My Dad Billionaire Best friend Wants Me

Who's the guy? Your boyfriend? He's unbelievably hot!"

I flinched as a new college friend sidled up next to me and sat down on the ledge I'd been occupying.

The man she was looking at was a chick magnet, it was true. With dark, short, styled hair, figure-hugging jeans, and a tank top that showed off his ripped muscles.

He lifted his arm and waved at me, a huge smile causing him to flash his pearly whites at me.

I reluctantly waved back and shook my head. Didn't he know how ridiculous he looked in those clothes?

"Not my boyfriend," I said, as casually as possible.

I got to my feet, slinging my bag over my shoulder. "That's my Dad. Better go. Have a great holiday."

I walked away from Claire, whose mouth was still hanging open as she continued to stare at my father. I knew all the questions that would be running through her mind. First and foremost, would be, "How old was he when he had you?"

I'd been asked the question a thousand times before.

"Hey, beautiful. How was your week?" Dad asked, leaning casually against his red convertible, like an old re-run of Magnum, PI.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Seriously, Dad. You do own a proper shirt, right? Can't you wear one when you pick me up?"

He laughed and pushed off from the car, his big arms encircling me and squeezing tight. "I've missed you."

I let my eyes close as I inhaled his scent. The spicy Polo he'd been using since I was little engulfed me and made me yearn for Friday night movies and popcorn. "Me too."

I stepped back and he held open the passenger's side door for me.

Always my mother would say.

Pity she hadn't held on to him long enough for us to be a real family.

"Thanks." I slid into the small, older BMW and he got in the other side after closing my door and walking around the hood.

"Do I really look that terrible?" Dad asked, his huge biceps flexing as he turned on the ignition and grabbed the gear shift.

I rolled my eyes at him in an exaggerated way. "They always think you're my boyfriend. No one ever believes me when I say you're my father."

He chuckled and pulled into St. Pete traffic. "Not my fault I didn't age as well as your mother."

Age as badly, you mean.

"Hey, leave her out of it. She doesn't have the time or money you do to work on herself, you know that," I shot back and then had to work hard not to laugh when he gave me a side-eye look that said, "You know what I mean."

I sighed and glanced out the window, watching the palm trees fly by.

My dad I was born on his twenty-first birthday and he always said I was the best birthday present he ever received.

The problem was, I was now twenty-one, and instead of looking forty-two like he should, my dad looked thirty.

Maybe thirty-five, if you looked really close at the crow's feet around his eyes. But his body was better than any thirty-year-old I'd ever seen, and his naturally thick and dark hair took a decade off his age. Apparently, grey hairs were allergic to him.

"Mom isn't that bad," I defended and my dad didn't say anything, diplomatic guy that he was. "She just looks her age." Or a few years

She worked hard as a high school algebra teacher and was always stressed.

Next topic, please...

"Anyway, sweetheart... how have you been? I feel like we haven't caught up in forever."

We hadn't. It had been far too long between dinner dates with my dad, which is why I was so pumped we were going to spend a whole week together over the Christmas break.

"Awesome. I got some incredible news, actually."

I turned towards him though he couldn't do the same.

His gaze flicked over to me, his lips lifted in a smile. "Tell me."

"I got accepted into Sherman."

"For Chiropractic?"

"Yes!" I squealed and then swallowed hard to force myself to calm down.

His contented sigh and smile said it all. "Oh, baby, I'm so proud of you. That's fantastic."

Neither of my parents had finished college. When they'd gotten pregnant with me, Dad had dropped out to get a job, but they'd spilled by the time I was two.

Luckily Mom had managed to finish her teaching degree when I got older, but they both had missed out on some pretty major opportunities in life, thanks to their promiscuity. And stupidity.

One of the main reasons I did not sleep around. Quite the opposite. "I couldn't have done it without you, Dad."

"Naw... don't be ridiculous. You're a star. And you should shine."

I pushed any embarrassment his words caused, down. He deserved my thanks. Both of my parents had helped me enormously through school, especially financially. Dad the most.

"Without your help, I could never have studied so hard, Dad. I want you to know how much I appreciate it."

