Free MATCHMAKER (A Billionaire Bad Boy Romance) by Bella Grant Page B

to one of the other grad students in her department?
    If she hadn’t gotten this job, would she and Ricky still be together? Or would she be back in South Africa, forced to give up her dreams? Neither of those options appealed to her. If it all worked out, she’d get her doctorate and graduate one hundred percent debt-free. It was a luxury almost no one in her generation had. She was working hard for her money here. She just wished it wasn’t taking a toll on her emotionally. Well, they had until spring for the wedding, so she hoped for her own sake, Sterling was out there doing his damnedest to woo his future bride.
     

STERLING
    Sterling tracked Cherise down in her dark bedroom when he got back from the beach. He needed to fill her in on the conversation with Jenna. Let her know everything was going according to plan.
    “What are you doing in here? Why is it so dark?”
    “I was taking a nap.” She sounded awfully defensive. “I was out by the pool all afternoon and got sleepy.”
    “Good news. I mentioned I wanted to get married and that I wanted it to happen quickly, and she sounds on board with it.”
    “You proposed to her?” Cherise’s tone was flat.
    “No, I just kinda floated the idea. Testing the waters.”
    “When we first met, you told me you couldn’t trust anyone’s motives because of the scale of your wealth. Of course she’s interested in marrying you. You’re good-looking, you’re rich, and you’re not a horrible human being.”
    “Thank you?”
    “I’m being serious. There’s no way she’s going to say no to you.”
    “Well, great for all of us.”
    “Sure is. I get my PhD.”
    “That you do.” He’d give it to her regardless. She deserved it and deserved not to have to worry about the cost. He didn’t, however, need to let her know that. “We’re going to head into Roseau for dinner at eight. It’s on the fancier end. Maybe you can wear the green dress.”
    “I think I’ll pass.”
    “Pass? On dinner? Is this because of what happened this morning?”
    “No,” she said. “Eric asked me to go to dinner with him a little later. I said yes.”
    “Eric?” Sterling said. She didn’t know anyone here. And why was she glaring at him like that?
    “Ben’s assistant, Eric, remember?”
    “That guy is taking you to dinner? Seriously?”
    “Why is that so hard to believe?”
    Sterling was being an idiot. But he was jealous, dammit. He liked it when Cherise was around because it gave him something to talk about with Jenna. It was a little weird when it was just the two of them. He didn’t quite know what to say. At least with Cherise there, the conversation kept moving. Ben wasn’t going to join them, either. Just a romantic evening out with him and his almost-fiancée. He should be excited that no one else was crashing their party.
    “What’s this guy like? What’s his deal?”
    “If he’s good enough for Ben, he’s good enough to take me to dinner, don’t you think? Besides, you and Jenna need to get to know each other.”
    Sterling opened his mouth and closed it again. “I hope your dinner is good. I want to get some work done in the morning, and I’m going to need you for it. Probably at eight.”
    “Don’t be an asshole, Sterling.”
    “I’m not. I have to get shit done.” He glared at her, perfectly aware he was, in fact, being an asshole. “If I don’t make money, no one will like me, remember?”
    “I never said that.”
    “You don’t have to. Don’t stay out too late.”
    He left her room, feeling agitated and pissed off. He ought to fire her. Send her on her way. He’d give her the money for all her degrees and tell her to have a nice life. That way, he wouldn’t be tempted to sleep with her anymore.
    Marry her instead of Jenna. The thought stopped him in his tracks in the hallway, and he looked around to see if anyone was there to notice, like the thought might have audibly escaped his mind.
    It would never work. Someone like Jenna, going in