BILLIONAIRE CLARK

Bella Hawkins stared through the glass door to watch the owner of the building as he typed up some document on his computer. Clark Anderson was the sexiest man she'd ever seen and far out of her league. He owned the entire Anderson Corporation and was worth billions. Looking like a sex god meant there were many women begging for his attention, glamorous women with the time and money to make themselves available to him. Clark had been seen with many super models and actresses.

When she'd been waiting for the bus she'd read the article in a glossy mag that linked him to several porn stars as well.

Way out of her league in every way.

She worked in his office from seven at night 'til twelve. The late shift money helped pay her rent, while the diner she worked in during the day gave her the money to eat. The latest recession hit her hard. She wasn't smart and didn't have the qualification to get any better paying job. Being a cleaner and waitressing were fun. She loved making places clean, and her small apartment was immaculate.

His blond hair caught the light of the lamp by his desk side. The golden strands looked silken, and she wanted to run her fingers through his hair to see if they were as soft as they looked.

You're going insane. Working this job has built up a fantasy inside your head.

Ignoring the impulse to speak to him, she picked up her dusting cloth and started working throughout the top floor of the office. On several of the desks lay empty sweet wrappers. Bella picked them up, then threw them into her trashcan. She didn't know how some people could work in mess or even function.

Humming to herself, Bella worked through each desk making it spotlessly clean for the next day. She loved cleaning. There was no chance of her getting emotionally attached to anyone. The cleaning company she worked for required one person on each floor of the building to clean that one floor at the Anderson Corporation. She worked on the top floor after the staff had gone home. The job description saved her from getting her heart-broken again. Her last boyfriend of two years had left her over a year ago. Frank had taken two years of her life and crushed her heart as well as what little ego she'd kept. There was no way she'd ever let another man get inside her heart or her head. When she'd first been with Frank, he'd been a caring, loving boyfriend. In the last year of their relationship he'd changed. Frank started getting angrier, and he'd lash out. Bella hated being one of the women who made excuses, but she ended up finding reasons for his behaviour. Fortunately, Frank never put her in the hospital as otherwise she'd be in trouble. Since Frank had worked his magic on her while dumping her, she refused to allow another man inside her heart or her body. She liked living alone in her spotless apartment with nothing to look forward to other than her weekend ritual of baking. Her neighbours loved her baking, and that's how her life was going to remain. Careful, organised, and peaceful, the three words were her motto.

Baking, reading, cooking, cleaning, and work.

She let out a sigh then grabbed the vacuum cleaner to start cleaning the floor. During the summer months she kept the windows open to allow dust and fresh air to permeate the office. It was the middle of fall going into winter.

Opening the windows would only freeze her.

Going back to her humming, she started cleaning around each desk.

Every so often Bella looked up to see Clark reading in his office.

Sometimes he typed on his computer. He didn't look her way at all. She didn't mind. Cleaning ladies were supposed to be invisible to everyone else. The company she worked for held a standard that she prided herself in keeping. Bella may not hold any qualifications, but she could make the places she worked at shine.

None of the customers she served in the diner complained about her service. She took pride in being able to excel at what she did. Bella had graduated from high-school at eighteen and had worked every day since to keep herself alive. Her mother had lived in a trailer park, and she'd moved out the moment school finished. College was a big fat no. Bella got by on what little she knew. She could read, write, and spell, but everything else had been really difficult for her to deal with.

It was hard for her to concentrate during high-school because of her mother's drinking and late night callers. Even though her mother denied being a whore, there were plenty of men willing to pay her for services rendered.

At school she'd been the fat daughter of the drunken, town whore. Bella had vowed to get away. She hated the men who tried to sneak into her bedroom late at night when her mother was passed out.

To be safe, she'd climbed out of her window and gone down to the lake where an old ratty sofa lay. She'd curled up in a blanket she kept in her backpack. Those nights were only during the summer. When it was too cold to leave the trailer, she'd wedged a chair against the handle stopping anyone from coming in.

