Page 13 of The Bossy Billionaire

“The cold air is not good for your leg?” I ask, my brows crumpling. I don’t like seeing her in pain. It makes my own chest hurt.

“I love the snow and winter, but I have noticed that I kind of seize up a little more. My physio says I need to move more and regularly massage the area. But it will always be like this in cold weather.” It makes sense, but I don’t like it.

“Maybe you need to go somewhere warmer for a while?” I murmur, wondering if that will help. The winters in Baltimore can get pretty cold, which means she will probably suffer through it for a couple of months.

“Can’t. I’ve got a bookstore to run, remember?” she says, finally turning her head to face me, and I hear a small gasp fall from her lips as she realizes how close we are. We are mere inches from each other. My eyes flick to her mouth and her tongue darts out, quickly licking her bottom lip. My eyes home in on where her lips now glisten, and even though we are in a busy bookstore, the world around me is quiet as I drink her in.

I don’t move and neither does she. My hands remain firm, my fingers pulling her to me, and I don’t know whether it was the sexy book or the fact that her jasmine scent runs up my nose and her long glossy hair teases my chin, but she feels fucking good in my arms. Shit, it has been weeks since I had a woman, and it seems I need to fix that problem.

I clear my throat. “I should go,” I say quietly, my voice saying one thing, but my body saying something different entirely.

“You should,” she says in merely a whisper.

“Lucy, can you help me find a book?” A little girl comes up from our side, and we jump apart like we have been caught in the act. What the fuck am I doing? She is my best friend's sister!

“Sure, Lily,” Lucy says with a warm smile, but I don’t miss the way she swallows roughly or the pink tint to her cheek.

“I'll see you later?” I ask her and watch as the little girl grabs Lucy’s hand and starts leading her away. I know I will. I need to be around her and the shop for business purposes. I could do it all remotely and not be here in Baltimore at all, but I like to see her, get to know her. I hold my breath for a beat to see what she says.

“See you later,” she says, giving me a small smile before she turns the corner, and I feel like I have been hit in the face with pure fresh country air and can breathe for the first time in a long time. A smile comes to my lips, knowing she wants to see me again. Whether business or not, I am not wasting the opportunity, and as I walk out of the store, I am already mentally going through my schedule to work out when I can be back.

CHAPTER EIGHT - LUCY

It has been a week since I saw Huxley, but now every time I look at my ladder, I get goosebumps. Who knew all it took was for a handsome billionaire to stroll into my bookstore and grab me around the waist, and I turn into a stupid daydreaming teenage girl. But that explains my week.

I have dropped books, spilled coffee, forgotten to place an order for the amenities, fumbled my way through kids’ story time, and even though I put my eyes on the finances every night, I still can’t manage to balance last month's expenses and income, no matter how hard I try. But he has called, our phone conversations now lasting a little longer than they did a week ago. We mainly stick to business, but I also enjoy learning about him some more. He is clearly a successful business owner, so it is nice to hear about his career journey.

Now as I sit at my parents’ grave site, placing the small posy of chamomile flowers I picked up, I slump down on the grass, hiding under my umbrella and wondering what the hell is wrong with me.

“I mean, he is niceish,” I mumble to the gravestone, talking to my parents. The clouds are heavy, the drizzle just enough to be annoying. I have thought of nothing else but Huxley Hamilton for days, and I shouldn’t be. I need to be focused on how to get the business profitable and how to get myself out of the barrage of bills that are currently on my desk.

“But he isn’t into books, and he isn’t even from Baltimore. He is friends with Harrison and clearly not someone I need to be involved with.” I continue my one-sided conversation as I chew my lips, thinking about my situation. I have never thought this much about a man before. Huxley is my business coach and nothing more. But I would be lying to myself If I said I wasn’t looking forward to seeing him again.

I sigh as I look over the engraving on their tombstone. This is where I come every week to debrief. To hash out anything bothering me. I used to come every day after the fire. When I found out I had brothers, when I could barely walk. It isn’t lost on me that the conversations I am having with them now are completely different to those I had twelve months ago. This feels a little more… normal.

“I shouldn’t even be thinking of him. I need to remain focused. I can’t get swept up in this man who has probably slept with the entire female population of New York.” I look at my dad’s name etched into the stone and wince. “Sorry, Dad,” I murmur. Talking about sex to my father at his last resting place is probably not what I should be doing. But now I am imagining Huxley naked, and my chest heats as I squeeze my eyes together to remove the mental image I have created. Now isn’t the time.

“Dwayne doesn't like him. All the customers look at him with a wary type of interest when he comes in.” I continue to try and mentally push him away, thinking about the way he is perceived, like I can gather facts from them to settle my thoughts.

“I think I will just ensure there is no touching anymore. Keep it all professional, like a business coach and his client should be. There is no doubt he knows business, and if he can help me, then maybe it’s time to take the help, right?” I say, nodding, feeling firmer in my decision. I will push him to the back of my mind. Close the door to his image and leave any romantic notions I had of Huxley behind lock and key.

“I think Harrison is going to announce his campaign soon. I am not sure what that will mean for me and the store, but it is a pretty big deal. I’m proud of him.” A soft smile comes to my face as I think about having a brother who may be president one day and the impact he is going to have moving forward.

“Well, I think that is it for the week. I should go back. The cold is starting to hurt my leg a little. I love you. See you both next week.” I gingerly stand, gathering my things, keeping the large black umbrella over my head as I hobble down the grassy hill to the walkway. As I do, I look up. The cemetery is empty, as it should be on this cold and drizzly day, but a car catches my eye. Large. Black. Totally out of place on this small quiet street. I eye it carefully as I step out the cemetery gate onto the sidewalk and hail a taxi. I see no one, nothing, but as I slide into the cab and close the door, I look over my shoulder. The brake lights of the dark car come on and it does a U-turn on the street and follows us, all the way back to the shop. It isn’t until I secure myself in my office that I breathe deeply before coming to my senses. My brothers. They obviously have security following my every move. I huff out a breath.

Yet another thing in my life I now need to get to.

* * *

I pushed through the afternoon with renewed enthusiasm. I always feel better after visiting my parents. It is like therapy, even though I am only talking to myself. There is something about being there that settles me. It helps me feel connected to them. I have wiped down the shelves, cleaned up the kids’ area, and restacked the books in the science section that some kids had out last night. But even though the sun is now peeking through the clouds, offering me some warmth on this otherwise cold day, my mind is quickly turning to mush as I stare at my financials so hard the numbers all start blending into each other.

There is a knock on the door, and I look up.

“Come in,” I say, knowing it must be Dwayne, because no one else comes back here. But as the door opens, I look up and lose my breath.

Huxley Hamilton.

The heat in my cheeks is instant, my mouth feeling dry for a moment.

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