Free The Oil Prince (Contemporary Romance) by Kate Goldman Page A

do.”
     
    “Look how red your face is.”
     
    “It’s not red!” she snapped, even though she could feel it heating up. It annoyed her how much she turned red around him.
     
    “Yes it is,” he said.
     
    “Shut up!” she said and pushed him out of the way. Basil laughed loudly to annoy her as she left the room. He liked seeing her blushing around him. It showed him just how much he affected her. It was even more adorable to see her getting defensive because of it.
     

Chapter 16
     
    Emily heard her phone vibrate. She growled as she rolled on her side to see who it was. She was just about to sleep. She picked up and unlocked the screen. It was a text from Basil. She wondered why he was messaging her.
     
    What are you doing? the message read. Emily wondered why he was messaging her. She was contemplating not replying. She ended up waiting a few minutes before she replied.
     
    Sleeping, who is this? she replied. Even though she knew full well who it was, she still asked since she had told him that she was not going to need his number after the meeting.
     
    That message was not meant for you–
     
    Emily frowned. Was he trying to text one of his lovers and accidentally sent it to her? It annoyed her. She wanted to just ignore him and not reply but then another message came in.
     
    What do you mean who is this? I am sure you know full well who this is.
     
    Emily giggled to herself. She flipped open her laptop that was on the nightstand and started browsing the internet. She wanted to leave him hanging. She felt like a teenager again, the excitement of getting a text message from a guy and playing all hard to get. She so badly wanted to message him back instantly but she waited.
     
    Basil was a complicated man. When she thought of him, she felt different kinds of feelings. She started off disliking him. He was just pretentious and rude. He still was but kissing him had left her thinking about him often and wanting to kiss him again. There were moments when they got along but they had argued more than they had gotten along.
     
    I do not have this number saved. Why would I know who it is? Emily messaged after about half an hour. She giggled as she waited for a reply.
     
    I see you like to play games, Miss Gibson.
     
    It’s midnight, I have no time for games.
     
    Hmmm.
     
    Hmmm…?
     
    Emily waited for a reply until she fell asleep.
     

** *
     
    Emily was grateful as the weekend approached, and soon it was Sunday again. The day Emily loved and hated the most in the week. After church, Emily and her family all returned to their grandmother’s house. The older women went to the kitchen to start cooking immediately. Emily watched television with her brothers and her cousin Mathew.
     
    A little later on when the food was ready, Emily’s mother came to the living room where her children and nephew were. “Emily, you go set the table,” she said as she walked into the room. Emily did not even hear her. She was too focused on the television. Her mother tapped Emily on the shoulder.
     
    “Huh.” Emily snapped out of her thoughts and turned around.
     
    “I said set the table. You should be in the kitchen with the other women,” her mother said and frowned at Emily.
     
    Emily grinned. “Okay, Mom,” she said and deliberately avoided commenting on her mother’s statement. She was always trying to get out of doing any chores.
     
    “Don’t be sarcastic,” her mother said and tried to hit her playfully but Emily was smart enough to run off. She went to the dining room and started setting the table. Her aunt brought in different dishes one by one. Suddenly the doorbell rang.
     
    “Someone get that,” Emily shouted to her brothers. She was not willing to go get it. Moments later, her brothers walked into the dining room. “Who was it?” Emily asked as she set the cutlery.
     
    “It’s just me,” she heard a very familiar voice speak. She looked up and saw Basil standing there. He was dressed in