Free The Billionaire Bargain (Millionaire's Club) by Barb Han

want to be alone.”
    “Not until I know you’re all right,” he soothed. He set a glass of water on her nightstand.
    She picked it up and drained it not wanting him to see how close she was to falling apart. “Now?”
    His breath came out in a hiss. “Fine.”
    When she could finally gather herself again, she decided to check on her father. Damn. He was on a plane. She had no way to reach him without Daegen’s help. She was depending on him too much.
    Live your life, child, not mine. Her father’s words echoed in her head. More tears came when she realized his walking away all those years ago probably had more to do with the fact he wanted to live his own life. A life that didn’t include her.
    Physically and emotionally exhausted, she pulled the covers up to her neck, curled in a tight ball, and allowed sleep to claim her.

Chapter Six
    Rae drifted off, waking with a start. Daegen was there. Arms folded. Looking like he hadn’t left her side. He leaned forward and tented his fingers. “The doctor said you need more iron.” His hand opened and there was a pink pill on his palm.
    “What’s that?” Rae said, pushing up on one elbow.
    “A supplement.”
    She turned her face away. “I’m okay. Really.”
    “No. You’re not. You fainted. You might have been seriously injured when you fell.”
    Hurt? He should know.
    “Look. I have a proposition,” he said tentatively.
    Not another one of those. “What now?”
    “I know. I was an asshole before. But, look, your father’s plane doesn’t arrive until morning. Let me take care of you until then.”
    She glanced at the clock. Her breath came out in a huff. She appreciated the apology but allowing Daegen to take care of her was a slippery slope. “Don’t you have other more important business to attend to than babysitting me?”
    “ You’re my priority. I want you to relax and be well so you can take care of your father. This is a marathon, not a sprint, my sweet. You’ve been neglecting yourself. I want to change that. When’s the last time you allowed someone to take care of you?”
    What? Let her defenses down so he could grind his heels on what was left of her heart? No thanks.
    “I’ll take a hot bath, and I promise to eat better. Satisfied?”
    He moved to her side and took a knee. “No. It’s not good enough. Besides, I have another plan.”
    He was different. More intense. “Are you still upset about Daniel? I need to know if me being a father is a deal breaker.”
    Her heart thumped in her chest. “I don’t know if upset is the right word. Shocked, maybe. I haven’t had time to absorb the news. I just found out.”
    “So did I.”
    “And you seem to be taking it in stride.” He wasn’t. She could see his body trembling ever so slightly.
    “What choice do I have?”
    “You plan to step up, don’t you?”
    “I have every intention of giving that boy the family he should’ve been born with,” Daegen said intensely, his jaw set.
    She could tell he meant those words with every fiber of his being. Warmth she couldn’t explain threaded through her. She had to admire a man so dedicated to his child. Especially one he’d never met. If he was being this honest with her, she could risk a little trust. “So, you really never knew?”
    His head shook. “No idea.”
    “His mother never contacted you?”
    “No. I’ve been getting phone calls from a man who claimed to be the relative of my ex-girlfriend.”
    “Isn’t that about the same time Forbes named you richest man of the year?”
    He nodded with a harsh sigh. “Brought out a lot of crazies.”
    “I can only imagine.”
    “I dismissed the whole idea as... that .”
    “How on earth did he manage to finally get through to you?”
    “He was persistent. Threatened to go to the press. My assistant decided I should hear him out. She begged me to consider taking his call.”
    “You didn’t.”
    “I’d never spent time with anyone with his last name. Didn’t make the