As much as I’d love to stay for another round, Angel all but dismisses me when she jumps in the shower. Instead of heading home, I go back to the lobby to look for Mark. Finn walks out of his room just as I’m passing, and the smile on his face confirms he enjoyed his session as well.

I fall into step beside him, nudging his shoulder with mine. “What did you think?”

Finn slides his hands into his pockets and nods. “Smart business model. I think it’ll do well.”

I chuckle and pat him on the shoulder. “Yes, Mark definitely did this for the business model.”

Inside the main lobby, I ask the cute receptionist to find Mark for me while I say goodbye to Finn. He has more meetings to attend, and this isn’t exactly a conversation I want to include him in.

Mark appears in the lobby just a few minutes after Finn leaves and waves me back into his office. “I hope everything went well with your session.”

“It did.” I take a seat on the other side of Mark’s desk. It’s a modern office with glass and chrome furniture. A little tacky for my sensibilities, but it fits in with the office park vibe Mark’s obviously going for with this place. “Actually, that’s what I want to talk to you about.”

Mark leans back in his leather chair and steeples his fingers in front of his chest. “Go on.”

“What can you tell me about Angel?”

Mark cocks an eyebrow as if I’m crazy. “You know I can’t divulge any of her personal information. Why?”

I consider how much I should tell him. I want him to know I have some level of interest, but it would be stupid to put all my cards on the table. “I’m interested in her for an exclusive arrangement.”

“Did you discuss this with her?”

“Sorta.” I tell him about my offer to her over the weekend and that she refused because of the hours I had in mind. “Maybe I can buy her out of her contract here?”

Mark leans forward, resting his elbows on his desk. “Why? You don’t need to pay for full-time pussy. Get a girlfriend, man. Even a gold digger would be cheaper than hiring her to be exclusive.”

“A girlfriend doesn’t appeal. Besides, I like Angel. She’s…perfect.” Not to mention that I fucking hate the idea of her being with other men.

“You want me to talk to her or something? I’m not sure what you’re asking me for.”

I’m not sure either. I don’t know what I expected him to say when I walked in here, but I feel better now that he knows my intentions. This way I won’t feel like a jackass when I do steal her away from him. “No, that won’t be necessary. I just wanted to get some intel and give you a heads up. I’ll let you know when I get her to change her mind.”

“Whatever you say.” Mark just chuckles as if I’m being funny. “So, you and Finn have a project in the works?”

“Yeah, some spec housing across the bay. It’s a good location for condos. I think he’s looking for a reason to stay in the states for a while.”

“Is Finn getting bored with the motherland? Brexit isn’t treating him well?”

I shrug and stand up to leave. “You know how Finn gets. I think he’s just looking for something to do. Or someone to do.”

Mark laughs and stands up with me to see me out. “Well, my friend, you brought him to the right place.”

The gate to my home is open when I arrive, putting me on edge. It’s possible the gardeners or a delivery person left it open on their way out, but not likely. Maurice manages the grounds and keeps a close eye on anyone coming in and out. Besides, the only way to hold the gate open is with a code few people have.

As I drive through it, I hit the code into my phone then sit and wait for the gate lock to completely engage before I continue down the private road to the main house. I built this house almost ten years ago, and it’s one of the few places, besides the pack land I grew up on, where I’m completely at peace.

Unless I have uninvited guests.

The Porsche SUV parked in front of a marble water feature that was designed to replicate the Trevi Fountain in Rome is vaguely familiar. It’s familiar because it’s mine, but only vaguely because I haven’t seen it in at least six months. And even though I like the car, I’m annoyed to see it because of the person who most likely drove it here.

As soon as I park my car, the SUV’s door opens, and a tall woman steps out. She’s wearing a short dress that barely covers her ass, and it’s stretched tightly across her bulging baby bump. A scowl forms across my face because I know she wants something from me.

As usual.

“Tiffany.” I didn’t expect to ever see her again. I’m surprised she would show her face here after disappearing with my car and a few hundred thousand dollars’ worth of wine from my cellar six months ago. Hell, I considered the car and the wine a fair price to pay to get her out of my life.

This woman is toxic and exhausting to be around. And the reason why I will never date a human again.