Her mother was a light sleeper, so anyone banging on her daughter's bedroom door would wake her up. None of the men would risk her mothers wrath to get to fatty Bella.

Shaking her head, Bella put more effort into vacuuming. She hated thinking about the past. The past left a bad taste in her mouth. Her mother wasn't a bad woman, but she wasn't a great one either. She preferred to drink and sleep with plenty of men rather than help her daughter graduate with a decent education.

Bella didn't know who her father was or what he looked like. She figured he was one of the numerous men to go inside her mother's trailer. Shaking off the negative thoughts, she wheeled out a chair and vacuumed underneath the desks. She occasionally glanced at the family photos on people's desks, and envy struck her big time.

After the Frank betrayal, she wasn't going to chance it again. She'd always wanted a family, but family came at a cost she refused to pay.

Glancing up at Clark in his office, lust hit her square in the gut. He was another man who'd never look at her twice.

Stop it, Bella. Get your work done, and go home.

****

Clark Anderson watched the cleaner working outside his office. He'd noticed her from the moment she started working in his building. Phoning the firm, he'd gotten her moved up to his floor. He liked watching her work, and he'd taken it upon himself to care for her. They'd never spoken a word to each

other. She'd smiled at him, and he'd smiled back but nothing beyond that. He'd seen her nerves and understood the reason she held herself back. Every employee underwent a background check. When he'd employed the cleaning firm he'd gotten detailed background checks done on the men and women the company sent over to him. Bella Hawkins was a thorough worker and sexy as hell.

She wore the pale blue cleaning uniform that hid her curves from his view. Watching her bend over to clean or pick something up was the highlight of his day. She'd never ventured inside his office because he'd given the cleaning company strict orders to leave his office alone.

Being a successful businessman had created many enemies. He'd encountered a lot of people who were willing to do whatever it took to make money, even if earning money meant stealing files from him. Clark didn't trust anyone. They were all bad news. The only person he trusted was himself.

Bella Hawkins, however, was a problem to him. Her file gave him everything he needed to know about her. She didn't have anything but the standard high-school education, and she worked two jobs to make ends meet.

Her apartment was small in a good part of the city.

There was nothing fascinating about her. When he'd dug a little deeper, he'd discovered her mother was a drunk with loose morals and Bella had used to live in a trailer. The woman before him looked like she'd had a hard life, and for some reason that bothered Clark.

What was it about her that hit him in the gut?

He loved women. He loved fucking them and making them scream his name, but he also liked leaving them. Clark didn't do permanent relationships.

The women he bedded knew the score. They could stay, have a great fuck, and leave at the end of the night. He didn't allow his women to stay over, and there was no way he'd butter them up. When he wanted sex, he'd call and take what he wanted.

Jewels, wining, and dining were for couples who wanted forever. He'd taken a few of his women out to dinner in order to keep the press happy. The women knew it wasn't anything but a show to keep the media happy.

Being a businessman wasn't about being a nice guy. Clark saw what he wanted, took it, and enjoyed it. He was ruthless and made no jokes about what he wanted.

She's different.

Bella was different from all of his other women. He expected her to try to make him notice her. Moving her to his floor he'd expected some sort of flirtation. He'd gotten nothing. Her uniform remained the big, bulky pale blue uniform, and her dark brown hair was tied back in a ponytail. She didn't wear makeup or spend hours trying to gain his attention.

If anything, Clark felt like he didn't exist in her company. She came to the office floor, worked, packed everything away, and walked home.

He'd followed her home. Bella made him feel like a stalker. She'd become an obsession to him.

Clicking off his computer, he watched as she started packing her cleaning stuff away.

"It's a cold night out," he said, gaining her attention.

She jerked, turning to face him. "Excuse me?" she asked.

He noticed she pushed a strand of hair off her face as she stared at him.

"It's a cold night out. How are you getting home?"

Her hand moved to her side. She fisted her hand as her gaze moved toward the windows. "I'm walking."

