Battle for Love (Bachelor Billionaire #3) (4 page)

Julie
began a conversation with Lisa about pregnancy to take the attention
away from Ethan. Before he knew it, all the ladies were going on and
on about baby stuff. Julie's date sat talking to them about delivery.
Ethan could not take one more second of what was going on. He pushed
himself away from the table, hugged Lisa and Becky, and walked out
the door.

***

Julie
kept talking as she watched Ethan walk out. Nobody said a word about
him storming out like that. When everyone moved to the living room,
Julie walked outside to see if he was sulking. His car was gone. He
really had left. John walked out after her.

“
What
was all that?” she asked.

“
Ethan's
not really that bad. He's just,” he said. “He's not a fan
of pregnancy and baby conversations.”

“
Why?
He just got up and walked out.”

“
I
don't know what to say. That's his own thing. You would have to ask
him that.”

John
turned and walked back inside. She stood for a few minutes before she
went back in. All of the guys had carried everything to the kitchen
before going to watch whatever game was on. Becky and Lisa were in
the kitchen taking care of the dishes.

Julie
could not stop thinking about Ethan. Why had he picked on her so
badly? Usually, he would joke or make a comment, but that was
different. It was like he was pushing to see how long it would take
her or Gavin to snap. He kept going and refused to stop. As soon as
the talking moved to babies and pregnancy again, he was out of there.
Becky excused herself to go and use the restroom. Julie saw Lisa stop
what she was doing and look over at her.

“
Are
you okay?” Lisa asked.

“
I'm
fine. I just don't get why he gave me such a hard time today. He has
never been that bad. It was like he was trying to prove something. It
makes no sense that as soon as talk of babies came up, he was out the
door. He said goodbye to you and Becky, but he ignored me
completely.”

“
I
don't know what got into him today. Honestly, I think it was because
you brought someone with you. I don't think he took it very well,”
Lisa said.

“
I
need you to do me a favor,” Julie said.

“
What?
Why do I think you are about to get me in trouble?” Lisa asked.

“
I
need his phone number. I don't have it. I can't ask Becky, because
she'll tell Gavin. We all know what would happen there. He would lose
it. I know you guys have it. Please, I won't tell anyone where I got
it from. I just need to ask him something.”

Lisa
grabbed her phone and scrolled through her numbers.

“
Gavin
will kick my ass if he finds out I gave it to you. I don't know what
is going on between you and Ethan, but you two need to get past this.
We are all friends, and we all spend a lot of time together. Whatever
is up his ass needs to find its way out. Please be careful, Julie.”

Julie
put his number into her phone and put her phone back into her pocket.

“
I'll
be fine. I have known him for fifteen years, and he has never treated
me like he did tonight. He messes with me to make Gavin mad, but this
was something completely different. I know better than to ever take
my guard down around him. I'm much stronger than all of you give me
credit for.”

Julie
hugged Lisa and thanked her before Becky came back into the room.

Ethan
drove straight to the bar. He needed to relax and unwind. There was
no way he was going to any more functions with the guys and their
wives. He knew better than to go to that dinner. Two of them had
gotten married and were having babies. Ethan thought he could get
through hearing all the lovey things they would have to say, but
things changed when he saw Julie with that guy again.

Why
wasn't Gavin giving that guy a hard time? She might as well have been
sitting on his lap, they were so close. The way she kept whispering
in his ear was driving Ethan crazy. Julie was such a different person
when her doctor boyfriend was with her. She was so serious and
stuffy. When he wasn't with her, she was fun and laughed about
things. Why would she be with someone who didn't bring out the best
in her, he wondered? He had never felt protective over her before and
had no idea why he was reacting that way.

Ethan
got a drink and sat in a corner booth. He leaned his back against the
wall and closed his eyes, as he let out a sigh. A picture of that day
his father walked out on him and his mother appeared in his mind. He
never understood how his dad could leave and never check to make sure
they were okay. How could someone walk away from their family? That
was why Ethan would never have a family. He watched his mother turn
into a different person after that day. It was like he didn't have
anyone anymore. Ethan never wanted anyone to have to count on him. If
he never fell for anyone, then he could never disappoint them, and he
would never have a chance to fail as a parent.

His
eyes shot open, as he felt someone slide in next to him. There was a
very attractive blonde with a huge smile looking at him.

“
You
okay?” she asked. “Anything I can help you with?”

“
I'm
sure I can think of something,” he said.

She
reached over and starting running her hand up his leg. Sometimes he
was actually surprised at how forward women were. Maybe she could
help him get his mind off of what happened at dinner and how much
things were bothering him. He leaned over and whispered in her ear.
She responded by standing up, pulling him to his feet, and heading
for the door. He left his untouched drink on the table and followed
after her. Shock registered in her eyes as she took in the car he
walked to. Ethan had a thing for cars. That was one of the things he
chose to spend his money on. That day he had driven his brand-new
black Ferrari.