His cheekbones were looking suspiciously pink now and he began swiping his hand through the air to dismiss my words.

"I'm just glad you used that brain of yours for something good. And I hope that means I get free adjustments for the first five years?"

"More like forever!" I beamed at him. I could never repay the help he'd given me, but I'd make sure his spine was in tip-top condition for the rest of his life.

He chuckled and turned the car off the main road and into the gym parking lot near his apartment.

I glanced up at the large Day Health.

Dad had managed to work his way up through the commercial construction company he worked for and now had an office job preparing quotes and building specs for large projects. Though I didn't really understand what he did exactly, he had a nice apartment in an upscale and went to an exclusive gym.

"Do you need another workout?" I joked as he parked and turned the car off.

"Uh, not exactly. I've got a casual meeting of sorts inside. This investor is really difficult to pin down, so he invited me to have a chat after his training. It's a new business venture I'm looking into. Do you mind if I go into the health club for half an hour or so?"

I did mind a little bit. I wanted to spend time with him, not sit in the car by myself. "Sure, but can I come inside with you? I don't want to hang out here by myself like a loser."

He laughed that deep, carefree laugh he'd always had. "Of course. There's a café and an area to relax if you want to play on your cell for a bit. I'll show you."

"Perfect." I grabbed my bag and we both got out of the car.

When we walked inside, the air conditioning hit me in the face like a snowstorm. "Whoa, it's freezing in here."

Dad chuckled and indicated I should follow him, so I did.

We walked through a second set of doors and into Nirvana, where the coffee was grinding, soft music played, and I couldn't stop myself from sighing.

"This is awesome."

Nothing like the cheap gyms Mom and I had frequented over the years.

Dad smiled again at me, then stepped over to the counter and spoke to the pretty woman behind the desk.

She nodded and he came back to me. "I just spoke to Martine, and she'll take care of you. Order anything you want, and I won't be long, sweetheart. I promise. You all right here?"

In the lap of luxury? sure, Dad. Go. See you in a bit."

He disappeared through the frosted glass doors, and I suppressed the urge to squeal. I'd spent the last few weeks cooped up in a small dorm room studying for finals. This was heaven in comparison.

"Would you like a beverage?" the pretty blonde called out and I walked over to the bar.

"Sure. A hot chocolate, if you've got it?"

She nodded and went over to the coffee machine.

I turned and leaned against the bar, letting pure happiness filter over me.

When I'm a Doctor of Chiropractic I'll belong to a club like this. One day.

Growing up with a mother who had very little, we'd never gone on vacations. My father had helped the best he could, and I'd never wanted for anything I

But now, I could see my future ahead and I was sure my mom would love to join a place like this too. I owed her everything. I'd find a way to make it up to her. All the sacrifices she'd made for me.

Just four and a half more years of school and I'd be able to buy her all the things she'd missed out on.

The frosted glass doors that led into the interior of the health club opened and my gaze swung towards them, half expecting my dad to walk back through.

My belly tightened and clenched with an intensity I'd never experienced.

Wow.

The man who walked through the door was sex on his legs. Literally. You could feel the intensity of his power like a radiant wave of heat.

Whoa.

His gaze turned my way and sparks sizzled between us. I couldn't move and I couldn't look away as heat simmered through me.

His lips lifted in a smile as he hefted his sports bag on his shoulder.

He'd seemed to be going for the doors that lead to the outside, but then he turned and headed over to the bar near me.

"Hiya, Axel. Ice water?" the blonde woman asked him, her voice strong and overly friendly.

He winked at her and nodded. "You know me well. Thanks, Martine."

I shivered.

The timbre of his voice was perfect. Deep and rich. Strong and sexy.

He turned towards me, his perfect white teeth glistening in a smile as his blue eyes sparkled in response. "Here to work out?"

Me? I struggled to think of a response.

My gaze was drawn by the thin sheen of sweat on his bulging biceps and I wondered how sweet he would taste.

His physique wasn't exaggerated like some puffed-up bodybuilders. But God, did I want to bite those biceps?

I shook myself. "Uh, me? No. Just getting a hot chocolate and waiting for my dad." A warm drink may have seemed odd in this heat but Christmas was approaching and it was my holiday go-to.