Bella turned her back to him and continued packing away her stuff. He stared at her back for several minutes, admiring the lush curves of her ass.

What would she do if he reached out and touched her?

She'd have your ass down to court for sexual harassment.

"I don't like the thought of a woman walking home. Put your stuff away and meet me at my car. I'll be waiting for you," Clark said. He walked past her going to the elevator. She was staring at him in shock. Winking at her, Clark waited for the doors to close.

The elevator started to move taking him down to the parking lot. His prized possession sat in the top parking space. He nodded at security and then climbed behind the wheel. Sliding his key into the ignition, he felt his baby purr to life.

He loved his car. Turning the radio off, he sat and waited for Bella to arrive.

Checking his watch, he noted ten minutes had passed.

Once another ten minutes passed, Clark drove to the security guard on duty.

"How can I help you, Mr Anderson?" the guard asked.

"I'm waiting for a woman. I was wondering if you could tell me where she is so I know how long to wait?" Clark tapped his fingers on the steering wheel as the guard clicked away at his computer.

"Sir, no one is in the building. It's shut down for the night."

"Are you sure?"

"All lights are off, and the security code was punched in five minutes ago by Bella Hawkins. She's the cleaning lady with the instruction of closing up if you're not there," the guard said.

Clark cursed. "Thanks," he said.

He waited, impatiently, for the gate to open. She'd gone without him. Why didn't she listen to him? He'd offered to give her a lift home, and she'd left him high and dry.

What would you do if a stranger offered to take you home?

Shit! His obsession for a woman he'd never really talked to was driving him insane.

Bella walked down the street heading toward the late night bus. She walked all the way home when she missed the bus. Checking her clock, she had two minutes to get to the end of the street. She'd worked faster tonight, and getting the bus seemed to be in her favour. The shops were all closed up, and several teenagers were lurking around. Many of the people on the street were smoking and drinking. She ignored them all as she made her way to the bus stop.

Hitching her purse high on her shoulder, she kept walking, determined to get the bus. Getting the bus took over thirty minutes off her travelling time. She couldn't believe Clark had offered to drive her home. Thinking his offer was some kind of joke she'd ignored it, packed up the cleaning equipment, and headed out. Until today she'd never had to worry about using the security code she'd been given. Clark leaving before her finally gave her the opportunity to use the code to secure the building. The company had given her the code because she'd been given plenty of recommendations from other companies. She'd worked for several firms before settling for the firm she was now working for.

She saw the brake lights on the bus up ahead. Picking up her pace she tried to catch the bus.

A car pulled alongside her.

"I offered you a lift," Clark said. The window to the expensive car rolled down. Clark stared at her, waiting. She stopped when she saw it was really him.

He'd driven in her direction?

"I'm going to catch the bus. Thank you for your offer," she said.

The car followed her. Stopping, she turned to him. "Get in the car, Bella."

"I don't know you."

"You've been working in my building for the last six months. You know I'm not a murderer or a rapist. Get in the car, and I'll drive you home."

Nibbling her lip, she looked at the bus.

"I really appreciate the offer. Yes, I work in your building, but I don't know you. I'm going to catch the bus."

She started walking and stopped when she noticed the bus pulling away.

Tears filled her eyes at missing her ride.

"Don't cry. Get in the car. I'll take care of you."

Why? No one else takes care of me. Why would you want to?

Her pity party was back.

Turning back to him, she saw his blue eyes up close for the first time ever. She'd watched him at a safe distance, working around him. His eyes were a clear blue like the ocean. They were startling to look at. They were surrounded by

long lashes that women would kill for.

"Get in the car." He repeated his words to her.

"I don't think I should. I can walk from here."

"Bella, it's dark, and the walk will take you an hour to get home. I'm offering you a ride. Get in the car and let me help you," he said.

When she made no move toward him, Clark climbed out of the car, took her hand inside his, and escorted her around to his side of the car. His touch sent sparks of electricity up her arm.

