The Teacher's Billionaire

feeling of his unexpectedly rough skin against her hand sent unwanted tingles up her arm.
    “I didn’t mean to upset you, Callie,” he said using her given name for the first time. “Normally, he does what he believes is best.”
    For most of her life, she’d disliked her first name. It had been different from everyone else’s growing up. She hadn’t known anyone else with her name. More than once she’d wished her name was something more common like Melanie or Michelle. But when Dylan said it, Callie sounded beautiful, special. Callie didn’t know exactly why it sounded so much better coming from him, it just did. Maybe it was due to his accent or perhaps because it came from such a gorgeous man. Whatever the reason she could have listened to him say it all day long.
    “And he didn’t think coming to see me was best?” She kept her eyes focused on their hands, afraid he would see how upset their discussion made her.
    Dylan cleared his throat before answering as if he was uncomfortable with the conversation. “I think he realized he was too emotionally connected to make an impartial decision, so he agreed to let me come and arrange everything for him.”
    Even if every word was true, it didn’t change the fact that she didn’t want any charity. She didn’t want Warren Sherbrooke to think she expected anything from him. As far as she felt, he was nothing more than a sperm donor who’d been involved with her mother. Perhaps this view would change one day, but right now she couldn’t really think of him in any other way.
    “I appreciate your honesty.” Callie said in a much kinder tone. Somehow Dylan’s sincerity killed much of her anger. “But I can’t let Mr. Sherbrooke pay for my airfare. And I definitely don’t want to use his private plane. Any meeting will have to wait.”
    When Dylan didn’t reply, she assumed he finally accepted her answer and decided to give up. She started to breathe a sigh of relief when he spoke again.
    “In that case could you meet with him at his house in Newport? You could drive down and spend the weekend.”
    Lord, this man doesn’t give up does he? Persistence should be his middle name.
    If Dylan was trying so hard, did that mean this meeting was really that important to her father? It seemed like it, and she had to admit she was more than a little curious about the man.
    Only he can answer your questions.
Plus a weekend down in Newport would be a nice mini-vacation. She loved the area, always had. And if things weren’t working out it’d be easy enough to come home. Newport wasn’t that far away, just a couple of hours.
    Callie nervously chewed her bottom lip. She didn’t want to make the wrong decision. “That sounds okay,” she said slowly her mind working. “There’s a long weekend coming up, and I could take two personal days.”
    A smile she suspected had melted dozens of hearts spread across her visitor’s face.
    It should be illegal to look that good.
If he kept smiling at her like that, she might agree to anything.
    “Just give me the dates and Warren will be there.”
    Callie stood to get the pad stuck to the refrigerator door so she could write down the days. Turning back around she was shocked to find Dylan’s eyes locked on her. Or more precisely her body.
    He can’t be checking me out. It just isn’t possible.
She had a decent figure. Callie would never deny that. But compared to the women he’d probably dated, and could date with the snap of his fingers, she was nothing special.
    I’m just imagining things.

Chapter 3
    “We went to the new seafood restaurant, Sole, that opened last month. It was delicious.”
    Callie stared blankly into her closet as she listened to Lauren go on about her romantic date the night before. She was packing, or at least trying to pack for her weekend trip to Newport. Lauren had stopped by to visit and lend moral support. .”
    “Packing isn’t supposed to be this difficult,” Callie said, interrupting her friend before she could continue. “Seriously, you’d think I could just fold some clothes and put them in a suitcase. So far the only things I’ve packed are underwear and a toothbrush.”
    Lauren patted Lucky who sat on the bed next to her. “It is simple. You’re the one making it complicated.”
    Looking over her shoulder Callie threw her friend a dirty look. “I am not. I just have no idea how I should dress this weekend. Should I go for casual or do you think the Sherbrookes expect