Secret: My Roommate is a billionaire!!!

After her mother stepped inside, Iva gave a quick intake of air, blocking her mother's view of the dining area beyond the foyer and front living room because Cillian 'Otto' De-Peyster had suddenly appeared in the kitchen. He'd probably come in through the back door.

With a key.

Quickly, he put finger to his mouth, clearly asking Iva not to give him away. Her lips pursed. "Clearly, you don't know Vancouver as well as you think you do, Mother."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Never mind. Let me take this dessert off your hands." Without waiting for an answer, Iva took the cake into the kitchen so her mother would remain in the front room, striding forward so fast Otto had to scurry backward into the dark sitting room opposite so as not to be seen.

She glared at him with a dose of wrath and fury, but not before she'd seen the dimple deepening on his left cheek in a blatant show of amusement.

So Britney Willis was correct. This man was actually Cillian Otto De-Peyster the IV. Iva set the cake on the counter and returned to the front hall to tell her mother goodbye, but not before shooting another deadly glare into the adjoining sitting room. Otto held up his hands in mock innocence, a boyish grin on his lips.

Iva wanted to scream at his flippancy. Why hadn't the man left already!

"Goodnight, Mom," she said, taking her mother's arm and pulling her out to the front porch. She gave a wave to her father, and the shadow inside her parent's car returned the wave.

Iva didn't move from the porch until her mother had slid into the passenger side. If her mother-or father-caught sight of this guy they'd have a fit and there was no way Iva could explain his presence. Especially this late at night. Especially when she'd just moved in. And especially when she was still crying over an ex-fiancé.

After her parent's car drove away, Iva walked back inside, musing on the sudden realization that she hadn't shed a single tear all day. The first time in five days. Which shocked her. Two days ago she was

sure she'd never stop weeping for the rest of her life.

An evening breeze rattled the leaves of the tree that shaded the porch swing and she reached out a hand to stop the sway of the charming swing, dying to try it out. Because she dreaded facing Cillian/Otto. Or whatever his name was. Her face burned in mortification at the memory of thirty minutes ago. That man had seen her in the bathtub.

She wasn't sure if she'd been completely hidden under bubbles or not. She'd been too terrified to glance down. Too desperate to tear the entire shower curtain over the top of her head.

Her heart hammered in her throat.

Mr. De-Peyster the IV owed her. Big time.

Despite the fact that Britney Willis had already promised a rent-free summer. Fatigue sagged at her. She wasn't used to hot days on her feet anymore, not after two years in an air-conditioned bank with a comfy chair in her own very office.

After softly closing the front door, Iva began to tiptoe up the stairs. Halfway up, she paused to speak in a firm voice, deciding it was better not to mince words. "I don't care who you are, Mr. De-Peyster. If you aren't out of this house in two minutes I'm calling the police."

He materialized out of the darkness, flipping on the lamp sitting on the hall table. "I'm sorry, but we have a problem."