intense stare. “You’ve had your hands on them a thousand times.”

“Well, yeah.” He gave me a patented Tao grin, his sapphire blue eyes sparkling. “But I wasn't exactly focusing on size before.”

I supposed that was a good thing.

“Perve.” Rolling my eyes, I went back to studying some of the dresses I’d been scrolling through. The country diva turned pop princess wasn’t the only one who’d been wearing Tarja’s designs. Two movie stars were now claiming they’d
only
wear her. That wouldn’t last, I knew, but it was still high praise. Several socialites from New York, the governor’s daughter. Tarja had quite the following already.

This might work...if she didn’t charge me ten grand for a dress.

It took a little while to get there, and I had to admit, I was more than a little thrown by the building we stopped in front of.

“It’s a train.”

“Train
car
,” Tao clarified. He’d already climbed out of the car and was waving at somebody who’d opened the door.

“Her store is a train car,” I said as I got out of the car.

“Nah. Tarja doesn’t haven’t a store. She sells by word of mouth. Has for a while. People are going to be begging for her designs for years to come. I knew they would.”

He grinned and held out his hands for the heavyset woman who approached, her hair slicked up into a rather fascinating beehive and her wide, deeply kohled eyes studying me the same way a scientist might examine a test slide.

“So you’re Allie,” Tarja said, pursing her lips as she circled around me.

“Yes…” I fought the urge to cover my breasts as she stopped dead in front of me, staring at my rack.

“I can work with this.” She gave Tao a decisive nod. “You two boys wait out here.”

“But…” I shot Tao a terrified look.

She caught my hand and began to walk. And since I was attached to that hand and she was insanely strong, I had to walk too.

“Sorry, sweets,” she said. “I don’t work with audiences.”

Less than ten minutes later, I stood in front of Tarja wearing nothing but my underwear, trying to figure out what exactly just happened.

“Smart girl, you wore a strapless.” She circled around me again, then stopped in front of me. She cupped my face and turned my chin from one side to the other. “What’s the event?”

I had to rack my brains for a minute even though I knew I was familiar with it. Tarja seemed nice enough, but she was intimidating as hell. “It’s a fundraiser thing for
TomorrowU
.”

She grunted an approval. “Not a bad one, I guess. Better than some of the bullshit political stuff and most of the other
philanthropy
events where people just go to see and be seen.” She walked over to a rack that held several pieces and began going through them.

Her little train car was an explosion of color, fabric and sparkles. I felt like I’d fallen into a rainbow. If I hadn't been so nervous, I would've enjoyed it. I wasn't an artistic person, but I definitely appreciated the beauty of things like this.