A Billionaire for Christmas by Maggie Marr Read Free Book Online Page B

was here?”
    “Nonna said you either be here or at Joey’s.” He nodded toward the church. “She hoped here. NA meeting?”
    “Don’t get yourself all judgey. We all got addictions. Some of them are just more apparent than others.”
    His gaze whipped back to hers. Surprise hovered in his eyes.
    “What? You think I don’t know what you think? I see it written all over your damn face. ‘Why is Shelly back? Is she clean? Is she going to steal from her Nonna?’ You almost had the guts to say it to my face yesterday. So now you’re going to stand there and tell me that none of that crap went through that moneymaking mind of yours?”
    Not one muscle in his face moved. He didn’t even cock his damn eyebrow, like he normally did when he was at least amused.
    “Nothing now? Not a word? You used to be more honest than that, Tony. Working downtown with all those white-collar thieves must’ve taught you to keep those lips tight.” She shoved both hands in her pockets and walked toward the corner. She didn’t need a ride from him in his fancy car, bought with all that money he thought made him special. Nope, she knew better. Money did not buy class.
    How many of those men who had come to visit her back in the bad times had been pulling down seven, eight figures a year? A lot. Before she’d really fallen and let herself go, anyway. At least those guys showered and paid. As she got worse off, so did the tricks, until near the end she’d been so strung out she’d been putting the needle in before they even left.
    “Shelly, stop.” Anthony walked around the front of the car and angled to cut her off. His hand grabbed her arm.
    Red flooded her vision. Heat pulsed in her chest and adrenaline spiked her blood. She’d been grabbed before. Knocked out for protecting herself. She wouldn’t be grabbed again.
    Her gaze locked with his. “Better move that hand. You want me to stay, ask . You want to touch me, it’d better be gentle.” She wouldn’t play about this. Couldn’t. She doubted she’d ever be able to have a man reach out and grab for her again without feeling some tinge of terror, fright that turned into fight-or-flight.
    “I didn’t mean to startle you.” Anthony’s hand slipped from her arm.
    “Not startling, just how it is. Nobody gets to grab me.” She pulled her hands closer together in her pockets. “I’ve got to get home and get Nonna if I’m going to make it into the city on time.”
    “She’s not going. I stopped there first. She was asleep on the couch. I helped her to bed. She said to tell you to have fun.”
    Going to Aubrey and Justin’s tonight didn’t sound like fun. Especially by herself. “Then I’m not going.” She whipped out her phone and scrolled to Aubrey’s number.
    “Your grandmother won’t be pleased if you cancel now.”
    Shelly’s gaze flicked to meet Anthony’s eyes. She lifted one challenging brow. But he was absolutely right. Nonna might be gentle and loving, but she would be unyielding in her disappointment if Shelly cancelled on Aubrey and Justin right before she was meant to arrive at their home for dinner.
    “I’ll drive. I’ll even have you home before midnight.”
    Anthony’s tone had shifted. The last line reminded her of the playfulness he’d once had. He might not be acting quite like the guy who’d swept her off her feet when she was sixteen, but this was definitely not the uptight stuffed shirt who’d showed up at Nonna’s last night.
    He opened the passenger door. She tipped her head and nodded. She wasn’t the same girl who’d ridden around beside Anthony for years, but then again, he definitely wasn’t the same guy.
     
    *
     
    A quiet drive to Manhattan with no conversation. Shelly’s lips parted at the view of the city. Anthony pulled to a stop at the front of Justin’s building. The foyer glittered with Christmas decorations. Once inside, he gently reached for Shelly’s elbow and steered her to the elevator doors.
    “Some pad.