Tipping The Billionaire: His Runaway Lover

g against Alida's palm, but th

A pair of black lace panties lay tangled with a familiar blue pol

e crack of the bedroom door. A low g

mach violently contracted. She didn't cry. The shock was too abso

ping her lungs, and shoved the door o

dies on th

white duvet over her bare chest. Her eyes darted to Alida,

the blood drained from his face, le

voice cracking. "It's not

roat. But she bit down on the inside of her cheek until she tasted blood, forcing the hysteria down. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction of her tears. She dug her fingernails so hard into her

sed the

k. F

k. F

k. F

t strobe-lit their n

off the bed, his bare feet slapping agains

omentum carried him forward, and he crashed hard onto

ht, a physical band of iron squeezing her r

f-empty glass of water. The frater

eels clicking methodic

voice devoid of any human warmth. "Bounty: Fift

ted like ash

g on his forehead. "Alida, please. That w

. "Oh, please. You're a boring, frigid pru

hem in two strides. She raised her right hand a

like a gunshot i

red handprint instantly blooming on her

them tangled in the sheets. "Call them. And I'll hit send. The entire alum

he shrank back against the head

Deron. She held out he

d," she said, her

opping. "Are you out of your mi

. "My father needs surgery. You treated me like a whore for a bet. Pay up,

e phone, then at Alida's unblinking eye

er-bound personal checkbook from the side compartment. His hands shook with a mixture of terror and fury as he uncapped a pen and

er eyes scanning the hastily scrawled number

into the inner pocket of her purse. She zipped it shut. Th

shaking finger at the door. "I n

he doorway. She paused, look

id, her voice dripping with pity

g a pillow and hurling it. It bou

rtment door. She slammed it shut with every ounce of str

ed. A hot tear spilled over her lashes, burning her c

t her pale reflection in the mirrored wall. She clutched her

mb the pain. She