Bedding the Billionaire

Sutton

“Must you follow me every minute of the day?”

I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me before, but Mark did not indicate when he said I was free to make arrangements that he would be with me every blasted moment. Don’t get me wrong, he wasn’t rude or disrespectful in any way.

No, it was far worse than that. He was helpful and so devastatingly handsome with his day’s growth of beard and yesterday’s clothes that I couldn’t help but make a complete fool out of myself.

“If I wasn’t here, who would have picked you up when you fell off the sidewalk?” Mark answered with a quirk of his lips.

“I didn’t fall,” I corrected him. “The sidewalk was being elusive.”

A full-blown smirk was beginning to form as he answered me. “What about when you gouged your eye with the straw?”

The injured eye was still throbbing a bit.

“That was intentional.”

He laughed, and dear Lord that was a sound I would never be sick of. I couldn’t stay mad at him because he hadn’t done anything wrong. It wasn’t his fault that everywhere we went the people of Otterville Falls couldn’t keep their eyes off of him—mostly the women.

Alice and Reena fell all over themselves when we checked in on them. First off, they both hugged him. I might have enjoyed the panicked look that he got when Reena gave him an extra nuzzle with her cleavage. Next, they ushered him into their home as if he were the president or God.

By the time we left, Mark had arranged for the local market to deliver their groceries weekly. You would have thought that the man killed a fire-breathing dragon on their behalf.

From there we went to Martha and Earl’s, which was located next to the vicarage. Sadly, there we ran into a bit of trouble with Father Montgomery.

“Devil’s Spawn! You aren’t welcome here!” That was all the good father got out before Mark had him pinned up against the church’s brick wall.

In a voice that was backed with steel, Mark threatened, “You are supposed to be a man of God—act like it. I suggest you change your approach to Miss Landry.”

I tugged on Mark’s sleeve, “Maybe we should go?”

“Maybe he needs to explain to his Maker why he treats perfectly good people like shit,” Mark said in what could only be described as a threatening way.

shit at church,”

to see more than I wanted to

light touches is his

the sun goes down?” I

me and

go,” I said somewhat breathlessly. Clearing my throat, I added

wish. The next thing I knew he was spouting off something that sounded like scripture. It was all about the men

take him out, I whispered,

“You are mistaken.” Mark’s tone was deadly calm when he added, “He is just a

and Gabriel, a fact which didn’t set well with Mark. When

to the insult,” he said with

That hurt a little.

“Has that impression changed?”

you do these things out of the kindness of your heart. Heaven knows why, but you do care.”

“They aren’t that bad,” I protested because, honestly, they weren’t. I knew abuse. One didn’t grow up with an addict and a

do. Earl takes advantage of your generous nature. Your boss treats you like the gum underneath his shoe. Alice and Reena use you much as a hired companion would. And the preacher? He should be horsewhipped. Why do you feel you deserve

the pity that I could see in his eyes.

“People are just a little wary of me,” I mumbled. “My mother did a lot of

into me, tracing my jawbone with the tip of his finger before he said quietly, “You are not your mother.”

drew back, my body tense.

with knowing

One that

wasn’t finished. “Explain to me why the grocer wouldn’t look you in the eye.”

seen that. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

almost a plea on his lips. “What in the fuck

didn’t answer. As much as I liked Mark, I wasn’t ready to share pasts and friendship bracelets.

“Who takes care of you, Sutton?” he inquired softly.

some distance. “I don’t need anyone to take care of me. I have taken care of myself most of my life and got along just fine.”

to know what I see?” Mark challenged, grabbing my wrist and pulling me close to him so that I could

I pressed against his rock-hard chest,

see an independent woman that works long

doesn’t seem to be too