His eyebrows lifted high on his forehead, slight wrinkles at the edge of his eyes indicating he'd be about ten years older than me. Perhaps a little more.

Nothing like a hot older guy to teach you a few things.

Which I needed desperately.

"They sell hot chocolate here?" He asked skeptically.

I laughed. "Yeah. She said they did, anyway."

Martine slid a mug across the counter towards me. "We don't get many orders for it, but I always have some in stock."

"How come?" I asked, lifting the mug to my lips, and taking a big sip. "Hmm.... Yum."

The man in front of me laughed. "Ah, because this is a health club and most of the women here are terrified of sugar."

I shrugged. "Not my problem."

I probably carried a bit too much weight by most people's standards, but I did laps at our local pool when I found the time and generally ate well. My life didn't start or begin with my weight. I didn't even own a set of scales.

He stared at me for a moment, as though assessing my soul. Something I wasn't afraid of, because I was a nice person. Or I certainly tried to be.

I stared straight back at him, feeling a strength building within me. I'd gotten over the initial shock of his devastating appearance, and now I wanted to know if he had some brain cells between his gorgeous ears.

"Yes? Was it... Axel?"

He shrugged. "Alternative parents."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah... I know the feeling."

He stuck out his hand. "Axel Brennan. Pleased to meet you...?"

"Chastity," I answered and wasn't surprised when he burst out laughing.

"Really?" He grinned, his gaze running up and down my body. "Is there a metal belt hidden under those jeans?"

I'd been asked similar questions in the past, and always tried to have a smartass answer in response. "Of course, I do. After all, we are the names our parents gave us, aren't we? So, tell me, Axel... Do you stick your arms out and act like an axle for the wheels in your car?"

He froze for a moment, his eyes widening in shock before he burst out laughing.

Martine pushed the tall, icy glass at him, her interested gaze swinging between us.

He picked up his drink and downed the whole thing like a thirsty pelican. When he put it down he was still smiling. "You're the most interesting person I've met today, Chastity."

I snorted. "That doesn't say much for the people you work with, then."

His blue eyes sparkled even more as he stared at me and my gaze swung down to his left hand, bare of a wedding ring. "No. No, it doesn't."

Axel flicked his wrist around and looked at a very expensive-looking watch. "Damn, I've gotta go. But I hope we meet again."

That was very doubtful since I was only here on my father's dime. "You probably won't see me again, Axel. But thank you for the chat."

I gave him my biggest smile and he walked away, shaking his head as though he couldn't believe the things I'd just said to him.

The front doors opened and let him back into the sunshine. I dragged myself back to the bar and my drink. He was way out of my league.

As if he'd ever be into someone like me.

Next to my hot chocolate mug was a large smartphone in a black leather case resting on a black mat. Impossible to see unless you were right next to it.

"Shit."

I grabbed it up and bolted to the door, stepping out into the sunshine and chasing Axel to his car.

His very, expensive car

Fuck. Is that a Lamborghini?

Yep. So far out of my league.

I cleared my throat and then forced myself to speak when he didn't turn around. "Um... Axel?"

He turned, keys in hand and a gorgeous smile on his face. "Yes?"

I held the phone out to him. "I think you forgot this."

His eyes widened in surprise, and then he took it from me and slipped it into his bag with a sigh. "Thank you very much. I would have been totally lost without that. Damn. I'm not usually so thoughtless."

I waved my hand at him and began to back away. "No stress, you just enjoy your day."

He stepped towards me. "So, you're beautiful and honest. Any other attributes I should know about?"

I laughed. "Uh, not beautiful. But thanks, anyway."

"I'd like to see you again."

I'd like that too, but how? "When?"

"Any time. Hang on, let me grab my card." He opened the shiny black car with a button on his keys, leaned inside, and came back out holding a small, white card. "Here. Please call me. I want to take you out for dinner and get to know you better."

I took the card and stared at the embossed writing. "CEO of a management company? No offense Axel, but I don't think you're going to find me very interesting."

I had to be honest because seriously, I didn't think we had a single thing in common. Last of all, our exercise habits.

