The Engagement Game (Engaged to a Billionaire) by A. Gardner Read Free Book Online

  So that's why I keep getting burned.   How long have you two been dating?"   My eyes dart across the selection of dry pastas.
    "Um . . ."   I grab a package of linguine.
    "Six months?" he guesses.   "Three?   Two?"   He follows me to the meat section.
    "It's complicated."
    "No Kat," he cringes.   "Don't tell me you just met this dude?"   My silence gives him enough information.   "Why?   What does this guy have that I don't?"   He jokingly shakes his head.
    "A billion dollars," I reply with a serious face.
    "I see."
    I turn to him and stare at the blue in his eyes, disappointed at what might be going through his head.
    "I'm not some kind of gold digger if that's what you think."   I try hard not to get too worked up.   Jack watches me flail my arms in the air.   "I've had it rough the past few years okay.   I'm allowed to dive head first into a relationship with a guy that has everything."
    "You don't have to explain it to me," Jack replies.   "I get it."   I frustratingly turn my head towards a mound of fresh scallops behind the seafood counter.
    "I doubt that."
    "I do," he continues.   "You're looking for security.   Who isn't?"   The calming sound of his voice finally helps me relax.   In a weird way I was glad he seemed to get it.   It made me feel better for jumping into something with a guy I barely knew.   I reach for a scallop like it's a head of lettuce, forgetting about the plastic barrier.   I smack my hand against the counter and wince.   Jack automatically grabs my hand and I blush.   The warmth of his skin doesn't help.
    "I'm sorry," I breathe, rubbing the side of my face.   "It's been a weird day and I think I'm about to go insane."
    "Yep," Jack answers.   "Okay."   He grabs my hand and pulls me away from my cart.   "Come on."
    "What are you doing?"
    "I have just the thing."   Jacks pulls me towards the sliding doors.
    "But the food-"
    "Someone will put it all back," he continues.   "You can come back later."   My head is confused but my chest is thudding.   Jack leads me to the parking lot and begins speed walking down the sidewalk.   I sneak a glance at the back of his fitted jeans and the way they draped across his backside..
    "Jack."
    "This is it," he announces, holding his arms in the air.   "Tada!"
    "It's an apartment complex," I comment.   "And an old one at that."
    "I know."
    "So . . . you live here?   This is what you wanted to show me?   Your apartment?"
    "No," he protests.   "I bought it."   He pauses and watches my reaction.   The place had potential but the few units within eyeshot looked like they needed to be knocked down and rebuilt.
    "What?"
    "Yeah," he smiles.   "This is my new project.   I'm gonna refurbish these babies."
    "With what money?"
    Jack frowns.   "I thought you'd be happy for me?"
    "Well it does explain what you were doing at the grocery store."
    "Told you I wasn't stalking you," he responds.   "Come on.   What do you think?"   My brain jumped to the millions of projects it would take to make a place like this look new.
    "Well, it looks like a lot of work . . ."   He looks eager to gain my approval with a wide smile and hopeful expression.   He clasps his hands together.   ". . . but I think it's doable."   He nods.
    "Come on."   He grabs my hand again.   "Let me show you the inside."   He pulls a ring of keys from his pocket and studies each one.   The sleeve of his t-shirt slips, revealing the edge of a tattoo I had yet to see the whole of.
    "How long have you had it?"
    Jack's eyes follow mine to his shoulder.   His expression turns sour.   He quickly resumes searching for the key.
    "You know that feeling you sometimes get when something reminds you of the past . . . in bad way?"
    "Actually yes," I reply.   I still had a funny feeling whenever I spotted a red pickup truck.   The car Chad used to drive.
    "Yeah, I normally try not to look down."
    "That bad huh?"   I watch as he unlocks the door to the first unit.   He