“Garrett, darling!” She walks toward me with her arms outstretched, but I hold out my hand, stopping her from getting close enough to touch me. I don’t want her gaudy perfume to override the smell of Angel still on my skin. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for months. Have you blocked me?”

Actually, yes.

“What is this about, Tiffany?” I cross my arms over my chest and lean against my car, not even willing to invite her into my home.

“Is that any way to greet the mother of your baby?” She rubs her belly and smirks.

“That’s not my baby, and you know it.” I’m not gonna let her manipulate me the way she does with everyone else.

Tiffany fakes an indignant pout. “How can you say that, Gare-bear?”

“Easy.” I hold her stare, not backing down for a second. “It’s not mine. Why are you here?”

“Well, if you’re just going to be an asshole, then I guess we have to do this the ugly way.” She reaches back inside her car and pulls out a large manila envelope.

I roll my eyes and don’t even reach for it. “You brought me mail?”

“A settlement. I knew you wouldn’t want to be there for me and our child, so I worked out the math on what it’s going to take for me to raise her by myself.”

“Did you now?” Okay, this bitch is almost comical.

“Yes.” She sighs heavily as if truly hurt by the turn of events. “You know I’d rather have you in our lives as a father to our baby girl.” Her hand slips beneath her belly, and she holds onto her stomach as if it might fall right off her body. “But if you don’t want to be there for us physically and emotionally, the least you can do is be there for us financially.”

“Of course,” I deadpan. “And just what number did you come up with as being adequate for this settlement you’re so generously offering to let me pay you?”

“Twenty million.” She stares at me as if waiting for a reaction. When she doesn’t get one, she adjusts her stance and plants her fists on her hips. “What? That’s a very reasonable number. Do you know how much diapers cost? A lot. And this ensures that, after taxes, the baby and I will have a comfortable lifestyle. I mean really, Garrett, do you want us living in the slums?”

“It’s not my baby, Tiffany. I don’t know why you’re here, but you’re not getting a penny out of me. Keep the fucking car or sell it. Do whatever the hell you want with it. But don’t come back and try to con me with this bullshit.”

Her jaw drops as if she’s never been so insulted in her life. Maybe she hasn’t. But that’s not my problem. I know with one hundred percent certainty that this is not my baby. I used protection every time I was with her, and I only came inside her pussy once. I remember it well because I made damn sure there wasn’t a leak or slip when I was pulling out.

Tiffany may have been a good lay, but I could see her crazy from a mile away. I knew better than to get involved, but when it comes to sex, sometimes I think with the wrong head. At least, that was the old me.

But not anymore. I’m smarter now.

Wiser.

I just shrug and wait for her to get the hell off my property.

“Seriously, Garrett? Are you going to be like this? I thought all wolves wanted pups.” She holds the envelope out to me, waiting for me to grab it. She’s gonna be waiting a hell of a long time. “Just take the papers and come back with a counteroffer. I’m not unreasonable.”

I actually laugh out loud at that. “Good luck to you and your baby, Tiffany. But please don’t ever come back to my house.”

I whistle through my teeth, and Maurice appears with Gabriel, his twenty-year-old son who is built like a tank. Maurice and his family moved with me when I left the pack when I was twenty-seven. They have a house on the property and all work for me in one capacity or another. Gabriel is studying agriculture and will be tending our vegetable garden and my small vineyard while he’s home for the summer.

“I’m sorry, sir. She insisted on coming in.” Maurice nods toward Tiffany’s belly. “Considering her condition, I wasn’t sure what to do.”

I hold up my hand to alleviate any of his concerns. “It’s fine, Maurice. Please show Tiffany off the property, and make sure we get the gate code changed immediately.”

Tiffany flings the envelope at me like a Frisbee then stomps back to her car. “This isn’t over, Garrett. You haven’t seen my ugly side yet, so I suggest you sign those papers before I take you for everything you’ve got.”

I pick up the envelope just so it’s not littering my yard then head inside, desperate for a drink. All my post-orgasmic calm from this afternoon is gone, and I’m suddenly tense from my head to my toes. If this doesn’t explain why I prefer to pay for sex now, I don’t know what does. I can’t take the entanglement of a woman wanting to get attached. As a business transaction, I can control the narrative and set the tone.

I don’t need a wife or a girlfriend, and I sure as fuck don’t need a mate right now… I need a good lay and to continue on with my day.