Read Online Bidding On The Billionaire (The Sherbrookes of Newport Book 8) by Christina Tetreault - Free Book Online Page A

wanted to tell him it’d been the best date of her life. Considering how well he knew her and the fact he knew they’d gone to see Shakespeare, he’d see right through her lie.
    “It was okay. We had dinner at Mon Soleil then went to the theater. Afterward we stopped for dessert. He stayed for a few minutes after we talked to you in the lobby and then he left.”
    He smirked and pointed at the flowers. “He must have thought it was better than okay.”
    Perhaps he had, but it didn’t change anything for her. “What about you? How was your weekend?” Right now she didn’t want to speculate on what Trevor thought.
    “Relaxing. Took the Affinity out and spent a few hours on the water Saturday. Yesterday, I bummed around the house. Did you and Cheyenne stay out of trouble?”
    “I didn’t—” She stopped herself just in time. She’d forgotten all about telling Derek she had plans with her cousin. Originally she’d made up the excuse because Trevor had asked to see her again over the weekend. When Derek mentioned helping him shop in front of Trevor, she’d had no other choice but to tell him the lie as well. She didn’t want to add any other lies into the mix now.
    “She didn’t come by, did she?” Derek asked.
    Judging by his tone, he already knew the answer to his question. “No. Trevor wanted to get together again on Saturday. I didn’t want to say no, but I wasn’t ready for another day out with him either. He’s… I’m not sure what the right word is. Eager? I don’t know. Trying to push things along too fast?” She’d tried explaining she wanted to take things slowly after he mentioned her meeting his daughter. The large vase of flowers on her desk suggested he hadn’t gotten the message.
    “Rather than making up excuses, you could always tell him you’re not interested. You held up your end and gave him a chance like your father wanted. It didn’t work out. Let it go.”
    She eyed the card in her hand again. Maybe she was being a little unfair by calling him pushy. It wasn’t like he’d called or sent her text messages over the weekend. He’d merely sent her some flowers. The more she thought about it, it was a rather considerate gesture. “I didn’t say I wasn’t interested , Derek. Only that I want to take things a little slower than he seems to. And one date isn’t really giving him a chance.”
    “I take it you have another one planned?”
    She didn’t get why it mattered so much to him. In fact, he sounded angry about the idea of her going out with Trevor again, which made no sense. She understood Derek sharing his opinion on the matter. She’d done the same a time or two when he’d dated certain women. She’d never gotten mad though when he didn’t take her advice, and she never continually tried to change his mind—as if anyone could change Derek Sherbrooke’s mind anyway. The man gave the word stubborn a whole new meaning.
    “We might do something this weekend. It’s still up in the air. This is his daughter’s week to stay with him, and he didn’t know what their plans were yet. But I’m sure we’ll get together soon if this weekend doesn’t work out.”
    Derek scowled and grabbed a chocolate from the candy dish on her desk.
    With him already in a bad mood, now seemed as good a time as any to share her misgivings about the upcoming auction. “I was going to call tonight and talk to you about this.” She hated the idea of going back on her word, but the more she thought about it the more his plan seemed like a disaster waiting to happen. “I’m not sure about bidding on you at the fundraiser next week. Everyone in your family knows we’re friends, including your Aunt Marilyn. Don’t you think it’ll look odd when I win four dates with you?”
    The frown lines near his mouth deepened. “I have considered what they may think—”
    She intended to finish her entire speech before she let him say anything. “And who knows, if we don’t go through with this