She did as instructed as he opened the passenger side door and helped her inside. He leaned in the car grabbing the buckle. His arm brushed across her breasts. Her nipples tightened at the contact. She'd never responded to a man so quickly.

You've been lusting after this man for over six months.

He buckled the seat. She watched him walk around to his side and climb in. Her heart raced from his closeness. She was acting like a crazy person.

Clark put the car in gear and pulled away from the kerb. Taking a quick glance at him, Bella chanced a look at his profile. He looked angry.

"Why didn't you wait for me?" he asked.

"I don't know."

Bella fidgeted with the edge of her dress wishing the skirt covered more ofher fleshy thighs.

"I offered you a lift, and you run away. Have I done something to upset you?" he asked.

When he glanced at her, she looked away, staring out of the front window. "No."

"Have you read some shit glossy mag story and decided I'm not good enough for you?"

"No." She shook her head. The only time she read glossy magazines was when she was waiting around at newsstands. Reading glossy magazines were a waste of time and money. She'd rather spend her money in a book store buying books that were worth her time. "I didn't think you meant it," she said, admitting the embarrassing truth.

"Did you think I'd offer to drive you home and then leave you high and dry?"

She shrugged. What else was she supposed to think?

"What kind of men have you known?"

Again, she shrugged while also thinking she'd only known the worst kind of men.

"I can't believe I'm having this conversation," he said.

Neither could she. His anger seemed to be coming out, and she listened even though she stared out of the window.

Her stomach chose that moment to growl. She'd not had the time to eat anything at lunch. The last time she'd eaten was breakfast where she'd indulged in a buttered bagel.

Grocery shopping was something she did on Friday. It was Wednesday,

and she wouldn't be going grocery shopping for at least two days. Her pay checkcame through Friday, which she paid her rent out of. Once the rent and other bills were paid, she used the rest on food.

"Next time, you make your way to the parking lot beneath the building.

You know where the parking lot is, don't you?" he asked.

"Yes. I know where it is. You don't need to worry about me getting home. I'm safe." She tried to argue with him. Clark held his hand up stopping her from saying anything.

"No, I'll be the judge of whether you need help or not. It's night, dark, and anyone could hurt you."

His hands tightened on the steering wheel. Bella never thought her first conversation with Clark would be about her safety.

****

The woman was driving him crazy. He'd hoped on some light flirting and sweet seduction, and instead he was telling her off like a child.

Get your shit together.

Tightening his hands on the steering wheel Clark counted to ten and then twenty until he'd calmed down enough. Didn't she have any idea how unsafe the world was at night time? There he went again, getting mad at something he couldn't control.

"I didn't mean to make you mad," she said, whispering from where she sat.

"You didn't make me mad."

"Seriously, because from where I'm sitting you look kind of angry."

He looked over at her to find her smiling. Releasing his death grip on the steering wheel Clark shot her his best smile.

She turned away. He spotted the blush filling her cheeks. Cute, his woman still blushed. "I'm sorry for getting angry with you. This is not a great place to be walking home alone," he said.

"I think you watch too many movies. This place is fine to walk around.

Nothing is going to happen to me."

He saw her rub her hands down her legs. Was he making her nervous?

"Having that kind of attitude is not going to help you," he said.

"What do you mean?"

Clark stopped at a red light. He took the free moment to turn to her. She had the nicest brown eyes he'd ever seen. They were so dark, and every time he looked at her, he got the sense she was always thinking something thoughtful.

Her skin looked silky soft. He kept his grip on the steering wheel so he didn't

reach out and touch her.

"I sense you have the attitude that nothing will ever happen to you.

Nothing bad and nothing good. Be careful, Bella. You always have to be prepared in life."

Her gaze captured him as he stared at her. Her lips were nice and plump. A vision of those lips wrapped around his cock filled his mind. The image alone tempted him to turn the car around and take her back to his apartment. He could have her screaming in a matter of moments. Clark prided himself in keeping his woman happy.

"Green," she said.

Was she giving him the go ahead to take her home? Did his woman read minds?

