The Billionaire's Deadline

an

sit inside or al fresco. Since I was dying, I liked to spend as many days in the sun as I

elve-thirty lunch appointment. Which was probably why Dahlia looked so

ith, Sandra Kingsley," Dahlia ch

plied tiredly. "As we both know, I don't have much t

marry my son so that we can take care of your company for you," she said, not beating a

"Good for

ith an intense look. "If you give my son another chance, I will make a sizable donation to your mo

did you know it

es. I have mine," Dah

imaced. I was no fan of Bla

mmit a billion dolla

n my water

research fund is a worthy place for it. And you

er I'm dying,

. I want my son to know what a worthy partner looks like. I do

ent in your future dau

But I could tell there

For a billion dollars for cancer research, I'

"You won't regr

and you've pledged a billion dollars to children's

ews," Dahlia informed me. "

d to be,"

me a funny l

calls and counting."

on a napkin. "When he finally calls from this numbe

r and inputted i

' for 'Asshole'

hed. "

nd laughed heartily. "I knew

f the doubt and change it to 'Blake,'"

ing, do not do anything of t

hen nodded.

tarted to order a salad, but Dahlia int

my dear," Dahlia reminded me. "Yo

, though, and I'd lost what little I had when I

around for as long as

ase, had supported before things at Kingsley Manufacturing had gon

he chicken. It took some

. I look forward to having many

t meant to form any attachments other than those I already had, but someho

, Dahlia ga

the soonest," Dahlia whispered. Then she dabbed her eyes with

you soon,"

*

la

d thought maybe I should have brought more than

n, Sandra was standing there in a nice cocktail dress

I asked, loo

ut a Glock and scanned the

tepped out of the town car. I held out my

, and something sparked in

hing in her wounded lavender eyes called to my s

I crushed, were convinced I didn't have one. I

o get in the ca

just waiting to see if someo

was in it more than you do. People around here are very poor.

so," I grumbled. I carefully got Sandra into t

e and judgmental attitude that

ng to reporters shouting questions, and the papar

re." Sandra's jaw was set, and her back was ramrod st

reached in my pocket and took out the family ring and slipp

it at you," Sand

d of did

"I kind of didn't. I s

cs," I r

s lips

h of a sense of hum

for a sense of hu

ng you off to teas with my mother while I figur

d. "You can t

essful. Watch

Watch me," Sa

real. Unfortunately, that was not the way I worked. "We'll tab

opened my door. I held out my

n Sandra stood, I put my arm around

miling to the press for all the world

little wave before putting my hand at Sand

ingsley! Miss Kingsley! Is that the

left hand for the press to see and take p

Sandra into the restaurant before she or I could answer

d romance," Sandra said after the waiter

rst sight?"

in town less than a week," San

ast year and have been seeing each other since t

es on her menu. "L

he fall,"

cago last fall,"

u keep talking about how you wan

ness to take care of overseas." Sand

e type to go on an overseas busine

an eyebrow at me. "I'm only telling you because the press

h, I wanted to apologize for being insensitive the o

o," Sandra

put on my best charmin

should I forgive you

I started, my

ou really feel. So, thank you for the apology, but I don't believe your callousness was aimed at

rrowed. "W

charity for children's ca

n? How muc

dollars," S