Page 38 of Falling for the Billionaire Best Man

“I’m fine,” she said. “I’m not going to melt. It’s just water.”

She glared at me but took the clothes, disappearing into the bathroom. When she came out, she was wearing the dry shirt and her damp jeans, stubborn as ever. She looked incredible, but I pushed that thought aside, focusing on the anger I felt.

“Are you insane?” I asked. “Walking all this way in the rain? What if something had happened to you?”

She crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes flashing with anger. “My car broke down, and I’ve been having a horrible evening so far. I don’t need you getting on my back too. I walk all the time. I’ve walked in the rain. It’s not terrible.”

I stepped closer, my frustration boiling over. “Why don’t you let people help you, Dorie? Why do you have to do everything on your own?”

She scoffed, shaking her head. “Oh, like you’re one to talk. You think buying me a five-thousand-dollar espresso machine is helping me? That’s nothing to you, isn’t it? Just another way to throw your money around.”

I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my temper in check. “I was trying to do something nice for you. Is that so wrong?”

“Nice?” she shot back, her voice rising. “Or is that your way of charming your way into my pants?”

I stepped closer, my eyes locked on hers. “Is that what you want?”

She glared at me, her chest rising and falling with each breath. “You’re unbelievable.”

She tried to storm away, but I caught her arm, pulling her back to me. “Dorie, listen to me. I get it. I get what it feels like to have to carry the burdens of everyone else. But you don’t realize how thin you’ve stretched yourself over the years, making sure Eliza gets her dream life. You’re under so much pressure. You don’t have to do it all alone.”

She yanked her arm free, her eyes blazing. “You have no idea how much pressure I’m under right now. We have to work together, so just make this easy on me, okay? Save the lecture and psychobabble. I’ve been just fine, and I will continue to be fine when you go home.”

I wanted to argue, to tell her that I was trying to make it easier, but she was already heading for the door. I followed her downstairs, wishing my usual charm would work on her, wishing I could make her see that I wasn’t the enemy.

Cullen and Eliza were on their feet, putting on their jackets. “We’re going to head back to the cottage,” Eliza said. “We’re exhausted. You guys eat the pizza.”

“We’ll see you tomorrow, right?” Cullen asked.

“You’re leaving?” Dorie asked. “I just got here!”

“We’ll give you a lift,” Cullen said.

“I’m not getting stuck with two pizzas,” I said. “I’ll get you home, Dorie. You guys take a pizza.”

I went to grab one of the boxes and handed it to Cullen.

“Don’t forget about the dancing lesson tomorrow,” Eliza said.

I nodded, faking a smile. “We’ll be there.”

They said their goodbyes and left. Dorie turned to look at me. I could tell she was irritated, but there was a look of exhaustion on her as well.

“Come on,” I said. “Pizza. I don’t have anything warm to drink besides coffee.”

“I’m fine,” she said.

“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered and walked back to the kitchen.

I heard her following behind me. I was going to make sure she ate and warmed up. Someone needed to take care of her.