Page 11 of Up for Heir (Westerly Billionaire 2)
As they pulled away from the office building, Hailey refused to look back. She kept her eyes on the path ahead, but her mind betrayed her intentions by filling with memories from long ago.
Even as a freshman, Spencer had been well known around campus. He’d gotten there on a football scholarship, but his passion was technology, which made him stand out in both worlds. Gorgeous. Brilliant. Driven. Hailey, with her undecided major and full figure, would have never had the courage to approach him on her own. It had been her study partner, Jordan Cohen, who had introduced them.
The first time they’d met, Spencer had been a muscular giant hunched over a tiny keyboard in his mother’s garage, writing code. He looked up, their eyes met and held, and they both smiled. And—just like that—they’d known. Life could be complicated and difficult or as easy and amazing as taking a deep breath and leaping.
Hailey couldn’t remember him ever asking her out or ever agreeing to see him. They had simply connected. She’d gone to see one of his games, then he’d invited her to join the team for pizza to celebrate the victory. Afterward he’d taken her back to his damn garage to show her a program he was working on . . . and there, in the mix of all his crazy computers, he’d kissed her.
It had felt more than good, it had felt—right. She’d never believed in soul mates or love at first sight, but their connection was undeniable. He made her smile so much her face hurt. He told her that kissing her was better than the rush of adrenaline that followed successfully executing new code.
They met before classes, started and ended each day to the sound of each other’s voices, and tested each other’s willpower with kisses that drove them both wild. When he’d admitted he was inexperienced, Hailey handed him her heart and her body. He was the one she’d retained her virginity for. Uncomplicated, mutual lust for each other with no reason to deny themselves the pleasure. She doubted there was a corner of his house or the dorm where they hadn’t had sex. And it had been good—so, so good.
Years later, it was too easy to remember the sound of his laugh, the feel of his lips as they grazed her skin. He’d been her first, but he wasn’t her last. Her breath shouldn’t quicken at the memory of his touch. She shouldn’t be able to lick her lips and remember his taste. No one else remained as torturously vivid.
None of that matters, though. I can ask myself what would have happened if my father hadn’t died. If I had handled the loss better. If I had given Spencer another chance. So many ifs that don’t change a damn thing in the end.
I have Skye. She’s what matters.
And Delinda. She wanted me to meet him. Why? To make sure it wouldn’t be an issue? I won’t let it be.
Things are going too well.
During breakfast that morning Hailey had told her niece she had an errand to run for Delinda. Skye had accepted it without an argument or hesitation. Every day we’re better than the day before.
Skye had smiled—smiled. “So I’ll stay with Delinda?”
“Mrs. Holihen will be here for your lessons.”
Skye had nodded, then asked, “May I have my lessons at the main house?”
“Oh—I don’t know if that’s a good idea. I’ll take you over there later today.”
“Please,” Skye had begged and Hailey’s heart had clenched in her chest. She likes her new teacher. She’s talking again. How can I say no when she asks me for nothing else?
“Okay, I’ll ask Delinda if you can visit with Mrs. Holihen while I’m out.”
“She’ll say yes,” Skye had said with confidence. “I make her happy.”
“Yes, you do.”
Skye’s expression had turned serious. “Are you happy?”
Hailey stood, crossed over to where Skye was sitting, and gave her a long hug. “Oh, honey, I sure am. Do you know that the best day of my life was when you were born and I became an aunt?”
“Really?”
Hailey kissed the top of her head. “Really. I was even in the room when you were born because your mother knew how much I would love you.”
Skye’s eyes had widened. “Dad told me you were there. He said you cried.”
Hearing Skye mention Ryan gave Hailey hope that the worst might really be over. “I did. I knew my life would never be the same—in the best possible way.”
Skye had searched her face, then nodded. “I love you, Auntie Hailey.”
“I love you, too.” Hailey had smiled even as she blinked back tears. “I’ll call Delinda right after we get dressed.” She checked the time on her phone. “We’d better hurry, though. Want to race? First one fully dressed with hair and teeth brushed gets to do the breakfast dishes.”
“Wait. Wait. Wait. Who would want to win that?” Skye had asked with a laugh.
“You used to love to wash the dishes. I was always pulling you out of the sink when you were little.”
“I’m not a baby anymore.”
“Okay, then loser does the dishes.” Feeling more lighthearted than she had in long time, Hailey had posed like a runner at a starting line. “Deal?”
Skye had run off in a flash, and Hailey had smiled all the way through getting dressed. I can’t worry about all the ways this could go wrong. Stay positive. One foot in front of the other. Stay strong and true to yourself and you’ll find happiness again. My brother was a very wise man.
Spencer strode through his secretary’s office to his. What the hell was that? What was I doing?
He went to the window, but she was gone. I don’t want to look back any more than she does.
A memory of her boldly kissing him and luring him away from his work by whispering what she wanted to do slammed through him. His cock jerked as his senses flooded with anticipation at the possibility of having her again, tasting those sweet lips, gripping her delicious ass to raise her so he could thrust up into her. So there’s that.
Jordan.
Spencer pulled out his phone. This is his fucking fault.
S: Hailey came to my office today.
Despite the fact that Jordan hadn’t answered any of his messages that week, his reply was fast.
J: The Hailey?
S: Yep.
J: How is she?
S: Gorgeous. Single.
J: But?
S: Not interested in me. Couldn’t get away from me fast enough.
J: Then she’s gotten smarter with age.
S: Fuck you. (He knew Jordan laughed at that.) Hey, I know I’ve been a dick lately. I found out that my father isn’t my father, and it’s screwing with my head. When Jordan didn’t have a quick answer, Spencer added: My stepfather was my biological father.
J: I know. I’m surprised you didn’t.
> S: Wtf?
J: You’re blond. Mark was blond. Everyone else in your family has dark hair like your mother and her first husband. It was a no-brainer.
S: Thanks for fucking saying something.
J: I thought you knew.
His grandmother had said the same to him. At the time he hadn’t believed her, but now he threw back his head and laughed without humor at how stupid he’d been to not see it.
S: I didn’t. From now on, just assume I’m dumb as fuck and mention that kind of shit to me.
J: Okay. Then you’re probably wrong about Hailey.
S: What?
J: That girl loved you.
S: So much that she broke up with me for someone else.
J: Did she? I don’t remember her as the cheating type.
S: I saw her with him.
J: Or you thought you did. You are not exactly Mr. Intuitive.
There was no arguing that, so Spencer didn’t. He wasn’t introspective by nature, and he’d never found any value in asking people why they did what they did. He wasn’t sure anyone even fucking knew.
But if Hailey didn’t leave me for someone else—why did she leave? And who was she with that day?
S: I need her phone number.
J: I don’t know it.
S: But you know how to get information like that.
J: Look her up on social media. That’s how it’s done nowadays.
S: I want to call her, not stalk her. Come on, Jordan.
J: Just her number.
Spencer counted in his head. A phone number appeared via text before he got to ten. Jordan was that good.
S: You’re amazing.
J: Spencer.
S: Yes?
J: Don’t hurt her again . . .
I never, Spencer typed, then paused before sending. Or did I? Was it me? She asked if I cared, if I’d ever cared. Didn’t she know?
S: I won’t.
Chapter Five
A nervous acid churned in Hailey’s stomach as soon as she saw several cars parked in Delinda’s driveway. She was out of the car and halfway up the stairs of the main house before Pete had time to offer her a hand. The front door opened.