“
This
is your car?” she asked.

“
Get
in,” he snapped.

It
was as if he could see the wheels spinning in her head, as she tried
to figure out what she could get out of him. He shook his head as she
got into his car and looked around. Ethan knew women could never be
trusted. They were always trying to figure out what was in it for
them. He knew Becky and Lisa were good to his friends, but he would
never fully trust that they wouldn't hurt them.

“
Can
we go to your place?” the blonde asked.

“
No,
we can go to your place or you can get back out of the car,” he
said.

She
was something else. All he needed was to get her into bed so he could
forget about everything else for a little while. She let out a groan
and gave him directions to her apartment.

He
wasted no time with small talk as the door to her apartment closed
behind them. He had her clothes off and her beneath him in moments.
There was no feeling or emotion in it for Ethan. He just needed to
release his tensions from the day. As soon as he was done, he got up
and got dressed.

“
Aren't
you going to stay?” she asked.

“
I
have to be up early for a meeting,” he answered coldly.

“
Can
I see you again?” she whined.

“
Not
sure.”

He
finished grabbing his stuff and headed out the door. Ethan never felt
bad for what he did. She knew he had money. If she thought she was
going to hook up with him and hit the jackpot, she was wrong. He
guarded his heart and his money. Ethan worked his ass off for what he
had, and he wasn't going to share it with just anybody.

Once
he was home, he took a shower and went to bed. He heard his phone
beep and groaned as he reached for it. So far, he had escaped without
any of the guys pestering him about what happened at dinner. He
almost made it, he thought. Who was it going to be? He was shocked
when it was a number he did not have programmed into his phone.

“
Are
you okay?”

Who
was it, he wondered? Not many people had the number to his personal
phone.

“
It
depends on who this is.”

“
Oh,
sorry. This is Julie.”

“
Who
gave you my number? Was it John? I know it wasn't Gavin. Who was it?”

Instantly,
he felt his hands shake. She had never text him before. Who would be
stupid enough to give her his number? He couldn't talk to her.

“
I
have my connections. I can't tell you that privileged information. If
I did, I'd have to kill you.”

“
I'm
not in the mood. What do you want?”

Ethan
was so mad. Who would have given her his number? He knew it was not
her brother. It had to have been his brother or one of the other
guys. Why did she want it anyway? He could tell by her joking manner
that she was nervous about sending him a text. When she did not
respond right away, he sent another.

“
Well???”

“
I
just wanted to make sure everything was okay. I didn't think it would
be that big of a deal if I text you. Sorry.”

“
I'm
fine. Why wouldn't I be? Where's Dr. Boring? He's probably in bed
sleeping already.” he sent.

“
Leave
him alone. Why do you have to be such a jerk? He didn't do anything
to you. Why were you so mean to me today? You have never given me
that hard of a time. I don't know why you were acting like that.”

“
So,
now I'm a jerk. Wonder what else you guys can come up with to put me
down. Whatever, you know what I want to know? I want to know why that
wonderful boyfriend of yours didn't stick up for you. Don't think I
didn't notice.”

“
What
do you mean what else us guys can come up with to put you down? Why
would he need to stick up for me? What did you want him to do, go all
alpha and tear your arms off? I can take care of myself with you. I
have been doing a fine job of it all these years.” she sent.

“
I
just don't get it. If he really cares about you like a boyfriend
should, he never would have let me talk to you like that. If you were
my girl, I would have crushed someone's ass for talking to you like
that. I kept going and going, and the guy never said a single thing.
He just sat there like I wasn't even talking. It makes me so mad. He
doesn't deserve to spend time with you. You should be with someone
who would do anything to protect you.”

“
Someone
like who? I can protect myself just fine, thank you. I don't need a
man to take care of me. All they have ever done is make things worse.
I had to sit there and listen to you say mean things to me one after
the next, just so you could see how long it would take him to come
after you. Real mature, Ethan. The only person that hurt was me. How
do you know what I deserve? You can't keep your dick in your pants
long enough to pay attention to anything other than an attractive
woman willing to spend a couple of hours with you. I'm not your girl,
and somehow I don't think you would ever stick up for me if it
wouldn't benefit you. I was just worried about you after you left. I
can see now, that was a mistake. I'm sorry for sending you the text.
Goodbye, Ethan.”

“
You
don't have to worry about me. I'll always be fine. Spend your
precious time on someone who's worth it. Goodnight.”

Ethan
was so mad when he threw his phone down. He went home with the blonde
to get his mind away from what had happened. After Julie's text, he
was right back where he started. He knew she was right about him
jumping from woman to woman, but her telling him what she thought
didn't make it any better. She would never know the truth about him
and the reason he was the way he was. That was fine with him, but he
didn't like knowing that she thought so lowly of him. He worked so
hard every day to be the man he was. There was no way anyone was
going to change that.