The Billionaire Playboy's Regret (Lark and Max) novel Chapter 58

Max watched as Lark kept her attention focused between her father and Gracie. She truly was an incredible human being. Observing how she was doing everything she could to ease tensions, keep the conversation flowing and mood casual spoke to her kind heart.

He couldn’t stop thinking of her earlier words. She wanted him. He’d been trying to protect her, worried they were moving too fast, but he was done now. She was a grown woman and Doug was now out of her life, paid off like the leech he was.

He noted Heriberto Laredo coming back into the lounge and heading for the bar with two other men and he immediately tensed. It was apparent the man was hot for Lark, but nobody was going to encroach on the relationship he was trying to build with her.

He felt her grip his fingers under the table as Grady made a comment about the chopper going to land right before seven and it would be landing on the top of the hotel. She was nervous about her mother’s reaction to Sawyer and Gracie and rightly so.

However, everything he noted so far about Gracie seemed exactly as Sawyer said. She was nice. Almost too nice. After an entire lifetime of bold, confident women who went for what they wanted, her demure, reserved manners were odd to him. He couldn’t get a bead on her. He did however note the way Johan was watching her and almost laughed at the way he was avoiding Grady’s gaze.

His phone buzzed and he looked at the text and grimaced. He tilted his phone so Lark could see it and she lifted her eyebrows at him.

“What?” Bobbie noted the exchange. “Was that Ollie? Is she okay?”

“She’s fine but wondering if dinner is optional.”

“You tell her it is not optional and if she isn’t at the table at seven it won’t be a mob boss she needs fear,” Bobbie glared at Max who immediately texted his sister.

“Who is Ollie?” Sawyer asked.

“My eldest daughter.” Bobbie smiled tightly.

Max felt gleeful as the message coming back from Ollie was Mr. Laredo was demanding to be introduced to her parents. “Can she bring a guest?”

“It’s a family dinner, Max.” Bobbie glowered.

“Pretty sure he’s family now.” Max laughed as Bobbie shook her head.

“Fine but I swear if I see one weapon,” Bobbie hissed.

Max’s phone rang and he shook his head, “excuse me.”

He walked out to the lobby of the hotel and found a quiet spot before answering. “Ollie, Mom’s pissed. We’re meeting Grady’s bio daughter and you’re f*****g around.”

“It’s not my fault Johan threw me in the room.”

“Yeah, well she knows who you’re with because Grady educated her. Mom says if she sees a weapon at dinner there will be hell to pay.”

“There won’t be a weapon.”

“But?”

“He’s intending to tell Dad he’s marrying me.”

He was stunned. “Do you want to marry him? Jesus Ollie, you just reconnected with him.”

“He’s kind of hard to refuse. I missed him a lot. He loves me, Max.” Ollie’s voice was low.

“I have your back, Ollie. I’ll follow your lead.”

“Thanks Max. How are things down there?”

“Weird. Have you ever met someone who is too nice? Like this girl is too nice.”

“Genuinely so or do you think it’s an act.”

“Nope. I don’t think it’s an act. If I had to guess, Sawyer raised her to be his polar opposite. She’s nearly incapable of looking anyone in the eyes. Grady has her overwhelmed with his strong personality and Lark is playing mediator.”

“How is Lark holding up? I can’t imagine finding out we had older siblings.”

“She seems to be managing it well but Ollie, she’s asking me to spend the night tonight.”

“You’ve slept in her room her the last couple of nights.”

“She wants more than sleep,” he gave a nervous breath. “I’m scared she’ll regret it tomorrow. She said she’s thinking of me as the prize at the end of the night.”

“Man, she has a low bar of what a prize is,” Ollie snorted at him. “I’d have asked for something far superior to your ugly face.”

“Shut up. Your face looks like mine and at least I can keep my pants on longer than you did. Dude probably pulled his pecker from his drawers, and you jumped on it.”

“Did you see him?” Ollie asked without any remorse.

“Him and his brother. His brother wants Lark.” Max complained.

“Then you better rock her world well and good tonight or she’ll be looking for her prize elsewhere.”

“You don’t think it’s too soon for her?” Max looked in the direction of the lounge. “I’m terrified, Ollie. I don’t want to mess this up I lose her.”