"I think you're wrong. You're a breath of fresh air to me."

I snorted, not sure that was a compliment. "Yeah, my mom would say something similar. She's always telling me to think before I speak, but my mouth can't seem to slow down long enough for that to happen."

He continued to stare at me as though he'd never seen a person like me before.

Perhaps he hadn't.

"Well...I better get back inside." Dad may be looking for me as we spoke.

He reached out and grabbed my hand, pulling me closer. His fingers were hot and slightly rough against my hand. Strong.

"Please say you'll go out with me."

My breath hitched in my throat. He couldn't possibly be serious. But as he waited for my response to his absurd question, my heart began to race inside my chest.

I swallowed hard and tried to ignore the way my nipples tingled beneath my plain t-shirt.

"But you are so far out of my league," I blurted out, then wished I'd kept my thoughts to myself.

He cocked his head to the side. "You'd prefer me poor?" he asked, kinking one eyebrow up.

I huffed out a laugh and pulled my hand out of his grip. My fingers ached to run alongside his hair and pull him into me for a kiss.

It had been so long since I'd felt anyone's lips on mine... and he was attractive in every way possible. "No... it's just-"

He cut me off, not that I had a proper answer to his question. "It's just nothing... go out with me. Your choice. Anywhere you want."

I lifted my gaze and met his solid blue stare. That sounded like a challenge. "Anywhere I want?"

He nodded and butterflies fluttered inside my belly. This could be fun. "All right, I'll go out with you, then. But it's my choice."

He gave me a huge smile that made my knees weak. "You're so delicious, I just want to devour you."

I giggled, unable to help myself as a heated flush raced up my cheeks. "You sound like the big, bad wolf."

His grin was the sexiest thing I'd ever seen, and I staggered sideways, catching myself on a conveniently located pole.

"You all right?" he asked, his smile conveying his humor at the situation.

"Yeah, thanks. I better go."

I began to back away, glancing towards the gym, but my father was nowhere to be seen.

"When are we going out for dinner?" he called out, ever-persistent.

"I didn't say it was dinner," I responded, laughing inside. As if I was going to take advantage of some rich guy. I'd been taught better than that. Plus... if I even had a chance with a guy like him, I wasn't doing what every woman had done before me. I wasn't going to be boring.

His eyebrows drew down in mock outrage.

"When?" Axel repeated.

I thought quickly. Dad always worked weekends, even when I was with him. Maybe I could sneak out for a few hours in the afternoon?

"Tomorrow too soon?"

"Definitely not. What time?"

I loved how he was letting me choose everything. For a man who obviously had total control of his life, it was a lovely gift. "Three? I can meet you here if you like."

His lips quirked a little but he didn't ask anything else. "Done. I will see you, gorgeous girl, tomorrow."

I nodded and took slow, careful steps backward. I clung to his card like a lifeline.

I was not letting it go.

He gave me one more killer smile that made my insides clench and tighten in a way I hadn't felt before. Then he got in his car and drove away.

I wandered back inside in a daze, reaching out for my now barely warm hot chocolate with a stupid smile on my face.

"What happened?" the chick behind the bar asked.

She was eyeing me in a way that reminded me of a jealous bitch I'd once known in high school. Her hackles were raised, and her eyebrows were lowered. Not a good sign. "Oh, nothing. Just gave him back his phone."

I wasn't telling her anything. Her mood had changed substantially since my interaction with Axel, and the last thing I wanted was some blow-up from her in front of Dad.

I finished my drink and pushed it over the counter towards her. "Thanks so much."

I wandered over to the couch and settled down just as I heard my dad's voice over my shoulder. I twisted around to see him deep in conversation with an older man with silver streaks through his hair. They shook hands and the man left.

Dad walked over to me, his smile full of happiness. "Hey, sweetie. I'm sorry that took a little longer than expected. Are you ready to go? I hope you weren't too bored while I was gone."

I got up from the couch, slipping Axel's business card into my cell phone case. "Nah, of course not. Looking forward to a night of Chinese food and movies, though."

He put a comforting arm around my shoulders and tugged me in the direction of the entrance. "You were? Perfect! Because so was I."