Billionaire's Tragedy (Standalone Book) (Billionaire Bad Boy Romance) by Alexa Davis Read Free Book Online Page B

like I was desperate. I simply
wanted to the families to know that I'd be there if they needed anything. It
was the least I could do.
    But I also wanted
information. I wanted to know who the shooter was and what pushed him to gun
down five senators on a Sunday afternoon just before Christmas. I knew Brant
would do what he could to find the information, but I needed to do something
and sending flowers was only the tip of the iceberg. I told the florist to call
me if there were any problems with delivery and then headed out the door
towards the car ,calling a quick thank you over my
shoulder. Just as I'd pushed the door open and stepped out on to the sidewalk,
I felt the force of bone against bone as a pedestrian plowed into me, knocking
skull against chin. Instinctively, I reached out and grabbed the walker around
the waist to keep her from falling backwards, and when I looked down, I saw a
pair of familiar green eyes staring back up at me.
    "You stupid
idiot!" she yelled. "Why don't you look where you're going? God,
you're gonna kill someone!"
    "Dammit, I didn't-"
I shouted as I rubbed my chin trying to lessen the pain of impact.
    "Oh my God!"
she yelled as she looked up at me. "Do you just go around making a habit
of barreling through everyone who gets in your way?"
    "Hey, I didn't shove
you!" I shouted back. "You seem to take up an awful lot of space,
lady. And, I wasn't the one speed walking down the sidewalk not looking where I
was going!"
    "The hell you
weren't," she shot back. "You're one of those guys who takes up space
because you feel it's your due, aren't you? Get your hands off me."
    I quickly let go, not
realizing that I still had an arm wrapped around her waist and suddenly very
aware of how her body felt pressed against mine. I let go and stepped back as I
watched her rub her forehead and look up at me with those piercing green eyes.
    She was even more
beautiful than I'd remembered, and there was something about her stubbornness
that upped the attraction. As we stared at each other like two warriors before
the showdown, I could feel the effect of her presence running through my veins
and was incredibly thankful for the cover of my long wool coat.
    "I'm sorry," I
said finally breaking the standoff. "I apologize. I was preoccupied and
wasn't looking where I was going. Are you okay?"
    "Are you mocking
me?" She narrowed her eyes and regarded me with suspicion.
    "Not in the least,
I'm absolutely sincere," I assured her as I held out my hand. "I'm
Linc Redding."
    "I know who you
are," she said taking my hand and shaking. There was a jolt of electricity
that passed between us and I inhaled sharply as I felt it. She looked up at me
and continued, "The whole city knows who you are."
    "And you are?"
I asked, not wanting to let go of her hand.
    "Oh, yeah, Olivia
Moore," she said looking slightly embarrassed. "I work for the Sentinel . Features reporter."
    "I see," I said
as I finally let go of her hand. She was looking up at me with a perplexed
expression and I smiled as I watched the snow falling on her cheeks, then
quickly melting, leaving drops of water that made her skin shine. When she said
nothing, I asked, "What?"
    "What are you doing
in a florist shop on a Sunday afternoon?"
    "Buying a mattress
for my bed," I replied dryly. "What do you think I'm doing?"
    "Don't be a smart
ass," she laughed.
    "Better than being a
dumbass," I retorted.
    "Oh Lord, you are
sad," she groaned. Her laughter was rich and deep and it warmed the cold
air. It also made me want to say anything that would keep it flowing, even if
it made me look like an idiot. "That's seriously the lamest comeback in
the history of comebacks."
    "What can I say, I'm
a clumsy lame ass," I shrugged, earning another laugh. I looked down at
her and said, "So, Olivia Moore, now that I've told you why I'm out here,
I believe that you owe me the courtesy of reciprocity."
    "You didn't tell me
why you're out here," she said as she stared up at me. Her eyes sparkled
with