"What?"

"The light is green. You need to go." She smiled at him before pointing to the light change.

Feeling like a dick, he put the car in gear and raced toward the next light.

This wasn't his night. All the lights he arrived at were red.

"I see what you mean. Nothing important or bad happens to me, but I'll take your advice. I'll be careful," she said.

"Why don't you have a car? It would be a lot easier if you had your own car." Her stomach growled interrupting her answer. "You're hungry?" He thought he'd heard her stomach growling earlier. When she didn't mention food or anything he'd figured he imagined it.

"Don't worry about it. I'll eat when I get home."

He spotted a diner up the street about twenty minutes from her home. It wasn't the one she worked in. He'd visited the diner she worked in to get a sense of the place and for the woman filling his mind on a daily basis.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"You're hungry. I'm going to feed you." He unbuckled his seatbelt and climbed out. Bella climbed out her side.

"You don't have to do this. I understand what you're saying about safety.

I'll be extra careful," she said.

"Good. We'll finish this conversation in the diner." Clark didn't want their time to end. He liked being in her company. She was fun, fresh, and he enjoyed being around her.

Together they walked in and found a booth next to the window. Their reflections stared back at them.

Sitting closer to her, Clark saw her impressive cleavage as the uniform settled around her. Her tits were large. He wondered what they'd feel like in his hands.

She picked up the menu, and another growl came from her stomach. Her cheeks were red with embarrassment.

"When was the last time you ate?" he asked, picking up his menu.

"I ate at breakfast. I didn't have time to get anything else," she said.

A woman walked over to their table.

"What can I get you?" she asked.

"I'll have a coffee, black with one sugar." Clark took a quick glance through the menu. "I'll have a cheeseburger with chilli cheese fries and lots of sauce. For dessert I'll have the brownie with the extra whipped cream," Clark said. He'd not eaten since lunch, and he'd not eaten a cheeseburger since he wasa kid.

"A man who likes to eat and works out," the woman said with approval.

"I'll have the milkshake instead of the coffee and the same as him with thefood." Bella folded the menu.

"Coming right up." The woman left them alone.

He watched as Bella tucked strands of her hair into her bun.

"Take your hair down," he said.

"What?" Her gaze jerked to him.

"Take your hair down. It's clearly irritating you. You're not on office hours or anything like that. Take your hair down." He wanted to see the long strands free from the tight restraint.

She didn't put up any argument as she reached behind her. The ponytail fell down. Her hair was much longer than he had thought. The glossy length fell around her shoulders in waves.

His dick tightened at the sight. He wanted her hair across his pillow and to wrap it around his fist as he slammed inside her pussy.

The woman came back handing him a black coffee and Bella a milkshake.

When had she stepped into an alternative reality where Clark Anderson was eating dinner with her in a diner? Bella ran fingers through her hair, easing out the length. She kept her hair tied up when she worked as the strands got in her way. Getting it cut was not an option. She liked her hair long and intended to keep it that way. Spotting a dirty cup ring, she picked up some paper towels and wiped the mess away.

"You don't like mess, do you?" he asked.

She shook her head. Putting the towel underneath her milkshake, she took a quick suck to test. The milkshake was creamy and tasted right with just the hint of chocolate.

"No, I don't like mess."

He reached over the table to take her hand. "Relax, Bella. We're having dinner, and afterwards I'll take you home."

"How do you know my name?" she asked.

"You work for me. You know my name, and I know yours."

Smiling, she drank some more of her milkshake. Clark didn't let her hand go. His fingers stroked her own. Licking her lips, she checked the clock to see it was after one. They'd spent an hour together.

"I'm sorry. I'm not used to this," she said.

"Not used to what?"

"Dinner, talking, and spending time with someone." Bella lived in her

routine. She liked her routine, but she liked talking with Clark.

He opened his mouth to say something else, but the woman came back to put their food on the table. The scent of fatty burgers and chilli scented the air.

