Read Online The Billionaire's Jackpot: Betting on You Series: Book Four by Jeannette Winters - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jeannette Winters
Tags: Romance, Contemporary
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Ursula had been working closely with the military for soldiers who suffered from PTSD for several years. Even though I didn’t suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, my time serving as an active duty trauma nurse overseas for all those years qualified me. As you might guess, this sweet pooch adopted me, and we have been together since.”
Not what I expected. His guess would have been she was walking through a pet store just for fun, then came across the puppies, only to fall in love with a cute and cuddly eight-week-old, not even knowing what a giant she would one day grow into. I wish I had been right. Since he hadn’t guessed her secret, he was confident no one else had either. Apparently you’re not as easy to read as others . Katherine carried herself with the confidence one expects from a Marine, yet in brief moments he saw something else, a sign that she was fragile. Had she intentionally let him in to see that side of her? And if so, why? Maybe she’s going through this alone. That thought felt like a punch in the gut. No one, especially someone so . . . sweet should be alone. She needed someone to be there for her, someone besides her dog. He could provide her a temporary distraction, but that was all. What was I thinking bringing her here? First sleeping with her then inviting her to spend two weeks at his place, both poor choices with the information he just learned. The time would allow him to get to know her better, but what comes after that? He didn’t do relationships. Nothing even close to anything that resembles one . These next few weeks he would need to be very cautious not to cause her pain, at least not more than she already carried.
Even though she didn’t have PTSD, she had demons that haunted her. Drew knew at that moment he would do anything within his power to ease that pain. But grief wasn’t something that could be cured with money. This was about to take him to a place he thought he never would go, deeply and personally involved.
“You should consider it.” Was all he heard her say.
“Consider what?” He didn’t want to admit he had only been only half-listening since she’d dropped that news on him, and he’d begun his plan of action for the next few weeks.
By the shaking of her head, it was evident he hadn’t fooled her one bit. “A dog. I know it wouldn’t be the same, but you would be surprised what great company they are. You won’t be so lonely.”
Lonely? Me? That’s funny. He was far from lonely. Any time of day or night he could pick up the phone and call the endless list of women waiting to be with him. I am not lonely. “I don’t think a dog would fit into my lifestyle right now.” Very tactful, Drew.
“A little late since you said she could come along.”
“I wouldn’t have said she could come if I didn’t want her here.” I already figured you were a package deal. This is so not me. Why am I being so accommodating? She needs a different man, not me.
Puzzled she said, “I thought the lifestyle you were talking about was your home. That dogs might not be welcome.”
It was the first time he actually thought about his penthouse. It was not child—or dog—proof. One nice thing about a bachelor pad was you can fill it with whatever you want and don’t have to worry about someone else knocking it to the floor. Lately, he had been collecting ancient Chinese artifacts excavated from the Three Gorges Dam, which were thousands of years old and deemed priceless. It’s questionable if he actually should be in possession of these items, but that had never stopped him. In the past, he had never had anyone except his closest friends over, and they were not about to broadcast it to anyone. Can’t put them up in a hotel now without sounding like a total jerk. He loved to take a risk, but leaving that collection out with Blossom running around was a loss he wasn’t willing to take. Not much time, but he could manipulate time.
“It has been a long
Not what I expected. His guess would have been she was walking through a pet store just for fun, then came across the puppies, only to fall in love with a cute and cuddly eight-week-old, not even knowing what a giant she would one day grow into. I wish I had been right. Since he hadn’t guessed her secret, he was confident no one else had either. Apparently you’re not as easy to read as others . Katherine carried herself with the confidence one expects from a Marine, yet in brief moments he saw something else, a sign that she was fragile. Had she intentionally let him in to see that side of her? And if so, why? Maybe she’s going through this alone. That thought felt like a punch in the gut. No one, especially someone so . . . sweet should be alone. She needed someone to be there for her, someone besides her dog. He could provide her a temporary distraction, but that was all. What was I thinking bringing her here? First sleeping with her then inviting her to spend two weeks at his place, both poor choices with the information he just learned. The time would allow him to get to know her better, but what comes after that? He didn’t do relationships. Nothing even close to anything that resembles one . These next few weeks he would need to be very cautious not to cause her pain, at least not more than she already carried.
Even though she didn’t have PTSD, she had demons that haunted her. Drew knew at that moment he would do anything within his power to ease that pain. But grief wasn’t something that could be cured with money. This was about to take him to a place he thought he never would go, deeply and personally involved.
“You should consider it.” Was all he heard her say.
“Consider what?” He didn’t want to admit he had only been only half-listening since she’d dropped that news on him, and he’d begun his plan of action for the next few weeks.
By the shaking of her head, it was evident he hadn’t fooled her one bit. “A dog. I know it wouldn’t be the same, but you would be surprised what great company they are. You won’t be so lonely.”
Lonely? Me? That’s funny. He was far from lonely. Any time of day or night he could pick up the phone and call the endless list of women waiting to be with him. I am not lonely. “I don’t think a dog would fit into my lifestyle right now.” Very tactful, Drew.
“A little late since you said she could come along.”
“I wouldn’t have said she could come if I didn’t want her here.” I already figured you were a package deal. This is so not me. Why am I being so accommodating? She needs a different man, not me.
Puzzled she said, “I thought the lifestyle you were talking about was your home. That dogs might not be welcome.”
It was the first time he actually thought about his penthouse. It was not child—or dog—proof. One nice thing about a bachelor pad was you can fill it with whatever you want and don’t have to worry about someone else knocking it to the floor. Lately, he had been collecting ancient Chinese artifacts excavated from the Three Gorges Dam, which were thousands of years old and deemed priceless. It’s questionable if he actually should be in possession of these items, but that had never stopped him. In the past, he had never had anyone except his closest friends over, and they were not about to broadcast it to anyone. Can’t put them up in a hotel now without sounding like a total jerk. He loved to take a risk, but leaving that collection out with Blossom running around was a loss he wasn’t willing to take. Not much time, but he could manipulate time.
“It has been a long
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