Free Plush Book 3: A Billionaire Romance by KB Winters Page B

one-time offer, Allison.”
    I hesitated, hovering over the seat on my bike. I knew I should just start the engine, peel out of the garage, and never look back. My brain was practically screaming inside my head, urging me to do just that. But then there was my heart. That thumping, life-giving force inside my chest that couldn’t seem to let Cooper go, no matter how infuriating he was or what tricks he pulled from his sleeves.
    “You don’t have a helmet,” I said.
    Cooper was visibly jarred by my observation. He looked down at his empty hands, as if suddenly proper riding gear would materialize. It was almost comical to watch Mr. Control be so stumped.
    “Looks like we’re taking my ride, then,” he said, his face snapping back to his normal cool, collected, slightly mischievous grin. It happened so fast, like a set of pictures taken seconds apart.
    I eyed his car across the lot. I desperately wanted to know who Angela McKinnon was, and why Cooper had been spending so much time at her residence. If she wasn’t a lover—which seemed safe to assume, since he was willing to introduce the two of us—then who was she?
    I looked back to Cooper and his “still waiting” expression. He held out a hand and I swear I heard my internal voice of reason sigh loudly in the back of my mind as I took his hand and hoisted myself off of my bike.
    My poor brain. I never listen.
    Cooper led me to the car and opened the door.
    I removed my helmet and slid into the passenger seat. A slight flicker of deja vu came over me as I pressed against the cool, leather seat. I’d been in this vehicle on two other occasions and both times, the end destination had something to do with Cooper and me fucking each other like wild animals.
    I closed my eyes and waited for Cooper to get into the driver’s seat.
    Not tonight, I chanted in my mind. The only reason I am here is to see who Angela is and what she has to do with Cooper. I don’t even know why I care…but I do.
    We rode in silence for awhile. Cooper’s hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as we sped through downtown. Cooper drove like an expert, handling the curves of the road with the ease of a seasoned driver. Obviously, his expensive car helped. I was sure there was a whole mass of computers under the hood assisting him as he snaked up into the hills.
    I knew the route and I could tell we were getting closer to Angela’s house. Nearly half an hour had passed and neither Cooper nor I had said anything once the car doors had closed. I snuck a sidelong glance at him and could tell he wasn’t in a conversation mood. Even though he was technically doing what I wanted, indulging my curiosity, I could tell he wasn’t happy about it.
    We parked on the opposite side of the street from Angela’s house, around the same spot I’d parked Cherry Bomb when I’d been out spying on him. I looked past him, out the driver’s side window, and stared at the huge mansion.
    “Let’s go.”
    Now that we were here, my insides starting reacting. My heart raced and my palms felt slick with sweat as I grabbed the interior car door handle. I opened the door on the second try and stood along the curb for a moment. My mind was racing with all the possibilities of who could be waiting inside. Was she an ex-girlfriend? But then why would they still be in touch? Did they have a child together?
    My hand flew to my mouth.
    I’d never asked Cooper about children before. I’d always assumed that he didn’t have any, since he had no pictures in his office or home, and he’d never mentioned having a child. But…maybe it was a secret.
    My stomach flipped over, sending a wave of nausea through me.
    It wasn’t that I didn’t like kids…I did. I just didn’t want him to already have one.
    That was perfectly normal, wasn’t it?
    My internal ramblings came screeching to a halt as Cooper beckoned for me over the top of the car. “Allison, let’s go. You want to know who Angela is, right?”
    Did