Her stomach rumbled again. She wanted the floor to open up and eat her. When would her stomach give it a rest? She was about to eat.

The woman left them.

"This looks pretty tasty," he said.

She nodded, picking up her burger and taking a bite. Unable to contain her moan of pleasure, Bella closed her eyes enjoying the succulent meat.

"I love a woman who enjoys her food."

When she opened her eyes, she saw Clark watching her.

Smiling, she took another bite of her burger.

"How do you know where I live?" she asked, trying to fill the silence with something other than her moans of approval.

"It was on your employment record. I have everyone checked who works for me."

"Why?"

"I'm a wealthy man, and I've made enemies."

He didn't elaborate, and she didn't ask for more information. She knew all about keeping certain things close to her chest.

"You're not going to ask to know more?"

She shook her head. "No, you're not wanting to talk about it. We've not known each other very long, and I don't expect anything to change between us."

Clark sat back observing her.

"What?" she asked, feeling self-conscious under his questioning gaze.

"You're not like other women."

"Is that a bad thing?"

He remained silent as she ate her food. Clark ate as well, but the silence remained while she waited for him to answer her question.

"It's not a bad thing. I'm just not used to it."

"You date supermodels and actresses. They know what to talk to you about. I'm a cleaner and a waitress, Clark. I'm not exactly in the know when it comes to you and the company you keep," she said.

Clark smiled. The action lit up his whole face. He looked so handsome when he smiled. Her throat became dry. Taking a sip of her milkshake, Bella averted her gaze.

"You've taken notice in the glossy magazines about me," he said.

"I've seen the stories passing several newspaper stands. You're a well known guy." She shrugged finishing up her food. Clark ordered another coffee and a milkshake for her.

"Yes, I know. Don't read all the newspapers. The stories are made-up crap," he said.

His face darkened. Swallowing past the sudden lump in her throat, Bella looked at him. "Which stories?"

"All of them."

"So, you haven't slept with porn stars?" she asked, smiling.

"Well, there wasn't a lot of sleeping involved."

Bella burst out laughing at his joke. His wicked smile sent tingles throughout her smile.

Another hour later they were ready to leave.

"Come on, I'll take you home."

She climbed into his car and strapped herself in waiting for him to start the car. Clark wouldn't allow her to pay for their meal. She'd enjoyed every second with him talking. He wasn't dark or brooding but fun.

He parked outside her apartment. She turned to him, grabbing a key out of her bag.

"Thank you so much for tonight. I really do appreciate the lift and the food."

"I'm glad. I enjoyed spending time with you."

Bella climbed out of the car as Clark leaned in close. She didn't want to know what he was about to do. Men were off limits and especially him. Clark was a player. She'd read enough about him to know he loved women. Bella had also seen an interview where he'd spoken quite clearly about never being in a long term relationship.

She waved at his car from the door before making her way up to the third floor where her apartment was. Once inside, she slid the locks into place then made her way straight for the bathroom. The scent of lemon permeated the air.

After a quick shower, she set her alarm for nine and then eased down under the blankets. Her mind playing over the night, Bella wondered what had happened. His attention didn't make any sense. She wasn't pretty like his models, and she was sure he'd leaned in to kiss her.

Thinking about his lips made her shiver. Her pussy melted as heat swept through her. Frank never left her feeling so passionate even after a night together.

Running her fingers through her hair, Bella cut off all of her thoughts. Her imagination was running wild. Clark wasn't going to kiss her or try to do anything with her. She wasn't worth his time.

****

Clark drove home feeling like he'd missed out on a kiss. He'd leaned in close intending to kiss her sweet, plump lips, and she'd moved away from him. Why had she moved away from him?

Going back the way he came, Clark ignored the passing scenery. His only intention was making it home. There were many nights he'd gone without sleep.

Since his obsession with the lovely Bella, his sleeping patterns had changed to match hers.

