Utterly Yours (Book One) (An Alpha Billionaire Romance) Read Free

you just left her sitting by herself at a restaurant.  You could have at least called her back and rescheduled!  Honestly, Nathaniel, what am I going to do with you?”
                  Nathaniel went to grab his suitcase, but Tony grabbed it for him.  The kid looked ridiculous trying to drag around all of the luggage on his own, but Nathaniel was going to let him so he could focus on the unpleasant conversation.  “Look, you have got to stop trying to set me up,” Nathaniel said, “I’m pretty sure you and I have different tastes.”
                  “I want grandchildren,” she whined, and Nathaniel cringed.  “Your father would have loved Eliza!”
                  “All right, that’s it, do you want me to hang up?  I’m not going to let you guilt trip me by playing the dad card, got it?” Nathaniel’s voice raised only slightly; he hated it whenever she used his father against him.  It was a regular occurrence with her.
                  “Fine, Nathaniel.  Will you at least come over this Saturday?  I’m having a little gathering at the homestead, and Eliza and her family are going to be there; I think you at least owe the girl an apology,” his mother’s voice calmed significantly, knowing she had crossed a line by bringing up his father.  Nathaniel was not fooled, though.  He knew she would just try to set him and Eliza up again at the party.  This time, though, he had an excuse.
                  “Sorry, Mom, I told you, I’m in Troy for the next two weeks,” Nathaniel said, and he could hear his mother seething on the other line.
                  “And why are you in Troy?’ she asked.
                  “I told you,” Nathaniel said, although he was not entirely sure if he had or not, “It’s the grand opening for the homeless shelter my company is sponsoring.”
                  “Why are you wasting your time with that?  Can’t that sleazy little intern of yours handle it for you?” she asked.
                  “If you’re talking about Tony, he’s not an intern anymore, first of all, and he’s not sleazy.  I need to be here, all right?  Can we talk later?  I’m just now getting off the plane, and I have a lot I have to get done today,” Nathaniel tried not to raise his voice again, but his mother was pushing her luck.
                  “Fine, Nathaniel, fine!  I guess I’ll just have to apologize on your behalf –again.  To someone else –again.  Enjoy your trip.  I will just see you when you get back in town.” His mother hung up the phone, and Nathaniel pulled his tie loose because he felt as though it was strangling him after the fairly heated conversation.
                  “So, what’d-ya talk about?” Tony teased, and Nathaniel punched him in the arm as they were climbing into the rental car.
                  “Let’s just go,” Nathaniel huffed as they pulled out of the parking lot of the airport.  He almost wished that he would meet someone just so his mother would get off his back.  He shook his head; glad they had put a pin in the conversation if only for a little while.

Chapter 3
     
                  Nathaniel and Tony pulled around to the back of the shelter; a small, barren parking lot that was shared with the local pet shop.  Sharing a parking lot didn’t bother Nathaniel: he couldn’t imagine a homeless shelter needing a lot of parking with the exception of their grand opening during which the media would be hanging around.
                  “So this is your pride and joy, huh?” Nathaniel said as he climbed out of the car and stretched his back.  “Wish we could have gone to the hotel first, man.”
                  “Adam is already here,” Tony said, locking the car up tight before leading the way towards the back entrance.