Indebted: Part Three (Series Finale): The Virgin & The Bad-Boy Billionaire (A BWWM Billionaire Romance) by Sadie Black Read Free Book Online Page B

there’s no reason I shouldn’t say hello. My heart is racing and my throat is parched with fear as I cross the floor. My sweaty palms are clenched by my sides stiffly as I approach him. What if he isn’t happy to see me? What if he tells me to leave? Am I making a mistake? He never answered my call, maybe he hates me.
     
    Stepping in behind a large sculpture of a maple tree with a single lonely leaf dangling from a branch, I try to compose myself. I need to think. If there’s one thing I haven’t been doing enough of it’s thinking rationally. I wipe the beads of sweat forming on my brow off with the back of my hand and take a cleansing deep breath. Ok, it’s now or never. Just go over there and say hi. A tap on my shoulder makes me jump and swirl around like a kid caught dragging their finger across the icing on a cake.
     
    “Kendra, what on earth are you doing?” Brianna hisses at me. “Please tell me you aren’t standing here eavesdropping again,” she flings her hand toward Matthew and the naturally beautiful woman he’s still talking to.
     
    “No! I’m not, I swear. I just… well, I’m just trying not to chicken out.”
     
    “Kendra, you can’t cower behind a statue and hope that this will somehow fix itself. Get over there and talk to him.” She’s right. Now I just need to convince my feet that she knows what she’s talking about.
     
    “I’m going, ok? I just need a minute.”
     
    “No more minutes. You’re going to let your whole life slip by you, one minute at a time.” She gives me a little push, and I stumble out from my hiding spot in plain view of Matthew and his guest. They both turn to me, watching with curiosity and confusion as I smooth my hands over dress and try to stand up straight. My body feels like an awkward jumble of knees and elbows as I try to appear totally calm and natural.
     
    “Kendra?” Matthew tilts his head, “Uh… what are you doing here?” My skin blisters as I try to think of what to say.
     
    “I, well… I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d check out the show,” I lie, my skin crawling as they both stare at me.
     
    “You were in the neighborhood?” skepticism fills his voice. I blink Morse code messages at the floor to put me out of my misery and swallow me up.
     
    “Well, no. That’s not entirely true.” I really wish I had thrown back a few of those glasses of wine. “Brianna told me about the show and I came here to see you,” I confess.
     
    “Hi, I’m so happy to meet you,” the blond woman warmly smooths over the awkward tension filling the space between us. “I’m Tina, Matthew’s sister. So, you’re Kendra. I was hoping I’d get the chance to meet you,” she’s so easy-going. It’s like I’ve known her for years.
     
    “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Tina.”
     
    “I should be thanking you,” she looks over at Brianna, “oh my, I’m sorry. How rude of me. I didn’t catch your name.”
     
    “Hi, I’m Kendra’s friend, Brianna.” I can tell that she already feels as comfortable in Tina’s presence as I do. Her zen-like calm helps carry my nerves away, giving me the courage to look at Matthew. It’s impossible to tell if he’s happy to see me, or not. He’s holding his emotions close to his chest.
     
    “As I was saying, I should thank you, Kendra.” Tina continues, drawing my attention away from her brother. “You’re the one who seemed to have helped my brother here grow a soul, didn’t she?” her eyes sparkle as she teases her brother.
     
    “Well, doesn’t this look like a cozy little reunion?” The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and the peace that I was just feeling is wicked away as Marjorie’s voice interrupts our conversation like a jackhammer.
     
    “Hello, Marjorie.” Tina’s voice runs with ice. I’m happy to see that she seems to feel the same way about her that I do. Marjorie is unaffected, clearly reveling in people’s disgust as much as she does their