The Billionaire's Bought Bride and Instant Mom Chapter 123

Aveline

The memory of Grandma Eleanor's fierce defense still warmed my heart as I started the new day. But more importantly, I was relieved that she'd finally seen Vivian's true nature with her own eyes. After yesterday's incident, there was no way Grandma would fall for any more of Vivian's manipulative schemes.

With that sense of security, I began the new day.

The day at Arlington Academy had been particularly rewarding, though mostly because of one student. Watching Ryan work through his assignments with growing confidence, seeing him help other children without being asked—it filled me with a strange sense of accomplishment that I didn't quite feel with my other students.

As the final bell rang and children began streaming toward the pickup area, I felt that familiar satisfaction that came with a day well spent.

"Miss Aveline!" Ryan appeared at my elbow, practically vibrating with excitement. "Look what I drew!"

He thrust a crayon masterpiece in my direction—what appeared to be three figures standing in front of a very large, very blue house. Two tall figures and one small one, all holding hands and smiling.

"That's beautiful, Ryan," I said, crouching down to his level. "Tell me about it."

"It's you and me and Daddy!" he announced proudly. "And we're all happy because we live together and—"

"Ryan."

The voice behind me made my spine straighten involuntarily. Deep, amused, and entirely too self-satisfied for my comfort.

I turned to find Orion approaching with that particular stride of his—confident, purposeful, like a man who expected the world to rearrange itself for his convenience. He was dressed casually today, dark jeans and a charcoal sweater that did absolutely nothing to minimize his intimidating presence.

"Daddy!" Ryan launched himself at his father with typical six-year-old enthusiasm.

"Hey, buddy," Orion said, scooping Ryan up for a quick hug before setting him back down. His eyes, however, remained fixed on me with an intensity that made my stomach do uncomfortable little flips.

"Miss Aveline," he said with a polite nod that somehow managed to be anything but polite. "Perfect timing. I was just about to make a proposition."

*Oh no.* I could practically see the trap being set.

"Actually," I said quickly, gathering Ryan's backpack and art supplies, "we should really get going. It's been a long day, and—"

"Ryan," Orion interrupted smoothly, crouching down to his son's level with practiced ease. "I have a surprise for you."

Ryan's eyes lit up like Christmas morning. "What kind of surprise?"

"Well," Orion said, his voice taking on that warm, paternal tone that made my heart do stupid things, "I managed to get us a reservation at Céleste tonight. You know, that fancy restaurant with the chocolate fountain you've been asking about?"

"Really?" Ryan gasped.

"Really. But here's the thing—I thought it might be fun if Miss Aveline joined us. You know, as a thank-you for being such an amazing teacher. What do you think? Should we invite her to be part of our family dinner?"

The manipulation was so smooth, so perfectly executed, that I had to admire it even as I wanted to strangle him. He'd managed to make his invitation sound like Ryan's idea while simultaneously making it nearly impossible for me to refuse without disappointing a six-year-old.

"Miss Aveline!" Ryan spun around to face me, his entire face glowing with excitement. "Please say yes! Please please please! We can be like a real family! Just for one night!"

I looked at Orion over Ryan's head and saw the smug satisfaction in his dark eyes. He knew exactly what he'd done, and he was clearly enjoying watching me squirm.

"I..." I started, then caught myself. "Ryan, sweetheart, I don't think—"

"Come on, Aveline," Orion said smoothly, taking a step closer. Close enough that I caught that familiar scent of his cologne, the one that had been driving me crazy for weeks. "It's just dinner. What could possibly happen at a family restaurant?"

The way he said "family" made my pulse spike. I took an involuntary step back, but he followed, closing the distance between us again.

"Besides," he continued, his voice dropping to that low, intimate tone that made my knees feel weak, "Ryan's been talking about this for weeks. You wouldn't want to disappoint him, would you?"

Another step closer. Now I could see the gold flecks in his dark eyes, could feel the heat radiating from his body. Suddenly I was back in that hotel room, remembering the way his skin had felt under my hands, the way he'd looked at me with such hunger when I'd—

"Aveline." His voice was barely above a whisper now, meant only for my ears. "Are you afraid of something?"

The question hit like a challenge. I could see the knowing look in his eyes, the way his mouth curved in that infuriating almost-smile.

"Afraid?" I managed.

"Mmm." He tilted his head slightly, studying my face with obvious amusement. "You seem... nervous. Fidgety. Like you're worried about being alone with me."

Heat flooded my cheeks. "I'm not—"

"It's understandable," he continued, his voice gaining that cocky edge that made me want to either slap him or grab him by that perfectly tailored sweater. "After all, there's clearly some... tension between us. A certain kind of chemistry, one might say."

My mouth fell open at his audacity. Ryan was right there, for God's sake, even if the implication was going completely over his head.

"I can see why that might make you uncomfortable," Orion went on, clearly enjoying my shock. "Some people find it hard to control themselves when they're attracted to someone."

The memory hit me like a freight train—his hands tangled in my hair, the weight of him beneath me as I'd taken what I wanted, the way he'd looked at me afterward like I'd completely undone him.

"So if you're worried about your self-control around me," he said, his smile turning positively predatory, "I completely understand why you'd want to avoid an intimate dinner setting."