He didn't like her being in an apartment in an area of the city he didn't trust. There were a lot of things he didn't like about his woman's current lifestyle. The fact she'd skipped lunch and dinner annoyed him. He liked her appetite. Dating women who ordered salads or soup irritated him. Clark remembered a time when he'd loved the slenderness of a woman. Now, he found their eating habits and their neurotic obsession with weight annoying. On several dates they'd talked non-stop about other actresses and models with fatter figures or slimmer figures. He was tired of hearing about weight, food, and the damn celebrity business.

Parking his car into the parking lot of the apartment complex, Clark made his way up to the penthouse suite. The large windows overlooked the city. He walked over to them the instant he closed the door behind him. Pulling at the tie around his neck, Clark threw the tie away and loosened a couple of buttons.

His life was changing. Being in the public eye was losing its appeal, and if he was honest with himself, a family started to look more appealing every day.

Several of his friends were settled down with a couple of kids while he remained single, living the bachelor lifestyle. He recalled the conversation he'd had with John at their garden party the other month. The last of the summer rays had been dying away, and the guests were gone. He'd watched John reading to his little girl before she went to bed. John's wife had come out to the garden to take their daughter into the house.

"You look happy," Clark said.

John smiled at him. "I am. Having a family is amazing. I'm a husband and father."

Sipping his beer, Clark looked out toward the garden. "Don't you ever miss it?"

"No," John said.

"Do you know what I'm talking about?"

John laughed. "You're talking about women. Do I miss women and having a new woman in my bed every night?"

Clark nodded. His friend let out a sigh.

"You're sleeping with the same woman, John. I remember a time when you'd never settle down. Sleeping with different women was your thing."

"Exactly, it was my thing. Not anymore."

He waited for his friend to elaborate. "You're not going to let this go, are you?" John asked.

"No."

After several seconds, John sat forward. "Sleeping with lots of women wasn't everything it's cracked up to be. Yeah, it was fun. I didn't know the women I was fucking, and I didn't care. When I'm with Samantha, I care. There is a connection between us. When I'm with her, I do everything I can to please her. There is not some quick release and then leaving her alone. I love watching her come apart. When I go to work every day, I know I've got someone to come home to. I love my family, and my life is a hell of a lot fuller for being with them. I don't envy your bachelor lifestyle, Clark, and I wouldn't go back to one either."

John's words came back to Clark. Since that night he'd not been able to stop thinking about Bella. She'd been in his thoughts but never as bad as it was now. He stayed behind at work to see her and waited for her to leave. Waiting for her to speak to him was new for him. Women spoke to him all the time trying to gain his attention. Bella did nothing. Even in the car she hadn't tried to instigate a kiss; she'd run from him.

Closing the blinds, Clark shut out the world. Tomorrow was Thursday, and he looked forward to the end of the day more than he did the beginning. Going to the fridge, he grabbed a glass of milk before heading to bed. He checked his phone to see several calls and messages from the women he'd been seeing in the last month.

Call one of them and fuck Bella right out of your system.

He didn't want to. Cancelling all of the messages and calls, Clark climbed into bed alone. He'd not been to bed alone in years.

His aversion to relationships stemmed from when he was a teenager. The girl he'd given his heart to had crushed him by dating his brother instead. Clark thought about Tonya. She was his age and had been his best friend. Tonya was now married to his brother, and they had three children. His brother, Seth, adored Tonya, and their relationship was strong.

Clark's parents were still married and their love stronger than ever. He loved his family even though he avoided them. Family occasions annoyed him as his parents were always trying to set him up on dates. His parents didn't approve of his lifestyle.

He recalled his father's comment last Christmas.

"Son, watching you parade a load of women around on the television is not what I wanted for my boy. I'm proud of what you've done with yourself. I know you didn't want to be anything other than your own businessman However, you're going to regret your life if you continue with this. You're breaking your mother's heart. You deserve a good girl to settle down with."

At the time he'd thought his father was nagging him again. He wasn't made the way his parents or his brother were. Closing his eyes, Clark tried to forget about Bella. She wasn't like his other women, but she wasn't in his future either.