Page 5 of The Deal Breaker
Which was why entering the bet had been a no-brainer when Mason proposed the wager when Dash had been twenty-three and the newest billionaire of the bunch.
Henry stared, waiting for an answer.
Dash shifted his weight between his feet. “Not this year or next.”
Lines creased Henry’s forehead. The guy appeared almost concerned, which was weird. Superficial seemed more his style. “Does Raina know that?”
“I mentioned it to her when we first went out.” Dash hated feeling as if he were on the defensive. He’d spent too many years in that position. Even now, his parents cross-examined him about each other whenever they spoke. “She was okay with it.”
“Of course she was fine with it then.” Henry spoke fast. “You need to remind her in case she’s changed her mind or fallen in love with you.”
Love? Dash gulped. “She’s never said—”
“Doesn’t mean she can’t feel that way.” Henry shook his head. “For being so smart, Dashiell, sometimes you can’t see what’s right in front of your face.”
“I see Raina.”
Henry stared at Dash with an odd expression before blowing out a breath.
Nothing new. People often treated him like an anomaly. Or a weirdo. He was used to it.
“Are we finished?” Henry asked. “Iris is waiting for me.”
“Fine.” Dash moved aside but then followed Henry outside, not bothering with a jacket. His breath hung on the air. Goose bumps covered his skin.
Henry glared over his shoulder. “She’s waiting for me.”
We’ll see about that.“I never told her good night.”
And if Dash’s presence kept Henry from kissing Iris again, all the better.
CHAPTER TWO
Where was Henry?
Iris peered out the cottage’s front window. Lights illuminated the path leading to the door, but the swaying of a tree branch was the only movement in the backyard. She hoped he would have been here by now.
Was poker night still going?
She couldn’t check from indoors because none of the windows or doors faced the main house. That gave her privacy, which she appreciated most of the time, but she wanted to know if people were there or if Dash had kicked them out so he could play video games.
If that was the case, maybe Henry changed his mind about stopping by. No, he might be self-absorbed, but he wasn’t rude. More likely, he was taking his sweet time.
As usual.
Henry had a habit of being late. He claimed it was on purpose—to make an entrance—but Iris wasn’t convinced. He wore an expensive watch, but he barely glanced at it. Instead, he seemed to lose track of time. She’d noticed that over the holidays.
Christmas.
Her chest tightened.
She shouldn’t complain. No matter how tired she was, Henry could be as late as he wanted. He’d earned that right.
He and his friends had kept her from having a horrible time while Dash was away. Blaise and Hadley Mortenson had invited Iris to spend Christmas Eve and Day with them, but Henry had gone overboard—a cross between an elf from Santa’s Workshop and the living embodiment of Christmas spirit.
Iris had known little about him other than his larger-than-life persona usually left a smile on her face at parties she’d worked for Dash and his friends. But then Henry had swooped in like a white knight on a loyal steed—albeit a limousine—to save her from having a blue Christmas.
Though her situation—a dead mom and a father who deserted her—was different from Henry’s, he understood about not having any family. His parents were dead. And like her, he was an only child.
