Page 36 of Billionaire Daddies Next Door

“That’s too bad.” I inhaled her sweet scent. “Because I like you.”

She was quiet for a while and I was starting to think she’d fallen asleep when she spoke again. “You want to know something sad?”

I held her tighter. “Sure.”

“No one has ever held me like this before. You’re supposed to be the bad guy but you’re doing things for me that confuse me.” She sighed. “We can redraw the lines tomorrow.”

“Or we don’t redraw the lines and you let me in.” I kissed the back of her neck.

The sound of footsteps coming down the hall almost sent me into fight mode until I heard Smith’s voice. “It’s just me. Relax, asshole.”

“Did you pick the lock?” I sat up and scowled at him. “What are you doing here?”

He walked around to the other side of the bed and started undressing. “You’re not the only one who can take care of Joanie.”

Joanie sighed and pulled on my arm to get me to hug her again. “Neither of you seem to understand how strange it is that you both let yourselves into my house.”

Smith got under the covers and cozied up to Joanie like he’d been doing it his whole life. “We care about you. If that means we have to let ourselves in at times, so be it.”

I begrudgingly agreed. “God knows you’re not letting anyone in willingly.”

“I was just minding my business a little while ago and now I’m sharing my bed with two men.” She didn’t seem to mind all that much as she cuddled deeper into us. “We can talk about you two not doing this tomorrow.”

I kissed her shoulder. “Sure.”

“I was just fine by myself.”

Smith grunted. “Uh huh.”

“I’m serious.” With a grand sigh, Joanie yawned and her head rested fully on my arm. “If either of you thought I was going to put out, you’re out of luck.”

“Go to sleep, sweetheart.” I listened as her breathing slowly grew deeper and grinned when Smith’s light snoring followed. There was something peaceful about knowing they were both comfortable enough to fall asleep so fast.

I lay there for a little while longer, thinking about how things were changing with Joanie. I’d been honest with her when I told her I’d noticed her before. There was always something about her which drew my attention. I was over ten years older than her, though, so I’d never entertained that interest. Then I was married to Sonya. That marriage hadn’t exactly been for love but I’d never strayed from it. I’d allowed myself the thought of Joanie, though, and buying into her business had been a secretive move I never thought would be anything other than something I could think of on the lonely nights of my loveless marriage. I’d never imagined walking into Joanie’s life for real.

As she sighed in my arms and cuddled deeper into my chest, I was glad I’d allowed myself to help her. I was glad she’d been a place I could run to after my life exploded in the most public way possible. Even though she hadn’t been receptive of my presence, I drank in every moment with her. For the first time in as long as I could remember, I felt alive. Fighting with Joanie was better than anything else I’d done in far too long.

I didn’t plan on giving Joanie up. I didn’t mind I was seemingly sharing her with my best friends. As long as I got to hold her at the end of the day, I didn’t care. She could be ours. I just had to convince Joanie that I was worth the chance.

CHAPTER 27

Bear

I’d just parked in front of Joanie’s house when I saw her creep out. She looked up at her car and I watched her swear when she realized she was blocked in by Chase’s truck. She noticed my truck and I watched her sigh before walking towards me. It might’ve hurt my feelings if I didn’t know why she probably didn’t want to talk to me. After my hasty exit from her office, she was fairly holding a grudge.

I rolled my window down and forced a smile. “Need a ride?”

She crossed her arms and frowned. “You don’t need to fake smile at me.”

“It’s called being civil.”

She scoffed. “What do you know about being civil?”

“Get in the truck, Joanie. I’ll take you wherever you need to go.” I blew out a deep breath. “I need to explain about last night.”

Her interest was piqued and she quickly walked around to the passenger seat. After she was inside and buckled up, she looked at me and raised her eyebrows. “Okay?”

I backed out of the driveway. “Why were you sneaking out? Morning after regrets with Chase?”

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